Download BPresume Begonya Plaza is a bilingual actor, writer, and filmmaker. At age nine she starred in the independent Hollywood film, "Big Sister". For most of Begonya's formative years she bounced around between: Guernica in Northern Spain, (where her father and her mother's father are from), Colombia, where she was... Continue reading

SAG/AFTRA/EQUITY -- Download Begonya's Resume -- IMDB Acting Demo: Links for recorded performances The Invisible Catalyst (a poem dedicated to Covid-19) A scene from "In Arabia We'd all be Kings" by Stephen Adley Guirgis Benefit performance at First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, hosted by Ed Asner "Silver Tongued Devil" Begonya Plaza for Rimes of The Ancient Mariner February 24, 2016 Gernika Lives (full version) Souvenir Views (outtakes) The Artist Way (short film) American Hero (short film) Gero Arte (short film) Invisible Catalyst (Poem to Covid-19 NY) Cat and I in Port Lligat researching Salvador Dalí Childhood friends: Mauri, Felipe and Jesus breaking bread in Euskadi Lament (10" stage play) THE KISS (short film) On the US1 with Zelda Kaplan * Jeffrey Gurian YOUTUBE CHANNEL VIMEO Begonya Plaza © 2000 Continue reading

ACTING DEMO SAG/AFTRA/EQUITY IMDB Download BPresume Links to recorded performances The Invisible Catalyst (a poem to Covid-19) A scene from "In Arabia We'd all be Kings" by Stephen Adley Guirgis Benefit performance at First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, hosted by Ed Asner "Silver Tongued Devil" Begonya Plaza for Rimes... Continue reading

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In 2004, I wrote The Persistence of Memory, a fictionalized account about Salvador Dalí and his wife, Gala, seen from the eyes of a young man who was privy to their intimate lifestyle. This character is a compendium of the many and varied lovers Gala enjoyed, and who afterwards exposed their stories to the world. The Persistence of Memory was a semi-finalist at the 2005 American Zoetrope Screenplay competition, and later earned the interest of notable Hollywood artists. The process of raising money and competing in Hollywood became uninspiring. So, I wrote a stage play version that then led me to embark on writing a novel. You may ask, why so much Dalí, and I tell you, because he covers so much of life, art, and mysticism. From materialism to the cosmos, from sex to psychology, from culture to politics. I couldn't get enough, and through this process I have learned so much, and my writing has also improved enormously. Researching about Dalí is how I discovered Saint Teresa of Avila, and got to write a play inspired by her life and teachings. Teresa's Ecstasy was produced Off-Broadway in 2012, performed by the late, Shawn Elliott, the amazing, Linda Larkin and, yours truly. It was a very rewarding theatre experience! DALI Esque-Apades is a short segment of my writings. Here, Phillip Giambri narrates it for you. If you want to follow along, you can read a PDF daliesqueapades. If you have enjoyed my work, I ask that you take a few more minutes to like, comment and subscribe on my Youtube channel. It really helps a writer to receive reactions, and support. Such joy it is to explore the expansive adventure of life. We must never lose our faith in human kind, nor the ability to use our inquiring minds for enriching the hearts of others. In these pages I share creative works I've completed, and others in progress. May we transcend these troubled times through kindness, truth and a smile. My life experiences have proven that through creativity much can be understood and healed. Salud! You may recognize me in the roles I played in these films. Works I cherish for the lovely growing experiences that involved a creative process unfolding alongside the personal, while elevating my perspectives to poignant multi-levels. For me, acting is a sacred experience because through the work I'm always honoring the human condition with better understanding and empathy for myself, and others. Working alongside generous and tenacious fellow actors has enriched my life as much as my craft. I always steered away from fully being identified only for my profession. It was never enough, everything sparked my curiosity, which didn't fit with my intended stereotype. I am so much more than any label society tries placing on me and especially as an actor. Labels are created in order to undermine, and I knew that instead of narrowing my perspective what I needed was to peel away layers, break open boundaries, silence the noise and follow my deepest inner callings. The contradictions that one has to face in life, but especially as an actor are extreme, on the one hand the actor, while learning to pour out his heart and soul in order to reflect truths, exorcise demons, experience profound vulnerabilities while being present in the moment and fully receptive, also experiences a need to work, and be seen, thus forced to become desperately ambitious, and self-centered. I didn't want that to happen to me, I wanted a balance, I wanted a life, and believed that only through life experiences my work would really evolve organically. This awareness expanded my world and life horizons on so many levels. I feel very lucky in that I worked with amazing artists, owning innate compassionate impulses, but the few who attempted discounting me, and ostracizing me I now see as angels in disguise because they informed my later actions, awakened my courage, and gave me the chance to practice resilience. For example, upon ending my second year of college in a three-year theatre academy, I was unexpectedly asked to leave because, "I didn't fit in." And this is after the head of the academy had placed his creepy hand on my shoulder (just a week earlier) while I was alone in the mezzanine one night doing lights for the third year's production of "Love's Labour's Lost." He whispered in my ear: Next season it's you on that stage. My scene final was from The Dutchman, and was a huge success. I got an A+, and still I was told, "I didn't fit in." I later heard that those same teachers were mentioning me as their exemplary student to their incoming freshmen, and taking credit for my professional accomplishments. By then I had already appeared in a major Hollywood... Continue reading

Joyously, I explore the expansive adventure of life, with an inquiring mind and heart, aiming to evolve toward my fullest soul potential. Here, I share with you some of the creative works I've completed, and others that are still in progress. May your divine imagination be inspired, and we as... Continue reading

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To celebrate the 20 year anniversary of our original production, David Zayas and I perform a reading from, "In Arabia We'd All be Kings." by Stephen Adley Guirgis GERNIKA LIVES The calamities that force change both, torment me, and inspire me to dig for stories of understanding. Ever since I was a child hearing my father tell his childhood tale of horror with tears streaming down his cheeks, I asked myself, how come. Why such malice? And how can we learn from our history, and how is my life intertwined with the world history, the secrets of humanity, and the nature of reality? How can we solve the root problems and live a life of highest potential throught art, spirit, and quantum physics. A visual poem, "Invisible Catalyst" for New York City at the onset of Covid-19 Pandemic. Benefit performance at First Unitarian Church, hosted by Ed Asner. Songs: Lost in the Stars and Listen to my Song by Kurt Weill, Gracias a la Vida by Violeta Parra. Youtube Videos Life works in mysterious ways, and one never knows if an enriching acting job will come along and shift my life again in another remarkable direction. One-Woman theatre piece, "In her mouth lingers the taste of another man" Bertolt Brecht's erotic songs and poems, performed at NYU's Deutsches Haus and the Gas Station, an iconic avant-garde art space (also called 2B) in New York City's, East Village. Conceived for Vienna's theater company, Sparverein Die Unzertrennlichen, directed by Kurt Palm, musical director, Josef Reiter, Production design: Ursula Huebner, production manager, Martin Fritz. Many papers refused to print the title, in 1990. Because of its raciness, the video on youtube is restricted to mature audiences. Other available recorded Performances for viewing Invisible Catalyst (Poem to Covid-19 NY) A scene from "In Arabia We'd all be Kings" by Stephen Adley Guirgis Benefit performance at First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, hosted by Ed Asner "Silver Tongued Devil" Begonya Plaza for Rimes of The Ancient Mariner February 24, 2016 Gernika Lives (full version) Souvenir Views (outtakes) The Artist Way (short film) American Hero (short film) Gero Arte (short film) Cat and I in Port Lligat researching Salvador Dalí Childhood friends: Mauri, Felipe and Jesus breaking bread in Euskadi Lament (10" stage play) THE KISS (short film) On the US1 with Zelda Kaplan * Jeffrey Gurian Continue reading

Begonya Plaza is a bilingual actor, writer, and filmmaker. At age nine she starred in the independent Hollywood film, "Big Sister". For most of Begonya's formative years she bounced around between: Guernica in Northern Spain, (where her father and her mother's father are from), Colombia, where she was born, and the United States. Some of the directors Begonya has worked with, in film, television, and stage, include: Walter Hill, Oliver Stone, Michael Mann, Amy Jones, Tim Hunter, Clint Eastwood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Ellen Kuras. She has acted opposite, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Robert De Niro, Willem Dafoe, Roddy McDowall, and Carroll O'Connor, among others. Begonya has worked with the Labyrinth Theatre Company, originating the role of Ms. Reyes in Stephen Adly Guirgis' "In Arabia We'd all be Kings" directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. At the Beverly Hills Playhouse she originated the role of Rose in "Old Friends" written by Martin Zurla, directed by Richard Zavaglia, and produced by Dan Lauria. At New York City's avant-garde Gas Station, Begonya performed erotic songs and poems of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, in a one-woman musical with Austria's theatre company, and directed by Kurt Palm. Begonya originated the role of Hannah, in Ronensbourgh at IATI theatre, directed by Ignacio Garcia-Bustelo, and at the Ensemble Studio Theatre West, she played Garcia Lorca's, Yerma. Begonya has collaborated with Culture Clash, Rachel Rosenthal, and Barry Gifford. While in high school Begonya wrote and presented the news in English and Spanish for the Emmy Award television news program, Student News. In college she studied at Los Angeles Theatre Academy, and in New York with the National Shakespeare Company, Geraldine Page, Bill Hickey, Herbert Berghof, Eric Morris, and Michael Howard. Begonya studied dance at Alvin Ailey, and voice with Graham Bernard. She attended independent writing courses at NYU, UCLA, AFI, and with Robert McKee. Between acting jobs, Begonya spent a year in the Basque country, writing, producing, directing, and editing alongside Emmy Award winning editor, Jack Tucker, her documentary, "Gernika Lives". The 40" film is about the bombing of Gernika and the 50th anniversary remembrance ceremonies. Begonya interviews family, and distinguished survivors of that tragic event during the Spanish Civil War. The documentary is narrated by, John Randolph, with whom Begonya collaborated on many socially conscious projects. Begonya played the female lead in the CBS television series, "Dark Justice". A co-production with Catalán tv, and shot in Barcelona, where also her daughter, Caterina, was born. Begonya wrote, filmed, edited, and produced the documentary, “Souvenir Views” about a young man's self-imposed, rite-of-passage experience in New York, post 9/11. The film premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, La Habana International Festival, aired on The Independent Film Channel throughout two consecutive years, and traveled to East Coast universities, including Wagner College and Dartmouth University. Begonya wrote “Teresa’s Ecstasy” a three-character, full-length play, and also performed in the Off-Broadway run opposite, Shawn Elliott, and Linda Larkin, at Cherry Lane Theatre. Directed by Will Pomerantz and produced by Jack Sharkey and Jim Weiner. Is published by Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. Begonya wrote the screenplay, The Persistence of Memory, about one year in the life of Salvador Dalí and his wife, Gala, seen from the eyes of a young lover. The script garnered letters of interest from celebrated actress, Glenn Close, and director of photography, Juan Ruiz Anchía. Instead of pursuing funding and a film production, Begonya wrote a rendition for stage, and is currently completing the novel version. Begonya's poem, "Love" was published in "Silver Tongued Devil Anthology / Rimes of the Ancient Mariner", Celebrating 5 years of East Village Poetry, and her poem "To Caterina from her Mother" will be published in Beyond Words Magazine, November 2021, for its Happy Birthday 20th edition, both in print & online. Continue reading

The Invisible Catalyst, a coronavirus poem with visuals of empty New York City during the quarantine on April 13, 2020 Background guitar music by Henry Purcell, Dido's Lament. Continue reading

Illusory Wall Street nightclub life of New York City in early 2000. Continue reading

Back in early 2017, Becky and John, Bob and I went on vacation to Sedona, Arizona, the desert land of high vibratory energy. I didn’t give the trip much thought prior to our travel date and not until we actually landed in Phoenix, did it occur to me that perhaps I could take advantage of the rich natural setting where many of our country’s most gifted new age healers reside to book a session with one. I thought to myself, how foolish of me that I did not think of this sooner but figured, the best I can do now is to give it a shot, and see who I can access. There were two reasons for me to want to see someone with higher conscious powers. One was, that I have a skin condition relating to an autoimmune deficiency and I’m always interested in finding out practices of energy healing work, and ancestral karmic cleansings which might possibly uproot the cause and help cure naturally. The other reason was, that I wanted to be better prepared for attending the setting and spiritual aura where my beloved uncle had passed in the Grand Canyon so many years ago. Aparicio drowned in the Colorado River after hiking down the Canyon one hot Good Friday, at twenty-seven years of age. Learning of his loss meant a rite of passage experience for me having just turned fifteen, myself. The night prior to the devastating news, I hadn’t slept a wink. The bedroom I shared with my sister was dark and ominous that night as I laid awake crying uncontrollably, for no reason at all, except that my imagination inspired thoughts of my mother dead, and what life would be like without her. The following day, at school, everyone asked me what happened and why my eyes were so puffy and red. I tried to explain that it was from crying all night, without an actual reason for it. After school that day, I went straight home. A few hours later, a girlfriend came by after having visited my parent’s bakery looking for me. With a confused smile, she blurted out, very matter of fact, “Your mom was wailing on the phone. Do you have an uncle? I think her brother died.” In that moment time stood still, and I felt like I was out of my body. I asked my friend to leave, resenting her insensitivity and for being the messenger of such dreadful news. I walked over to a window, and as I watched the people walking on the street down below, I wondered how the world could continue moving after such a tragedy. Days, weeks and months went by in a stupefied state, and feeling as if I was in a dream. I always sensed a strong connection with my uncle, Aparicio. He represented illuminating treasured moments of my childhood. After his death many events in my life coincidentally related to him in oddly synchronistic ways occurred, which only now I have come to recognize. Late that night when we arrived to Sedona, I got a contact for a medium from the waiter serving us at the restaurant in our hotel. “Her name is Nema, call her, she’s very good. I would gladly help you, but tomorrow I leave for ten days” said the long hair, tattooed waiter, heavily ornamented with crystals and amulets. Bob couldn’t help but poke fun at my confidence in what he felt were flimsy concepts and even tried to dissuade me from pursuing such “dubious” ideas. I liked the waiter’s energy, so I immediately called the number he had given me, written down on the back of his card. The following morning, Nema returned my phone call. We spoke and made an appointment at her earliest available time which was after my trip to the Grand Canyon. I asked her advice on how I could best honor my uncle’s spirit when visiting the site of his final day on earth. Nema recommended that I take a quartz stone, pray on it, and find an area to bury it as a gift for him, in a moment of privacy and quiet. The day at the Grand Canyon started sunny and with clear skies. We walked through several areas near the visitor center, took our usual touristy photos, and selfies, admiring in awe and with wonder the Canyon’s majestic powerful beauty. Then, Bob and I held hands in contemplation of the river down below hidden between crevices and boulders the size of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. We both cried with deep emotion for the memory of my uncle. Bob whispered to me, “If we have to die, what better place to take flight then from here.” I quietly agreed, though wishing still it hadn’t been so... Continue reading

LAB25: Full Circle September 19-24, 2017 Cherry Lane Theater | 38 Commerce Street LAB25: Full Circle celebrates 25 years of creating new work by featuring readings of excerpts from the LAByrinth repertoire, new 10-minute plays by emerging and established playwrights, conversations about the history of the company, plus a special full-length reading of In Arabia We'd All Be Kings by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Tickets Continue reading

Many U.S. states, and countries still ban LGBT rights. Continue reading

Proud and blessed of my Northern Spanish heritage, Euskadi and the family life I created in Catalunya, France and Italy, I realize that most of my memorable adventures have focused around the dinner table, with inspiring conversation, simple delicious food and intoxicating wines. It will be a pleasure sharing my... Continue reading