About
Meet Your Coach & Elevate Your Acting, Perform with Confidence, and Book More Roles.
BIOGRAPHY
Stories have always been my passion. As a child, I was drawn to books, comics, and films, eager to explore worlds beyond my own. I originally set out to become a film director but found my way into acting—where I truly discovered my love for storytelling. Acting gave me the freedom to be fully present, connect deeply with others, and explore the human experience in ways I never imagined.
I trained at FUNESC Conservatory of Theatre in Brazil and worked with acting coaches from around the world. I co-founded Grupo Graxa de Teatro (which is still going strong after 20 years), Straeon Acting Studios, and now, ISA Acting Classes. For the past 15 years, I’ve been coaching and working with Canadian actors, helping them refine their craft and succeed in the industry. As a member of ACTRA and CAE, I continue to work professionally in film & television to keep myself up to date with the fast changing pace of the work environment.
At ISA, I train actors to step into every role with confidence, adaptability, and authenticity. Acting is always evolving—with culture, technology, and industry demands—so actors must evolve too. My coaching focuses on physical exploration (focuses on integrating the mind, body and emotinos for a coherence expression or interpretation of the character and story) over intellectual overthinking, helping actors break through creative blocks and bring characters to life naturally. Every actor is unique, which is why I adapt my coaching to the individual—pulling from a wide range of techniques to find what truly works for them. The result? Actors who don’t just deliver performances—they create unforgettable moments on screen.
MISSION
At ISA Acting Coaching, we train actors for film and television, but our approach benefits performers across all mediums, from stand-up comedians to public speakers. Many actors lack the solid foundation needed for a long and thriving career, and ISA is committed to changing that.
We focus on building a deep understanding of the actor’s instrument—body, heart, and mind—so that performances are authentic, adaptable, and confident. Our coaching emphasizes intuition, physical exploration, and adaptability, allowing actors to fully embody their characters instead of approaching roles from an external or intellectualized perspective. We train actors to find the character’s voice, body, and heart through multilayered exploration, rather than relying on preconceived ideas.
At ISA, we also teach actors to read a script from an actor’s perspective, not an outsider’s. This means breaking down a script in a way that prioritizes the emotional and physical life of the character, rather than just analyzing the story from a technical or literary angle. By combining script analysis and personalized techniques, actors develop an approach that is both structured and adaptable.
ISA’s coaching is deeply rooted in research, drawing from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to help actors overcome creative blocks and deepen their craft. Storytelling is as old as humanity itself, and as acting continues to evolve with culture and technology, so must the way we train. At ISA, we prepare actors to meet that challenge—to grow, adapt, and create unforgettable performances.
THE METHOD
Breaking the rules starts with knowing them. Many actors jump into improvisation before they fully understand the script, the character, or the story. Without that foundation, their choices become limited—driven by personal biases rather than deep exploration.
The actor’s first tool is the script, but too many approach it with an outsider’s mindset, searching for answers rather than possibilities. A script doesn’t hold the full experience of a character—it only points toward it. The actor’s job is to bring it to life, embodying the character’s physicality, voice, thoughts, and experiences rather than playing a shallow idea of the character. Staying in the imagination isn’t enough—you must do the work, physically and fully.
Practice isn’t about deciding how to play a scene—or repeating the same choices over and over. It’s about exploring. At ISA, we use a multilayered approach, always asking, “What else?” instead of locking into choices too soon. We explore opposites—if one thing is true, so is its opposite—challenging actors to break through limiting beliefs, biases, and judgments while expanding their range.
True acting goes beyond the rational mind, which processes only one fact at a time. It requires tapping into intuition, instincts, and creative adaptability—deeply connected to both the body and the subconscious. Through structured exercises, actors at ISA learn how to step beyond intellectual limitations, trust their instincts, and fully inhabit their characters.
