Regina Blandón (‘11) is a prominent actress in Mexico's thriving film and television industry. Known for her extensive theater credits, she recently starred in the Netflix production Accidente. Blandón explores, through her work, pressing contemporary issues.
The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My first question is about your international career. You trained at The Academy, but most of your work has been in Mexico. Can you tell me more about that?
I’ve worked in Spain, but most of my work has been in Mexico. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work in Las Vegas. It’s interesting—most people only go to Las Vegas for a few days because staying for three weeks can feel like too much. [Laughs.]
Tell me about your Academy training. How did it shape your work?
I started working when I was about nine years old. I attended The Academy in New York; it was one of the best experiences of my life. I spent two years there and was also part of Company, which was an incredible opportunity. My time spent at The Academy shaped how I approach my work. Everything I learned during those years has been instrumental in defining my process and perspective as an artist.
How so?
I didn’t have any formal training in theatre. I started acting when I was nine but never had that structured education. The theater history classes and everything else showed me what respecting the stage means. It’s not just about showing up—you’ve got to put in the work.
Theater History became one of my favorite classes. I even did extra assignments for extra credit. Todd Peterson was my teacher, and he was amazing. Zenon Kruszelnicki helped me a lot, too. He had this tough, intense approach that I appreciated. I liked his toughness because it came with this unique way of looking at theater.
Susan Pilar incorporated 30 minutes of yoga before starting her class. Those little practices stuck with me. It’s part of being ready. Those habits keep me grounded and prepared, even when things shift unexpectedly.
How did getting your professional start before training come about?
My dad’s an actor. He didn’t want me to be an actress, though. I was already on stage at a young age, and I’d done some movies. He always said, “If you’re going to do this, you have to take it seriously.”
Being on stage and on set from such a young age, I realized I needed those years of formation to really build a foundation. I needed to put a solid base under whatever I did in front of a camera or on stage.
It’s been a journey. Your expectations keep changing because this career is so unpredictable. But right now, I’m in a good place. I just want to work with teams that work hard, are kind, and appreciate how lucky we are to do this. Whether on stage or in front of a camera, those moments are rare–you must treasure them. In this last project I was on, I met Roshan.
Yeah, tell me about that project you guys worked on. What’s its significance right now?
Well, it’s the third movie in the franchise–a Mexican franchise. It’s called Mirreyes contra Godínez, and it’s a comedy. The first one was huge in Mexico, and with this one, we wanted to close the story because the second film was during the pandemic, and since the characters go to Las Vegas, we needed a native English speaker.
It’s amazing what movies do, you know? They bring people together, people you never would’ve expected to meet otherwise.
Is that your belief in entertainment, that it brings people together?
What’s cool about this project is that we’re a team. I’ve been lucky to be part of projects that do this for people. It’s not about who shines the most or has the best character—every character has value. We come together to do something for someone else, whether theater, film, or any art. The goal is to evoke something. If they laugh, cry, see themselves reflected in it, or picture themselves as someone else, I think our job is done. I believe that’s what art should do. Everything else is just a bonus. The foundation is about generous teamwork for someone else, helping them become something else.
What other projects have you worked on that you’d like to share?
I’ve done a lot of theatre here, and one of the most impactful experiences was performing in a gender-reversed version of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman. It was so powerful, weird, and special. People were shocked by it. The gender reversal added a new layer. I had seen the play before with a male actor in the role, and when I first watched it, people laughed. But in Mexico, where violence against women is such a serious issue—11 women are murdered every day—when I took the stage, and there was police torture and abuse, the audience fell silent. It was so striking to witness that reaction, especially after seeing the play with a male actor.
Another project I worked on was Lungs by Duncan McMillan. I performed alongside another actress who alternated with me. After doing the play, I became more unsure about whether I wanted kids, while she became more confident. Our director, on the other hand, became sure that he didn’t want kids. It was amazing how the show sparked such strong emotions and questions about life and choices. You could feel the audience’s reactions in real-time—couples laughing, crying, and sharing moments that made the experience even more magical. Both of those shows left a lasting impact on me.
What about a moment in your training – did you have a “breakthrough” moment?
Because English isn’t my first language, it was the strong foundation I received in voice and speech. I had to work hard at it. My English is a bit rusty now since I haven’t been working much, but I’m still very aware of it. For example, in Spanish, we might say “seet down” instead of “sit down,” so that was one of the first things I had to fix. I couldn’t let it slip—I had to be precise. It was a fun challenge because my friends in my section were so supportive.
One of my favorite experiences was performing No Exit in Company. I’ve been trying to bring it to Mexico, but I feel I need to be 10 years older for it to work. [Laughs.]
And how cool that you came across Roshan. There are so many Academy graduates floating around.
It was cool. We both have fond memories of The Academy and couldn’t believe we were together.
I love Rosh. He’s a good, kind presence to have on staff.
It’s so important to always be kind. That’s something else I learned at The Academy: Always be kind and be prepared. People who want to do this for a living should keep working and be kind to people. It pays off.
Yeah, it’s so important to be easy to work with. I’d like to finish by asking what projects you have in the works and where people might find out more about you.
My social media pages are my name, Regina Blandón. I’m starting rehearsals in January for Prima Facie. I’m doing a monologue here in Mexico for the first time in Spanish. I’m really looking forward to it.
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