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Hi there! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to our favorite bell boy from the popular Disney Series The Suite Life of Zach and Cody; The one and only Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez. Apart from being a professional actor featured in several TV shows such as 24 and Hawaii 5, Adrian R' Mante (his real name) is also an acting coach and a father of two. If you are there and wondering how to get your acting career going, don’t flip the page as you are about you gain essential tactics that will turn your dreams to reality.
“Education is the key factor to success. A smart person makes smart decisions, which in turn makes money allowing one to have a great living.”
When and how did you start acting?
I started my career because, I was a break dancer during all of my high school years and the drama teacher had asked me to audition for the Musical Fame. She said that I would be able to be the lead dancer if I got the role and….. I got the role! So I had to act too. That was my first acting experience on a big stage in front of a crowd. I did drama (before) but it was never that serious. After the performance of Fame, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
How old were you when you started acting?
17
If you were to be born again into this world, would you still choose acting as a career?
1000% yes! I can't see myself doing anything else.
What are some of the challenges that you have encountered throughout your acting career?
Getting people to know that I exist was the hardest part. Getting discovered is not easy! That's why discovery is a huge thing. It is not easy to discover something, let alone discover an actor when there are many of "wannabe" actors. There are very few actual good actors that know what they are doing. So I went through the process and just went to my roots and started doing plays and got fortunate when an agent happened to watch me and sign me. That's how I got discovered.
What advice would you give to people who want pursue acting?
Train! Train! Train! Train!....I don't care how good you are at home with your mama, you are not going to compete with the guy who is starring in a Transformers movie. If you want to know why? It is because he got trained! He knows what he is doing onset. I know what I am doing and the best thing I did, was getting trained. So TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN and keep doing what you love and act. Training is everything; just because one can throw a football 60 yards it does not make them a professional quarterback.
Do you have any other passions apart from acting?
Yes, I do. I love playing golf; I am a big golf fan. I actually love..umh... this is kind of bad but it's true, I love playing poker; but I play charity poker for celebrities. You show up and it's free and you try and win and your winnings go to charity. And of course, my passion is my family. I have two kids and a beautiful fiancé; we just spend time together and it's awesome.
Of all the characters you have played, which was your best?
The best role, which made me feel like a validated actor was when I did the character of Omar on 24 in the middle of doing 'The Suite life of Zach and Cody. I went and filmed for 24 and it was quite an emotional scene. I had to play a Middle-Eastern man and I am not even Middle-Eastern, so I had to learn the accent. It was a lot of work and I was proud of that. Kiefer Sutherland, the star of 24, whispered some amazing things in my ear and basically told me that I was one of the best actors he's worked with.
What additional advice would you give to people who want to be performers?
I would want to say to that if you are out there and want to be an actor or performer, it is so important to make sure you have the passion for it. No one is going to make you do anything; you're going to want to do this. Also find passion in something. You'll figure it out. Do things, try things and then it will just hit you like a bug.....the flu, BOOM! All of a sudden you've got the flu and suddenly you love acting and you want to do this! But overall, I honestly feel that everybody should go to college. Education is the key factor to success. A smart person makes smart decisions, which in turn makes money allowing one to have a great living.
Favorite color?
Black.
Any pets?
Dogs: Bobby and Bella. Bobby, because my dad used to call me that when I was growing up and Bella, because it means beautiful in Spanish.
Favorite band/Musician?
Ed Sheeran
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