Breaking into Hollywood without connections feels like dragging yourself through barbed wire, struggling toward a finish line you are not even sure exists. Elizaul Santana knows this feeling well. An Afro-Latino actor of Dominican descent, he’s from Salem, Massachusetts, a place that did not exactly lay out a path to stardom.
Santana graduated from Salem State University with a business degree, juggling three jobs to stay debt-free. Acting was just a dream; an obsessive etching, a wild idea from his childhood that seemed out of reach.
However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, and the world came to a standstill, Santana took a risk, dove into acting, and started from scratch—scouring the internet for auditions, submitting to roles through platforms like Backstage and Actors Access, and grinding out his hustle one self-tape at a time.
The hustle, the laborious routine work, is real.
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“It’s tough; it’s very expensive,” he says plainly, making no excuses. “You have to constantly grind—submit to casting calls, keep your headshots updated, and always stay in class to improve.”
And, on top of that, actors still have to hold down a regular job just to keep the lights on. Preparation is half the game.
“So when that moment does come, if it ever comes, you’re ready,” he explains.
Elizaul’s resume is steadily building momentum with lead roles in Elton Holt’s “Beyond the Eyes,” Newton Pathak’s “JOY,” and other standout projects like Kaya Luong’s “Death Watches” and Steven Coleman’s “Curse of Vanishing.”
His acting range is broad, a cascade of overlapping characters that flow from raw, gut-wrenching drama to versatile parts like lawyers, college kids, and even tech guys.
“I guess I do have long hair. You throw a pair of glasses on me, I’m sure I can fit in on that,” he jokes, owning his ability to shape-shift into any challenging role.
Despite his cool, laid-back demeanor, drama is his comfort zone.
“Drama is my bread and butter,” he admits. “When I’m doing a drama where there’s some heavy emotional things and heavy topics, that’s when I get to express myself a little bit more.”
He looks up to actors like Jharrel Jerome, an Emmy-winning Afro-Latino actor known for his powerful role in “When They See Us.” Santana sees himself in Jerome—young, driven, and dedicated to impactful work. He draws inspiration from cinematic legends like Denzel Washington, Anthony Mackie, and Samuel L. Jackson, and directors like Scorsese, Ryan Coogler, and Jordan Peele.
His advice to aspiring performers is to start now! Do not wait for permission or the perfect moment.
“The more experiences you have, the better an actor you are,” he says. Santana knows that authenticity cannot be faked, and every moment in life can serve as fuel and inspiration.
“Just get into it, get focused on it. But also, don’t be afraid to live a little. You’re only young once.”
Elizaul is not looking for shortcuts or quick wins. He is laying the groundwork for a lasting career, one project at a time, keeping his head down, and grinding it out. It is only a matter of time before the right opportunity comes knocking.
Follow Elizaul Santana’s journey on Instagram @elizaul_santana.
