Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Roberto Urbina was raised in diverse cultural settings. He lived in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Miami, Florida. Pursuing his passion for acting, Roberto trained at the prestigious Stella Adler Conservatory in Los Angeles and earned degrees in Film and Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Roberto’s acting career began in 2000 with his role in Rodrigo Bellot’s acclaimed debut film, Sexual Dependency. The film gained international recognition on the independent festival circuit, winning top honors at the Locarno Film Festival. This success brought Roberto to Los Angeles in 2003, where he officially began his professional acting career in 2004.
Over the years, Roberto has built an impressive portfolio, appearing in celebrated films such as Towards Darkness by Antonio Negret and Che, The Argentine directed by Steven Soderbergh. His work extends to television, where he has starred in internationally recognized series like Grey's Anatomy, Correo de Inocentes, Tarde lo Conocí, Metástasis (the Spanish adaptation of Breaking Bad), Recovery Road, Loco Por Vos, and TNT's Snowpiercer, in which he portrayed Javier de la Torre for four successful seasons. His recent projects include the feature film Deadland, directed by Lance Larson, where he plays the lead role of Angel Waters, and Ana Maria Hermida's Alix, reprising his role as Conejo.
In addition to acting, Roberto expanded into production in 2015 with the film Hostile Border, which won an award at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2016. In 2023, he founded Cinestesia Productions, a production company specializing in feature films and production services in Latin America
Cristal Aparicio Cárdenas is a Colombian actress and singer born in Cúcuta on July 30, 2006. She showed great artistic talent from a young age, standing out in local music competitions. At 10 years old, she and her family moved to Bogotá for greater opportunities, marking the beginning of her professional career.
Cristal was the lead of the box-office hit feature film THE SOUND OF FREEDOM, as well as the star of the recent feature film ALIX, written and directed by Ana Maria Hermida. In it, she plays a girl recruited by armed groups in a magical adventure. The production has been praised for its originality and Cristal's standout performance.
Additionally, the young actress participated in two major international projects: One Hundred Years of Solitude, the adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez's iconic novel, and Bogotá: City of the Lost, a film shot in South Korea, where she shared the screen with actor Song Joong-Ki.
Cristal continues to shine in the entertainment industry and proudly represents Colombia in high-profile global projects.
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Hi, Roberto Urbina and Cristal. Great to meet you both. Congratulations on all your accomplishments! I'm looking forward to watching ALIX! Thanks for taking the time to have this AMA! How do actors audition for roles in international productions?
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Hi @Roberto Urbina – thank you for the share and for being open about your experiences.
If you had 10 minutes on an awards stage to speak directly to the more mainstream, 'Hollywood production process', I’m curious—what would you want to clarify, educate, or expand upon based on your international and more disconnected production experiences?
I’m always looking to learn from the incredible network of skilled creatives around me. From your perspective, what key takeaways would you want to share—whether they’re about navigating challenges, planning differently, working with limited resources, or even the creative freedoms that come from working outside traditional systems?
What would be at the top of your list to inform and expand the conversation?
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Hola Roberto Urbina y Cristal - hope you are both well. Thank you so much for spending your time with us and hosting this AMA. Question for both of you: The subject of trafficking seems to be one of the most important issues of our time. What do you hope American audiences will take from your performances and production? Thanks in advance!
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Hi Roberto Urbina y Cristal. So exciting to have you both here! Thank you for your willingness to answer questions for us. I have two questions. Firstly, how do you deal with difference and diversity when working with those from different countries and cultures, not to mention the difference and diversity within in a single nation? What differences have you noticed in how actors and actresses are trained in the various countries you have trained and/or worked?
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Hi, Roberto Urbina y Cristal! I'm so glad that you're spending your day with us tomorrow! What advice do you have for actors looking to find international opportunities or get noticed by casting teams in countries other than their own?
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Hi Roberto Urbina and Cristal! Thank you for doing this AMA for us and congratulations on ALIX, this amazing film and so needed in our society today!
For Roberto, I would love to know what was your biggest challenge for your Conejo role.
For Cristal, what inspired you to take on the role of Alix, and how did you prepare to portray such a complex and emotionally charged character? Thank you so much and I wish you the best in your careers. Love from Portugal!
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Maurice Vaughan Thank you! Great to meet you too. Auditioning for international productions usually happens through agents, casting directors, and self-tapes. Many projects post casting calls globally, and platforms like Spotlight, Casting Networks, and Actors Access can help actors submit auditions. Having strong representation and networking with international filmmakers also opens doors! I have found that networking is crucial, you never know where the next lead for a project might appear. Always being engaged in industry events, etc, helps tremendously.
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Jordan Smith Great question! I’d probably talk about how much incredible storytelling happens outside the Hollywood system, often with fewer resources but more creative freedom. I’d highlight the resilience and ingenuity of international productions, where teams find ways to make magic happen despite budget constraints. I am a firm believer that limitations are a driver for expanded creativity. I often limit creative endeavors to focus my creative energy, and the results can be surprising.
I’d also challenge the idea that Hollywood is the only benchmark for success. There are amazing films being made worldwide that push boundaries in ways mainstream productions often can’t due to the constraints of having to answer to the "studio system." And honestly, I’d push for more bridges between industries, more collaboration, more recognition, and fewer barriers for international talent to break into bigger markets.
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You're welcome, Roberto Urbina and Cristal. That's a really helpful answer! Thank you!
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Leonardo Ramirez Hola! Thanks so much for being here. The issue of trafficking is an incredibly complex one. I hope that through ALIX, audiences don’t see it as a foreign problem but as something that affects real people in ways they might not have imagined. The issue can sometimes feel so far removed from our reality that it can seem distant and undermine its importance.
For me, it’s about creating awareness, sparking conversations, and pushing for more empathy. If the film can make people think twice, question what they know, and maybe even take action, then we’ve done our job.
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Sounds right Roberto Urbina and I totally agree in that it’s not a foreign problem in the least. All the best you Roberto!
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Alexandra Stevens Hi! Working across different cultures is one of the most exciting parts of this job. The key is always respect, openness, and curiosity, every set has its rhythm, and every culture brings something unique. Embracing those differences makes the work richer. I've had the privilege of living in different countries throughout my life. The key takeaway has always been approaching a new culture with an open mind and a sense of cultural relativity. It is never wise to try to impose one's outlook but instead adapt and use as much of the information available to the benefit of the character and the project as a whole.
I’ve noticed that training directly relates to how each culture views the world and life itself. Certain cultures, such as the US, are more methodic, while Latin American cultures tend to be a little more reactive and improvisation-based. Both have their strengths and flaws. It's important to interiorize what works for each actor as an individual.
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Hi Roberto Urbina Thank you for this informative answer. In particular, i'm fascinated by your observation that training relates to how each culture sees the world. It makes me wonder if what you say about reactive/improvisation-based versus methodic also applies to how directors work in different cultures?
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Ashley Renee Smith Hi Ashley! Finding international opportunities is all about being proactive, having a strong online presence (IMDb, social media, etc) helps a lot.
Working with a good agent or manager with global connections is key, but networking is just as important. Film festivals, workshops, and social media can be great ways to connect with international filmmakers and casting directors.
Of course, self-tapes have made it easier than ever to audition from anywhere. Being ready with a solid reel and strong performances is crucial. That's part of the reason why I think that taking smaller roles, not only because it keeps you active, but also because you start building a portfolio or body of work that can showcase your range. who knows who might see it in the future.
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Sandra Isabel Correia Hi Sandra, thanks for your question. Playing Conejo was definitely intense, one of the biggest challenges was getting into the mindset of someone who operates in such a dark and ruthless world while still finding the humanity in him. Suspending my judgement of his chosen path was not easy.
Physically, it was demanding, too, with many high-energy scenes that required both emotional and physical endurance. But honestly, the biggest challenge was making sure the character felt real and not just a stereotype. I wanted to bring depth to him, to show the layers behind his actions.
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Hi, Roberto Urbina and Cristal. I have another question. Some producers and companies look at an actor or actress' follower count on social media before casting them in projects. I think it's a newer thing. Does this happen in Colombia or other countries you've been to for projects?
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Hi Roberto Urbina, Thanks for sharing with us. And you did that; your "Conejo" is brillant. Stepping into dark minds isn't easy; that's why you are an amazing actor, and you accomplished your biggest challenge. Congratulations for that! I wish you all the best.
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Hi Roberto Urbina - do you aspire to direct and do you feel your acting experience will inform your directing capabilities?