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Some artists discover their calling by chance; for Ximena Olivera, it was more like a lifelong companion. From the age of three, she told anyone who would listen that she wanted to be an actress—a spark first lit by children’s telenovelas and still burning twenty-one years later. Her journey has been fueled by both fierce passion and a deep sense of resilience, sharpened by the inevitable rejections that come with a life in performance.
When she produced her first play and founded the emerging theatre collective sanarteatro, Ximena learned that dreams could be self-managed, fear could be transformed into action, and theatre could be both a site of resistance and a space for healing. Her creative process—equal parts meticulous character background work, sensory exercises, and intuitive adaptation—shapes performances rooted in authenticity and presence.
In this edition of PROFILES, we meet an artist fiercely committed to her craft, her values, and her dreams.
Ver telenovelas infantiles que me hacían desear estar ahí y una intuición que me acompaña desde que tengo 3 años, mis papás dicen que a esa edad empece a decir que quería ser actriz y la chispa nunca se apago, 21 años después sigo con el mismo sueño.
Watching children’s telenovelas that made me wish I were there, and an intuition that has been with me since I was 3 years old—my parents say that at that age I started saying I wanted to be an actress, and the spark never went out. Twenty-one years later, I still have the same dream.
Cuando produje mi primera obra de teatro y cree mi colectivo de arte teatral emergente “sanarteatro”. Me enseñó a autogestionar mis sueños, a que soy capaz de hacer muchísimas cosas sin importar que este muerta de miedo. Me recordó que se puede crear en espacios seguros y que puedo resistir como mujer desde mi trinchera que en este caso fue el teatro, pero que es la actuación. También que a través de la actuación se transmuta y se sana. Y principalmente cada que pienso en ese proyecto vuelvo a confiar en mí.
When I produced my first play and created my emerging theatrical art collective “sanarteatro,” it taught me to self-manage my dreams, to realize that I am capable of doing so many things no matter how terrified I am. It reminded me that it’s possible to create in safe spaces and that I can resist as a woman from my own trench, which in this case was theatre—but really, it is acting. It also taught me that through acting, one can transmute and heal. And above all, every time I think about that project, I trust myself again.
Siempre escribo un background de mis personajes, como un diario. Escribo a mano mis textos y trabajo con la relajación, ejercicios sensoriales y energéticos. Pero honestamente si cambia con cada personaje y cada proceso.
I always write a background for my characters, like a diary. I handwrite my lines and work with relaxation, sensory, and energy exercises. But honestly, it does change with each character and each process.
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El rechazo, como actriz he vivido muchísimos rechazos y honestamente mi relación más tóxica es con mi carrera porque es algo que dese tanto pero es algo inestable y me ha costado trabajo entenderlo y no compararme, pero eso me ha hecho una mujer resiliente y cada día reafirmo mi vocación y lo mucho que deseo esa realidad, mejor dicho lo mucho que he trabajado y voy a trabajar por materializar la realidad de mis sueños.
Rejection. As an actress, I have experienced many rejections, and honestly my most toxic relationship is with my career because it’s something I want so much, yet it’s unstable, and it has been hard for me to understand that and not compare myself. But that has made me a resilient woman, and every day I reaffirm my vocation and how much I want that reality—or rather, how much I have worked and will continue to work to make the reality of my dreams come true.
Mi mamá, mi papá y mis abuelos. Ellos me han enseñado lo que es trabajar por lo que deseas y también he visto como se materializan sus sueños, veo como no se rinden, como no les importa lo que digan los demás y principalmente veo su pasión y su entrega. Se ve en mi trabajo porque así intento hacer siempre las cosas, con mucha pasión, entrega y dedicación.
My mom, my dad, and my grandparents. They have taught me what it means to work for what you want, and I have also seen how their dreams come to life. I see how they don’t give up, how they don’t care what others say, and above all, I see their passion and dedication. It shows in my work because that’s how I always try to do things—with great passion, dedication, and commitment.
Que se acerca la era de las mujeres en el cine y el teatro, cada vez veo a más mujeres dirigiendo, actuando, iluminando, diseñando, produciendo y me emociona muchísimo porque cada vez hay más oportunidades y cada vez hay más historias contadas desde una perspectiva feminista y no hay nada mejor que contenidos que valgan la pena y que si reflejen a la sociedad.
The era of women in film and theatre is approaching. I see more and more women directing, acting, lighting, designing, producing—and it excites me so much because there are more and more opportunities and more stories being told from a feminist perspective. And there’s nothing better than content that’s worthwhile and truly reflects society.
NUNCA DEJES QUE NADIE OPINE DE TUS SUEÑOS, cuida mucho a quién le crees cuando se trata de lo que más amas. Hacer las cosas sin importar que tengas miedo y dejar que ese miedo se vuelva fuego, acción y poder.
NEVER LET ANYONE HAVE A SAY IN YOUR DREAMS—be very careful about who you believe when it comes to what you love most. Do things no matter how scared you are, and let that fear turn into fire, action, and power.
Quiero conectar con la gente a través de hacer lo que yo quiera, de ser mía y hacer lo que a MI me hace feliz. Que si alguien puede ver algo en mí, sea eso, que soy muy mía y que no voy a dejar que nadie apague mis sueños.
I want to connect with people by doing what I want, by being my own person, and by doing what makes ME happy. If someone sees something in me, let it be that—that I am truly my own person and that I’m not going to let anyone extinguish my dreams.
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