Nairoby Otero has made a name for herself in national acting, writing, and producing circles—even while getting her M.F.A. in theater. Since leaving her hometown of New Orleans, she’s written and starred in a one-woman show (lauded by Broadway World as “a singular tour de force”), founded YOLO! Productions (which brings women-created plays, television, and films to life), and performed on stages from New York City to Los Angeles. Teaching acting classes, producing shows, being a leading lady, and pursuing her graduate degree means that long nights are the norm. We sat down with Otero to hear her story. When did you realize that acting was your passion? I was born and raised in New Orleans to Cuban parents. I’m the child of refugees. I didn’t speak English until I was 7, and I’m the oldest of two. What inspired me to go into acting was—it’s very silly—but I’ve been wanting to be an actress since I was in second grade. I did a pantomime version of the poem “Casey at the Bat” and presented it at my school’s PTA meeting. I’ve been hooked on acting ever since. And I’ve never, ever wavered. I just simply love it—love, love, love, love it. I have been very fortunate to have a family that has been very supportive of this wild dream of mine. Creating brings me some of my greatest joy. How did your graduate studies change you? The acting specialization in the theater M.F.A. not only taught me the craft and techniques of acting, but also helped me confront myself—the good, the bad, and the ugly. In that process, I’ve seen great growth, which I’m very, very happy about. What I’ve learned in the program has spilled into my personal life. I’ve become calmer and more patient. But like anything that comes with growth, I’ve had bumpy roads. No growth without bumps, right? Overall, my experience has been very positive. Complete the sentence: Brooklyn College’s biggest strength is… Brooklyn College’s biggest strength is diversity. By far. The diversity we see daily on campus is really quite beautiful. Ages, ethnicities, you name it. It’s wonderful to see. You received funding from the college to go to Cuba. What was that like? In the fall, I applied for the Tow International Research Fellowship. I was accepted, which allowed me to go to Cuba on an ancestry trip. I met my family that I had never met before. Now, I’ll forever talk to them. I’m proud that I applied and then did it because it was a very fulfilling experience. It’s my proudest achievement here. What’s next for you? My first goal is to 100% take a vacation. After that, my plan is to find a job that fulfills me artistically and financially. I’ll be spending a lot of energy to ensure that it happens. I’m just honestly going to take my time easing back into the business world, the professional world. And just give myself a little bit of time. The cliche is “always be working.” But for me, I don’t just want to do that. I want to continue creating works and creating new, original projects.
