Miami Herald Logo

Actress from Florida gets her break | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

People

Actress from Florida gets her break

By Caterina Balzano

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 23, 2016 06:31 PM

Angelique Rivera got her first taste of acting when she was 8 in the musical Annie, where she first broke out of her shell by playing the mean kid, Pepper.

“It was fun for me, because I was such a nice, people-pleaser type of girl growing up,” said Rivera, who was born in Chicago but raised in Kissimmee, where she participated in community plays and musicals in middle and high school. “I fell in love with performing and singing and dancing and acting, and since then I knew I would be in entertainment.”

Rivera, 22, appeared on season two of ABC’s American Crime as Evy Dominguez, the only witness of a rape that drives the season. She booked the role — her first official gig as an actress — within six months of moving to Los Angeles.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Florida in December 2014, Rivera bought a one-way ticket to California to pursue her career. Soon after arriving, she began working with a manager to guide her through the process of finding an agent and auditions.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Her first tryout was for the show Shades of Blue, in which Jennifer Lopez plays Detective Harlee Santos (she didn’t get the part).

“It was this whirlwind of coming to L.A. and all of a sudden getting thrown into pilot season,” said Rivera, who was preparing with voice classes and scene-study courses. “My manager called me and set up an audition for American Crime. I had heard of it because I watched the pilot.”

She auditioned for the role of Evy, whom she describes as a low-income girl who struggles with problems at home but remains positive and always looks at the bright side of things. One week after her audition, she booked the job.

“I’ve gained so much knowledge and experience. ... It just opened my eyes,” said Rivera, who worked with Felicity Huffman and Regina King (the cast filmed the season in Austin, Texas). “I was never on a professional set before, so to work with amazing writers and directors and actors and executive producers and everyone, they were all so amazing. It was really a collaboration, and we all were very passionate about this.”

Rivera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, sees her role as a Latin actress as an opportunity to open doors and inspire other actresses to pursue their dreams of starring in films and TV shows.

“Growing up, I loved watching TV and going to the movies, but I always saw the same people. I never saw diversity. I never saw people that looked like me, so I never thought that it was a possibility that I could do that,” said Rivera, who admires actress Gina Rodriguez of Jane the Virgin. “I really want to use this kind of platform that I’ve been given to inspire younger kids in general, but Latinos of course, because I am Latina, and I want people to know that it is possible.”

  Comments  

Videos

Shakira shows her boxing skills at the Miami Beach Police Department

Alonzo Mourning talks about Team USA in 2012

View More Video

Trending Stories

It’s not so hard for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. Here’s what you have to do

February 20, 2019 01:20 PM

Think Florida is a ‘sinful’ place to live? You’re right, according to this new study

February 20, 2019 01:18 PM

Why were former members of the U.S. military driving around Haiti heavily armed?

February 19, 2019 07:49 PM

Americans arrested in Haiti driving around with an arsenal are flown to the U.S.

February 20, 2019 06:54 PM

Cuts are coming for Dolphins’ receivers, but there’s one their new coach raves about

February 19, 2019 12:31 PM

Read Next

10 Things to Know for Today

People

10 Things to Know for Today

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 06:12 AM

Among 10 Things to Know: 'Empire' actor goes from victim to accused felon; Fire in Bangladesh shopping district kills 70; Democrats prepare resolution against Trump declaration; Duke's Zion Williamson hurt in loss against UNC.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE PEOPLE

People

Festival to blend music with horses, bourbon and bluegrass

February 21, 2019 04:50 AM

People

Saudi crown prince in China on latest stop of Asian tour

February 21, 2019 04:06 AM

People

Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee plays Boston

February 21, 2019 03:12 AM
Key moments since Jussie Smollett reported Chicago attack

People

Key moments since Jussie Smollett reported Chicago attack

February 21, 2019 01:31 AM
Iraqi rapper gives angry youth in city of Basra music outlet

People

Iraqi rapper gives angry youth in city of Basra music outlet

February 21, 2019 01:18 AM
Michael Jackson accusers detail road to ‘Leaving Neverland’

People

Michael Jackson accusers detail road to ‘Leaving Neverland’

February 21, 2019 12:54 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story