Natalie Morales

Interview by Roman Portnoy
Photography by Ryan West

Glam by Caitlin Wronski
Styling by Kimmy Erin

Natalie Morales was born in Miami, Florida, and is of Cuban descent. She studied Theatre at Miami Dade College and Florida International University. Natalie has since gone on to act, write and direct in various projects, and is appearing in the new movie No Hard Feelings.

You play Sara in the anticipated comedy “No Hard Feelings” co-starring Jennifer Lawrence. What attracted you to this role and made you want to be a part of this project?

The director ( and co-writer) Gene Stupnitsky is an old friend of mine. He was a producer on a show called “Trophy Wife” I did a few years ago that we all had such a great time on.  I read the script and I loved it and was so honored he asked me to be a part of it!

What sets this movie apart from other you’ve worked on in the past?

Every movie is different in its own way, of course. And I’ve certainly done a lot of comedies but it was really great getting to see my friend Gene in action directing. 

What did you learn from your experience directing “Plan B” that you will carry forward into future projects?

So much that it’s impossible to recount just in one answer. Boiled down,  I think being a director who has acted gives me a unique sympathy and understanding for actors and being an actor who has directed gives me a unique sympathy and understanding for directors.  There is literally so much on your brain at once when you are directing that it’s almost this altered state of being. It’s kind of like this liminal space where you are floating a little above the ground, not quite yourself and not quite who people want you to be and hopefully closest to what you need to be in order to to helm a very giant unwieldy ship… and the ability to do that is fascinating to me.

It’s not really humanly possible on most tight budgets and schedules and yet somehow we can do it because we love to do it. Something guides you through. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, its your collaborators and the people around you- and so if I’m not directing something, that’s what I try to be.

That support so that the director has one less spinning plate and one more leg to stand on. I feel very lucky to get to be a part of this business in any capacity. It can be really magical, and the very best part of it is when everyone is collaborating on a shared vision for what we all think this thing we are putting all our time and effort into can be. 

You’ve worked on a variety of comedic productions, from TV shows like “Parks and Recreation” to movies like “No Hard Feelings”. Are there any comedians or actors that have influenced you in your work?

So many. Buster Keaton being the biggest one, but also Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, David Wain, Alan Rickman, Mary Tyler Moore, Rita Moreno, Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, Rosie O’Donnell… I could go on forever.

Your career has spanned both acting and directing. Do you prefer one over the other?

I write too! And no, I don’t prefer one over the other. They are very different but also to me, inherently similar in that it’s all problem solving. It’s creating something out of nothing, or making something that feels human out of words on a page. Organizing chaos. I like cooking and painting for the same reasons. 

You’ve also been involved in voice acting, most recently in “Rugrats” on Paramount+. How does voice acting differ from traditional on-camera acting?

It’s much faster as a process, but it’s not necessarily easier.  I’ve learned so much and have so much respect for voice actors. It’s a very specific skill that I hope to get more opportunities to hone. 

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you on set?

How many pages do you have for this interview?! 

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Honestly, thinking about it, I may have an unexpected answer to this question. For context, actors have this thing called “marks” at their feet, set by the camera department. They’re either pieces of tape or a small sandbag in the shape of a “T” that “mark” where we have to stand in a scene so that the camera has the appropriate focus mark ready to go when we start filming.

This is especially useful when an actor is walking into a scene.  Where the mark goes is figured out in a camera rehearsal and sometimes has to be adjusted after the filming begins.  When I was first starting out, if we had to move a mark, I would just bend down and move my mark myself so that the second AC didn’t have to run over and move it. I thought I was saving them the trouble: after all, it was right at my feet, and they were standing 30 feet away, why wouldn’t I just move it the two inches?

It didn’t make any sense to me and I didn’t understand when the crew would joke around and say “somebody call the union!”.  Someone later explained to me that it makes the second AC look bad if the actor is doing their job.

That changed my perspective on so many things, in this business and in my life. I think I’ve always tried to be helpful in any way I can- but there’s more to think about sometimes in even a simple-seeming scenario like that one. You have to let people do their jobs. I know that sounds elementary but there’s so much more to that. It affects so many things.

It applies to every position. As a director, you have to hire people you think are great and not micromanage them. As an actor, you have to decenter yourself from the job of it even if all the cameras are pointing at you. That’s not to say you have to be entirely hands-off, because sometimes… people don’t do their jobs. But you’ll never find out if you don’t let them, and you’re definitely not better than most people at the thing they were hired to do. So let people around you shine. 

What’s your favorite activity to do when you’re not filming?

Being in a pool somewhere sunny with my dog. 

What TV shows are you binge-watching right now?

I’m watching The Great, which I love! 

I heard you love when animals are named after food. What are your top food names for a pet?

Well my dog’s name is Taco. I’ve heard some really great ones. Noodles, Burrito, famously of course, there’s Tuna, BLT, Sausage… they’re all so great. 

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Could or had to? Those are different things. If I didn’t get sick of it and if it wasn’t unhealthy to eat for every meal it would probably be ice cream. If I HAD to eat one meal for the rest of my life I think I could do rice and beans. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.