Arusi Santesteban, a 24 year-old actor and artist, was born into the trade. His mother is an actress, so at the tender age of five she directed him in his first play, a Christmas set-up at his grandparents’.
Throughout middle school and high school he could always be seen as part of the cast in the theatre groups, but never intended as anything more than a hobby.
“I pictured myself being a lawyer, a politician, or an architect when I grew up; which seems so crazy right now.”
Everything changed after winning a Shakespeare competition in Mexico City. The prize was a flight to London, where he got to act on on The Globe Theater stage.
“Acting on that stage suddenly it all clicked, and I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Of course, he goes through periods of doubt, like anyone else. Is this the way I want to spend my life? Bad projects can make anyone lose hope or get depressed, but once in a while he finds himself working in a meaningful, relevant project with talented people and it all makes sense again.
“It’s a moment of true presence, where you feel like you’re flying, and as soon as you try to control it or hold on to it, it’s gone.”
But that moment and that feeling are what always get me back.
I try to always give as much as I can, while also putting my own ego out of the way.
Before acting, he tries to stay calm and focus on the story he’s about to tell.
He’s actually debuting in Mexican theatre in a very special project:
Arusi will be playing Charles, the Dauphin, in a new adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s The Lark (La Alondra) this summer. The play is directed by José Caballero and María González at the Foro Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz in the Centro Cultural Universitario in Mexico City.
The play will run from August 4th till September 4th, so get you tickets soon!
Keep rolling ’til you find something you love…
