Waging Freedom

As the evening folded over into midnight, February 2018, Andres Borda had an awakening of spirit. It could have been the late hour that allowed for his defenses to come down and challenge him or that it was simply the right moment, but he felt a change was needed. One year into a degree in medicine, Andres found the childlike wonder that often accompanies dreams had been set aside for more traditional pursuits and a path that was securely well worn. While honest and respectable, that choice came with the surrendering of his true north, and eventually a loss of joy.

When one makes the fated decision to surrender to the artist within just as soon as the decision is made come the questions and proclamations of doubt and uncertainty. In fact, to be an artist one might say besides their work, their biggest achievement will become to resist in the face of doubt and adversity. To create is to be human, and to be human is to create. We are in possession of the tools to tell the stories of our souls, of our errors, tragedies, and triumphs. So that early morning in February where Andres decided to take a chance on himself and commit to the life of an artist, come hell or high water, he knew he was at the bottom of the mountain with a long climb ahead. “I jumped from a high stable land into an ocean of uncertainty. Life is unpredictable, and we’re often conditioned to seek stability and certainty as though that’s the key to happiness or success. But in reality, it’s the unknown that pushes us to grow, to discover, and to evolve in ways that we might never have imagined if we stayed within the safety of the familiar. Every major breakthrough or life-changing moment comes from stepping into a space where the outcome isn’t guaranteed. And that’s what makes life so exciting and full of possibility.”

What followed this transformative realization was an international move from his home in Mexico, a stripping of the self often associated with acting school at NYU’s prestigious and highly competitive Tisch School, countless rejections and type casting, and finally an arrival at the heart of his truest self; buoyed by belief, passion, vision and a role on NBC’s The Blacklist. “I remember feeling I found my artistic voice when I arrived on set for The Blacklist. This was one of my very first gigs. I had a huge impostor syndrome the days leading into the shoot, but everything changed the moment I stepped on that set. I knew I had a story to be told, but also a true sense of belonging. I was able to convey and add my own stamp onto this character, I felt insanely proud of the outcome.”

Roles come and go, lessons are ground into us like mortar and pestle but it’s what we take with us, what we leave behind, and what we fill the moments between that define and hold us through life. Andres indeed lives the life of a creative by most embodying that of a seeker, a vessel of potential alive with energy, emotion, and honesty. To be great one must be willing to be brave and break down barriers. Andres is no exception, performing in a groundbreaking nationwide commercial in Mexico for Fundación Televisa, which depicted a same-sex kiss on screen. “Showing something on screen means it’s real that it does indeed EXIST. Everyone deserves to feel represented, everyone’s story matters. On a personal level, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights also helps to build a more compassionate and inclusive society, where diversity is celebrated rather than feared. It’s deeply rewarding to know that you are making a difference in someone’s life, whether by providing emotional support, creating visibility, or fighting for legal protections. Advocacy is an act of solidarity, and it helps create a world where everyone has the freedom to live authentically and love openly.” It’s ceiling shattering brave decisions like this that have come to define Andres’ career and mark him as a rising latino voice in the film industry.

In addition to his national and international campaigns for global brands such as Little Caesars Pizza and SmartFit, Borda has also starred in high-profile LGBTQ+ commercial campaigns for brands such as Volkswagen, and Mazda, bringing LGBTQ+ visibility to mainstream advertising. Andres’ boundary breaking career can also pirouette. Last year saw him performing a ballet showcase at the renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York City and in his free time he can be found lacing up pointe shoes and taking pointe ballet classes, an act that challenges traditional gender norms in dance and highlights his commitment to pushing the envelope on the conventional routines of yesteryear. “Men going on pointe in ballet challenges rigid gender norms and promotes gender equality by breaking the historical association of pointe work with femininity. Traditionally, ballet has been a space where men and women are often confined to specific roles, and the act of men dancing on pointe defies these expectations, asserting that artistry and expression are not bound by gender.”

Both an advocate and an emerging leading man, Andres believes that the arts are a place of inclusivity and makes a point to be an advocate for the rights and visibility of all. He plans to carry that adage with him the length of his career. In regards to participating in and promoting a safe space for all to explore their creative side Andres says, “It also amplifies LGBTQ+ advocacy by demonstrating the fluidity of gender expression in art, promoting inclusivity, and making a powerful statement that talent and passion transcend traditional gender boundaries. This act of defiance fosters a culture of acceptance and challenges outdated societal norms, supporting the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.” The choices he makes for roles he accepts, how he carries himself through his life, and the boundaries he both sets and moves through will be what define him. He will be known as an actor and creative on the right side of history, and on the right side of his dreams. For Andres, there’s nowhere to go but onward and up into the great possibilities in front of him.