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With a career spanning over a decade, Kate Sanchez has already made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. The six-time award-winning actress, model, singer, and dancer from Katy, Texas, has worked with top brands and networks including NBC, General Mills, Samsung, and Verizon.
Born with a passion for acting, Kate started her career at just eight years old. She has since appeared in numerous commercials, print ads, and short films. Her impressive resume includes standout roles in film shorts Eggs, Haider, TX, Burned Out, and Asi es la Vida, among others. Her performances have earned her international awards for Best Actress in a Short Film at the Korean International Film Festival and Tokyo International Film Festival.
In addition to her on-screen work, Kate has also made a name for herself in musical theater. She has performed over eight roles in productions of The Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre in Houston and played the lead role of Belle in a new remake. She is also set to star in a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol by famous director Rob Melrose, which is available for licensing worldwide.
With her youthful appearance and strong emotional range, Kate is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after teen actresses in the industry and a delight for critics worldwide. Her versatility and dedication to her craft have earned her numerous awards and recognition, making her a force to be reckoned with.
Acting to Be Cool
“I actually started acting when I was eight years old,” says Kate. “And to be honest, the main reason why I started acting was because I thought it looked cool. I liked trying everything as a kid, but once I actually started the acting process like taking classes, getting headshots, shooting commercials, and performing on stage, was when I actually found I really loved it.”
First Big Break
“My first big break on-screen was when I was on NBC’s hospital show, New Amsterdam. I played Trini Sorel, and she was the daughter of a cancer patient. It was so amazing to be in such a huge NBC studio! That was my first time in a network studio and an experience that I will never forget. I do still love all of my other projects that I’ve done, each one has helped me grow so much as an actress.
“The TV show, New Amsterdam was literally a dream come true! Such a fun experience.I got to fly to New York, which is amazing because prior to shooting, we were able to take in a couple of Broadway shows and did the New York tourist attractions. But the best part was the actual filming at the NBC studio. I got to work and meet Freema Agyeman (Dr. Helen Sharpe) and Christine Change (Dr. Agnes Kao), but due to the strict rules that NBC had during COVID, we could not take any photos on set. The crew was very welcoming and made sure my mom and I had everything we needed in our dressing room. I don’t know if I have a favorite part or scene of the show because honestly everything was so amazing. It was a huge studio with many fake sets. It actually made me feel like I was in a real hospital!”
Talking Awards
“My awards are for Best Actress in a short film from the Korean International Short Film festival and Best Actress for the Tokyo Film Festival for the short film Burnout. For the short film Eggs we won Best Women Short, Best Acting Duo, Best Short of the Season Runner-up. It is such an honor to be nominated and win these awards. Besides short films, I’ve filmed many national and local commercials: Verizon, Church’s Chicken, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Main Event, Samsung Galaxy, University Healthy, Toaster Strudel Back to School Breakfast, just to name a few. Not only do I act, I also sing, dance and do some modeling. I’ve modeled for Chevy, Clear Correct, Thousand Trails (Lake Conroe) and the GT Gifted school. As for singing, I enjoy singing in musical theater and, in my free time, I also enjoy singing in cabaret camps and mini shows. I love to dance, too! It’s just another really fun way to express myself. I am currently enrolled in private dance lessons, and I just joined the dance team at my high school.
“Going back to my first award – when I found out about it, I was speechless! This is rare because according to my mom, I talk a lot. It was a weird but nice feeling to realize my hard work paid off. I cried with excitement to know that so many people from around the world were watching these films. It’s mind blowing to me. I’ve been blessed to work with many talented directors/actors and mentors who have helped me in my career. Big shout out to Lindsay St. Clair, Sarah Corean, Kumar Mayank, Cesar Velasco, Chris Hartwell, Rushi Bhadane, The Ortega Brothers, Max Gutierrez, Coach Thaddeus, Fabian Alomar, Harry Shum Jr, Jimmy Gonzales, and Amber Horn.
“I am forever grateful to my amazing dream team. In Los Angeles, Rebecca Ek (president /agent of Exclusive Artists Agency ) and in Houston, Pastorini Bosby Agency (President /agent Cindi Davis and Mitzi Trevino).”
Texas Roots
“Love being a Texan! I love living in Texas minus the humidity and heat, of course. Besides my mom and my stepfather, I have three older siblings and many aunts/uncles and cousins. I love all the support from my very large family. Texas has so much to offer, from our theater and museums districts to fine dining and Buc-ee’s.
“I especially love being a Houstonian (go Astros)! Houston has been a great starting point for my acting career. Luckily there are a lot of acting opportunities locally here in Houston. Last summer, I was cast in the feature film Do No Harm which was filming all over Houston and the Sugarland area. Besides Houston, there are many local and national commercials and short films that are produced in Austin and Dallas, so it’s not too much of a commute from Houston. Of course there are other opportunities outside of Texas, but what’s stopping me from getting on a plane?”
Community Theater
“I have to say that doing local theater in Houston has definitely opened another side of acting by introducing me to live performances on stage. I come alive in person! It’s also given me the opportunity to meet and work with some amazing local actors: Mr. Luis Quintero, Mrs. Teresa Zimmermann, Melissa Molano, Mr. David Rainey, and Mr. Christopher Salazar. I’ve been honored to work with the directors, Mr. James Black and Mr. Rob Melrose.
“Musical theater will always have a special place in my heart because that is where I started acting at such a young age. What speaks to me is the live aspect of everything. Having a live audience, quick changes and running to my next scene definitely keeps me on my toes! And if you mess up, you just keep going, and that’s what I love about it.
“I also love my mentors/acting coaches, Mr. Corey and Mrs. Amber Horn and enjoy my online weekly zoom lessons with them. I am also learning to play the piano with my teacher, Mr Jamin.
“The Christmas Carol is one of my favorite shows to perform in and watch. I’ve been in the show since the age of ten and every performance I do feels like home. But before I was performing in this show, I’ve been watching it since I was six years old. So being able to perform in it now, is like a full circle moment from when my mom first took me to see it. It’s such an incredible feeling! My favorite character to play is young Belle. I think it’s so cool to see how Scrooge and Belle first met when they were younger and to see how their relationship develops as they age. It’s such a beautiful story, with an amazing cast and awesome props.”
Stay Organized
Kate shares some tips for other teen actresses: “As a teen actress, you gotta be organized! My mom and I keep track of all of our auditions/bookings/jobs on a shared calendar and also in a binder. I always research every role prior and say a prayer before filming our self-tape. It can be a bit challenging if you go to a public school, too! I am fortunate to attend a public school in a great district where our principal, assistant principal, counselors and all my teachers work with us regarding my bookings and my schedule. It was sometimes challenging to balance it all out but we did manage to make it work. I do continue to maintain my full-time honor student grade A, but staying focused and managing my time is hard at times. But, in the end, securing a booking is worth it all.
“It will take time and persistence to land your first job. Be open to criticism from your coaches and peers. Train by taking acting classes, look for small local theater work. Don’t be sad if you don’t book the job, something else is around the corner. One fun thing that not everyone knows, is that I auditioned and was accepted into my high school dance team. I start in the fall 2024. Looking forward to dance camps, dance competition and football season.”
Future Plans
“I have many great memories of all my time on set and stages but my all time favorite will be playing Sadie in Do No Harm. It’s a feature film due to be released Spring 2025, directed by Chris Hartwell. I can’t say much because it has not been released yet, but I do have cool makeup, I get to ride in an ambulance, and I worked with two amazing actors (Jimmy Gonzales and Harry Shum Jr). We even did a TikTok dance in between scenes.
“I can’t wait for my feature film, Do No Harm and short films, Eggs, Burnout and Asi es la Vida to be released for viewing! As for future projects, I just booked a role for CharlieBird directed by Libby Ewing, written by our local and national actress Samantha Smart. It’s a feature film which starts filming late this summer. What fans can expect is definitely seeing a lot more of me on screen. I am putting positive vibes out there that I get booked on a series regular or another feature film. I love horror films, so to be cast in one would be amazing. I pray I continue to grow and learn as an established actress and be in roles that I can relate to and/or challenge me.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @kate.i.sanchez.official
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Cover photo courtesy Kate Sanchez.
Bob Valleau is a regular entertainment writer for Texas Lifestyle Magazine.
