My Story

In the magical realm of Chilangolandia (known to mortals as Mexico City and to a select few as El Defectuoso), a dreamer was born—destined to tread the glittering stages of the world.

From the moment I could crawl, I was drawn to the arts: the grace of classical dance, the soaring melodies of Bel Canto, and the high-flying antics of circus training. A nerd, in other words—collecting talents like a wizard collects spellbooks.

After earning my diploma in acting from the National Dramatic Arts Conservatory in Mexico City, I sought a higher purpose. My quest next led me to the enchanting city of Paris, where I trained in Drama Therapy and Conflict Management. There, I discovered the alchemy of blending storytelling with mental well-being through the arts—a power so profound it can bring peace to the most troubled of souls. Through acting, writing and expressive arts facilitation, I’ve not only developed my skills but also helped others express themselves, seek justice, and nurture their mental health. These endeavors have woven a tapestry of empathy and connection, empowering underserved communities across my path.

As I’ve roamed distant lands, I’ve gathered not only wisdom through diverse projects but enduring friendships. Like a chameleon with a flair for the dramatic, I can blend into any environment while remaining true to the core of who I am: a storyteller.

My mission is to bring diverse perspectives to life—offering empowerment and representation to as many people as possible. In the end, we are all characters in the grand tale of existence, shaped by our lands, our heritage, our ancestors, and the echoes of those who came before us. Through stories, we breathe life into our journey, giving meaning to every step.

Today, I dwell in the realm of the U.S. of A., a proud member of the SAG-AFTRA and AEA -guilds of the House of the Performing Arts-, and I continue to evolve as an actor. Because acting is the quest of a lifetime—a journey of transformation and vulnerability, where I continually explore the vast emotional landscapes of the human experience.

“I believe in using our differences as assets.
It is by embracing uniqueness and honoring diversity
that we can strive for a sense of collectivity and balance.” — Tessie Herrasti

“Working with Tessie is an uplifting experience for mind, body, and spirit. As a professional with broad expertise and talent, she brings energy, empathy, and ebullience to everything she does. These qualities are only exceeded by her generosity of spirit.”

— PING HO, MA, MPH FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, UCLARTS & HEALING

Achievements

  • Stepped in as the lead actress for the Off-Broadway production of Hotel Happy with only one day’s notice—four hours of blocking and just three days to learn over 100 pages of script while already performing the show.

  • Honorable Mention for the fantasy proof of concept Jewels of Light.

  • Best Female Empowerment Short Film for Jewels of Light.

  • People’s Choice Award Semifinalist at the Short & Sweet Hollywood Festival for my original play Matilde & Lula.

  • Special Guest at the Women’s Week Short & Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia with my original play Matilde & Lula.

  • Guest appearance on the Today Show in June 2021.

  • Featured Poet at the National Poetry Therapy Association, September 2021.

  • Presenter at the Expressive Therapies Summit LA 2021 with the session “Nature-Based Expressive Approaches for Healing from Medical Illness: Coping Despite COVID.”

Fun Facts About Me

  • I have a fascination with languages, I believe they hold the key to other cultures and places. I’m very good at dialects.

  • Speak fluent French, Spanish and English. Conversational in Italian, German, Danish and Scottish Gaelic, more to come.

  • Fantasy Nerd. I saw the Lord of the Rings movies over 96 times each in theaters. In other words, I know all the music, movements and dialogues and my interpretation of Gollum, orcs and Uruk-Hais is truly amazing!

  • I’m writing a mental health journaling tool with my bestie Andi Cabello, former actress now Licensed Family Therapist and a Fantasy nerd just like me. This journal is based on my Fantasy novel in development Jewels of Light.

  • Passionate about Celtic Culture. Avid practitioner of Druidism and overall spirituality.

  • Admirer of trees & of having existential thoughts around them.

  • Fan of Guillermo del Toro immersive worlds, Edgar Allan Poe’s writing and Samuel Beckett’s plays.

  • Taught Zumba to visually compromised people in France and in front of crowds of over 3000 people.

  • Experienced in most areas of filmmaking, graphic design & editing.

  • Passionate about Bollywood Movies, songs and dances.

  • Learning to play the Irish Bardic Harp.

  • Into sour foods & drinks more than sweets.

Qualifications

8 years of Expressive Therapies Workshops such as:

  • Playback Theater

  • Play Therapy

  • Drumming Circles

  • Poetry Therapy

  • Existentialist Therapy

  • Eco-therapies

  • Social-Emotional Learning

  • Journaling Therapy

  • Dance & Movement Therapy

  • Breema™

  • Puppetry

  • Psicodrama

  • Drama-therapy

  • Art Therapy

  • Kintsugi- The Art of Repairing the Broken Bowl

    Taught by the best therapists and mental health professionals such as:


    Dr. Ping Ho, Dr. Dee Preston Dillon, Armand Volkas, Mimi Savage, Kathy Cass, Jon Schreiber, Alexis Mulhauser, Erica Curtis, amongst many others.

  • Expressive Therapies Workshop Facilitator

  • My whole existence devoted to storytelling

  • HS Arts/ Specialty in Acting-Cedart “Diego Rivera” INBA

  • MA in Acting – National Dramatic School Mexico
    20,000 hours of Acting

  • Summer Intensive Acting Training with the Tom Todoroff Acting Studio

  • 2 Years of editing and content creation for the Tom Todoroff Acting Studio

  • MA in Drama Therapy and Conflict Management

  • Social-Emotional Arts Certification-UCLArts & Healing in California

  • Program Volunteer (InsideOUT Writers/ Creating Writing for Healing with youth who experience incarceration)

  • Translator and Interpreter for Workshops of the UCLArts & Healing

  • Administration for the ETSLA- Expressive Therapies Summit Los Angeles

  • 8+ Years of Arts for Healing and Mental Wellness Workshops facilitation

“Tessie is the greatest blessing of 2020”

— TOM TODOROFF