Dani Montalvo is a rising actress who isn’t afraid to take on a role that pushes her outside her comfort zone. Earlier this year, she starred as the titular character in Lifetime’s I Was Lorena Bobbitt, a survivor who made headlines after enduring years of abuse, ultimately leading her to cut off her husband’s penis in 1993. Thirty years later, Lorena is sharing her journey from an immigrant bride to a battered wife to a strong, thoughtful woman who has devoted her life to advocating for other abused women, and Dani Montalvo is a pivotal part in sharing that journey with audiences. Pop Culturalist caught up with Dani to learn more about her preparation for the film, what it was like working with Lorena and telling her story, and what she hopes audiences take away.
PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Dani: It actually started with music around the age of ten. I started singing and writing poetry. I turned that poetry into lyrics. A year later, I picked up a guitar. That’s where it all started. Then I got into piano and ukulele. I realized that this form of expression was something that I wanted to pursue or at least expand. That’s where I found acting. I took a theater class in high school, which led me to go to theater school in New York. From there, I started auditioning for films, commercials, and TV. That led me here.
PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Dani: I would say my acting coach, Christopher Kadish. He went from being a headshot photographer of mine to an acting coach to a really, really good friend. I can say a hundred percent that I wouldn’t be where I am without all of his advice, without all of his anecdotes. He was the one who pushed me along the way.
PC: Your new film, I Was Lorena Bobbitt, is out now. How does it feel?
Dani: I wasn’t expecting all the emotions I got while watching the film. It ranged from pride for myself and my own accomplishments to anger because this happened to an actual human being.
PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that you were really nervous about diving into this emotionally terrifying role. How did you overcome those nerves?
Dani: Yeah, it was a little nerve-racking because I knew I had a responsibility to tell the story as accurately and truthfully as possible. In order to calm my nerves, I made a couple of detox playlists. Music is something that I’ve used my entire life. I really took the time out to make specific playlists to calm down and get me into different moods.
PC: This is a case that’s been heavily publicized in the media. There’s several documentaries that have been made throughout the years. As an actress, with so much source material out there and Lorena serving as an EP, how did you prepare?
Dani: There was a ton of footage and coverage from the media back in the day. The trial was also televised. I had so much material to use. And of course, Lorena herself, who was an executive producer, having her on set gave me the extra confidence and courage that I didn’t even know I needed. Just from chatting with her—not even necessarily about her story or the abuse but just being able to observe her—helped my performance so much. I watched all the footage, everything that I could get my hands on, particularly for the accent. I had everything at my fingertips to prepare for this.
PC: Despite everything that Lorena has to endure, the film does a really beautiful job depicting her empowering transformation. What was it like collaborating with her? What did she teach you?
Dani: That was amazing because it’s different when you’re telling a story, but when you have the opportunity to create a partnership with the actual person and tell their story the way they want it told, that’s amazing. She told her story once and she didn’t receive the support she needed. It’s incredibly important that we tell it, and she wants it to be heard as well.
PC: This is a breakout role for you. What was the biggest takeaway from this experience for you as an actress?
Dani: As an actress, I learned that I have a lot more control over my emotions than I thought I did. I realized how smooth it was for me and how seamless it was for me to get into those dark places. I practiced a lot on my own. I did feel very prepared for that challenge specifically.
PC: The film is coming out in a pivotal time in history with the Me Too movement. What do you hope audiences take away after seeing this film?
Dani: I hope they realize that domestic abuse, especially now more than ever, is such a hard, horrifying reality for so many men and women. People are so desensitized to abuse and trauma. They only hear the number. They only hear “one in five,” “one in seventy-one”—they only hear statistics. I want them to see that these aren’t numbers; they’re human beings. They’re women. They’re men. They’re people you know. It’s your sister, your mother, your friend. So many people are going through this in silence. I want the world to realize that this is happening and that things haven’t changed too much and that we need to make a lot more progress.
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Dani: The Office. I’ve been watching it nonstop since 2011.
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Dani: The Pursuit of Happyness. Granted, Will Smith is one of my favorite actors. He inspired me so much as a kid. I love watching that movie because it humbles me. It reminds me why I wanted to start acting. It reminds me what’s truly important in life. It teaches me countless lessons.
PC: Favorite book?
Dani: The Power of Frequency. It’s about how we, as humans, have the ability to change our frequencies and our energies on our own. We can change our lives, our realities, through the power of thought and energy. It talks about basically all the power that we have that we don’t know about.
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Dani: I love Grease. That is something that I can pop in. I’m talking DVD. I still have the DVD. I can pop that in and sing the soundtrack in its entirety.
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Dani: Green Day
PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Dani: I would like Ellen Page to give it a shot. I feel like I connect with her. I love her work. I think she could pull it off.
To keep up with Dani, follow her on Instagram. Watch I Was Lorena Bobbitt on demand today.
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