Up Close with Nicole Aliseda

Mexican-born actress, writer, and producer Nicole Aliseda is part of a new generation of emerging storytellers bringing emotionally driven narratives and cultural authenticity to the screen. Raised in Mexico, Aliseda found solace in the arts at an early age through singing, dancing, and poetry, long before discovering acting during the pandemic, a turning point that ultimately gave her a renewed sense of purpose and direction. After relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her craft professionally, she trained at the New York Film Academy while continuing to develop her voice both in front of and behind the camera. Since graduating, she has founded SNOI Studios, a creative production company focused on raw, visually striking storytelling that explores identity, trauma, resilience, and human connection.

Most recently, Aliseda stars in ‘Turn Left to Mr. Right’, a romantic drama mini-series directed by Alice Chen Chen and Bianca Bijia, currently streaming on ShortsWave. The project marks another step forward in her growing career as she continues navigating Hollywood as an international actress committed to meaningful representation and emotionally honest cinema.

In this exclusive interview, Nicole Aliseda opens up about discovering acting during isolation, her dream collaborations, the realities of pursuing Hollywood as an international performer, and why storytelling has the power to change lives.

What got you into acting and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
During the pandemic, I originally thought I wanted to become a singer. My sister wanted the same thing, but deep down I felt like that wasn’t completely it for me. I felt really lost and alone for a long period of time until I found acting. It started with doing small scenes by myself, making little TikToks no one will ever see, and taking small acting courses. I immediately fell in love with it because it made me feel like I could finally be myself. Once I started high school, I knew I wanted to come to Los Angeles for acting. From there, I just kept taking classes and training until I eventually auditioned for college and got accepted. That was the moment it all became real for me.

What makes you unique as a performer?
I speak Spanish, English, and German, which has definitely helped me connect with different people and perspectives. Outside of acting, I’m also very passionate about politics and debate. Before acting, I actually thought I would study politics professionally. I used to participate in United Nations Model conferences in school and won several competitions throughout middle school and high school. In my second year of high school, I became a committee president, which I’m still really proud of. I think that experience helped me understand people better, communicate clearly, and really listen, which also helps as an actor.

How would you describe the kinds of projects you gravitate toward?
I love drama, especially projects connected to mental health. I feel those stories communicate directly to the soul instead of just entertaining people. I want projects that make audiences feel understood or seen in some way.

Which filmmakers influenced you growing up?
Tim Burton made me fall in love with cinema and characters. His imagination and visual storytelling are incredible. I also really admire Christopher Nolan and Jamie Brittain because of how emotionally powerful and layered their work feels.

Which actors or directors would you love to collaborate with someday?
Tim Burton is absolutely my dream collaborator. I even emailed him for my college graduation showcase. He couldn’t attend, but I actually got a response, which meant everything to me.
I also really admire Carla Hool. She inspired me to pursue acting in Los Angeles instead of staying in Mexico because she made me believe it was possible. And of course, Fiona Palomo. Seeing her successfully transition from Mexico into Hollywood has been so inspiring. I had the chance to meet her at a film festival screening for Un Actor Malo, and the advice she gave me made me want to keep pushing even harder.

If you had one message for your supporters, what would it be?
Even though this world can feel really hard sometimes, there is still light and goodness in it. Every single person is worthy and enough exactly as they are. We are not behind in life. We are okay, and eventually everything will be okay.

As an international actress navigating Hollywood, how does your heritage influence your work?
A lot. I still feel there are not enough Mexican actresses being recognized properly in this industry. Growing up, I was inspired by actresses like Salma Hayek, especially her performance in Frida. Fiona Palomo has also been incredibly inspiring because she proved making the jump from Mexico to Hollywood is possible. And Eiza González is another actress I really admire. I think she’s underrated, and her career journey has been incredible to watch.

Hollywood continues pushing for more inclusivity and representation. How do you hope your work contributes to that movement?
I think there are so many Gen Z experiences that still haven’t really been explored honestly, especially things like growing up with social media and how that affects mental health and identity. My dream is to eventually turn my short film Out into a feature film with an entirely Latin American cast. I want to make films because I love cinema, not just because of money or trends. I want Hollywood to reconnect with the emotional power of cinema again.

Just for fun, if you could go back to Hollywood’s golden era, which actor would you connect with most?
Oh my God, Judy Garland. She’s my biggest acting inspiration. I think she went through so much pain and mistreatment, but she still brought so much light and artistry into the world. I would love to go back in time and tell her how appreciated she truly is today because she changed cinema history forever.