“My sunshine”—that’s what my name means. Mia is the Spanish word for “my,” and Soleil is the French word for “sunlight” or “sunshine.” My parents put a lot of thought into my name, so I’ve always appreciated it and worked hard to live up to it.

I’m a Latina doing what so many of us are raised to do—be kind, express love, but above all, work hard—and that’s exactly what I’ve done, all while getting pretty good with a crochet hook! I’ve been acting since I was seven, but my mom says I was born an actor—always reacting and turning every moment into a scene.

As an actor, I want to go places where Latinas are not often seen. I don’t just want to tell the stories of our people—which must be told, and I am fully ready to do so—I also want to take on roles that Latinas have not traditionally played and show the world why we should be seen.

My years of training at The Secret Academy, The Secret Theatre, Sage Music School, Professional Performing Arts High School, NYCDA, and now NYU Tisch—where I’ll graduate with a BFA and advanced training from the Experimental Theatre Wing and Stonestreet Studios—have prepared me for the rigorous work demanded on stage and screen.

This Afro-Latina can play anyone from a city girl to a Southern belle. I can do a British accent today, wake up tomorrow, and belt a song from a Broadway show. My diversity lies not just in my Puerto Rican and Dominican roots but also in my range as a performer.

Above all, I’m just a nerd from Brooklyn who loves acting, singing, Batman, and crocheting (in that order).