With candor, humor and a heartfelt message of authenticity, award-winning actress Stephanie Beatriz captivated a room full of Titans during Cal State Fullerton’s April 10 Beyond the Conversation event.
From voicing Mirabel in Disney’s Academy Award-winning film “Encanto” to portraying Rosa Diaz in the popular sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Beatriz spoke to the CSUF community about her career, her deep love for storytelling, and the power of representation on screen and in life.
”If you’re an artist, or you want to dabble in the arts, I think bringing yourself, your taste and your viewpoint to what you’re doing is priceless,” said Beatriz. “Your individual journey of life is so interesting and so you and so great. It deserves to be heard.”
Raised in Houston, Texas, Beatriz didn’t consider acting a viable career until middle school: “My resources were limited, but I felt really compelled to act. I was pulled to it in a way that I wasn’t pulled to anything else.”
After graduating from Stephens College in three years, she moved to Los Angeles, where she landed her breakout role in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
“One of the things I really loved about ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ was that they embraced who we were. They even changed my character’s name from Megan to Rosa because they wanted her to be Latina like me,” said Beatriz.
When asked about voicing Mirabel in “Encanto,” Beatriz reflected on what the role means to her.
“I’m a massive Disney fan. I always have been. I grew up on ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘The Lion King’ and even the deeper cuts like ‘Robin Hood.’ I’ve always loved the heroines in Disney movies,” she said. “To be in a Disney movie as the main character is something I never thought I’d get.”
She also opened up about her ongoing journey with mental health, encouraging students to ask for help and take advantage of mental health resources on campus.
Above all else, Beatriz empowered students to embrace their creativity and individuality: “I hope you remember that your story matters. The world doesn’t need a copy of someone else. It needs you.”
Interviewing an Award-Winning Actress
Hosted by Associated Students Inc. and the Division of Student Affairs, the Beyond the Conversation series invites speakers to campus to share their stories and inspire the Titan community.
Beatriz was interviewed by CSUF graphic and interactive design student Tanya Gonzalez, who also serves as chair of ASI’s Association for Intercultural Awareness. She said that the “Encanto” discussion was her favorite part of the event.
“Never did I imagine that two years after attending my first Beyond the Conversation installment, I would be on stage interviewing one of these guests,” said Gonzalez, who previously interviewed “Hamilton” actor Daveed Diggs. “It was honestly an eye-opening moment and a full-circle moment.”