My Story

In the magical realm of Chilangolandia (known to mortals as Mexico City and to a select group 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—whether it was the grace of classical dance, the soaring melodies of Bel canto, or the high-flying antics of circus training. A nerd, in other words, collecting talents like a wizard collects spell books.

Venturing beyond my homeland, I’ve roamed the vast lands of other nations, gathering not only wisdom but friendships as enduring as a dragon’s slumber. Like a chameleon with a flair for the dramatic, I can blend into any environment, yet always remain true to the core of who I am—a storyteller.

In the end, we are all characters in the grand tale of life, each of us shaped by our lands, our heritage, our ancestors, and the echoes of those who came before us. It is our stories that breathe life into our existence, giving meaning to our every step. My mission is to bring these tales to life, to offer empowerment and representation to as many souls as possible.

After earning my diploma as an actor (a scroll sealed with the wax of many a late-night rehearsal), I sought a higher purpose. My guiding principle? Gratitude, with a dash of humility, because I know that no heroine ever truly stands alone. Every step of my journey has been paved with the support of those who believed in me, and I carry their strength as I forge ahead.

My quest led me to the enchanting city of Paris, where I pursued a double Master's in Drama Therapy and Conflict Management. There, I discovered the alchemy of combining storytelling with the art of healing—a power so profound it could bring peace to the most troubled of souls. Through expressive arts facilitation, I’ve cast many a workshop spell, helping others to heal, seek justice, and nurture their mental health. These endeavors have woven a tapestry of connection and empathy, empowering the underserved communities I’ve encountered.

Today, I dwell in the realm of the US of A, a proud member of the SAG-AFTRA and AEA guilds of the House of the Performing Arts. Acting is not merely a profession—it is the quest of my lifetime, a journey of evolution where I continually explore the vast and emotional landscapes of the human experience.

I believe in using our differences as assets.

If human beings embraced uniqueness and tolerate diversity,

we could aim for a sense of collectivity & 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

  • Stepping in as the lead actress for the Off-Broadway production of Hotel Happy in 1 day, with four hours of blocking and 3 days to learn over 100 pages of script.

  • Honorable Mention for Fantasy Proof of Concept: Jewels of Light.

  • Best Female Empowerment Short-film for Jewels of Light.

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

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

  • Guest at 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 session "Nature-Based Expressive Approaches for Healing from Medical Illness: Coping Despite COVID”.

Cool Facts About Me

  • 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 orcs and Uruk-Hais is truly amazing!

  • Writing a mental health journal with my bestie Andi Cabello, who’s a Family Therapist and a Fantasy nerd just like me.

  • Obsessed with Celtic Culture and avid practitioner of spiritual Druidism.

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

  • Fan of Edgar Allan Poe and Samuel Beckett.

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

  • Into sour foods & drinks.

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

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

  • Passionate about Bollywood Movies, their songs and dances.

  • Learning to play the Irish Bardic Harp.

Qualifications

6 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.

  • Kondaira™ 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-Sorbonne Nouvelle

  • 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

  • 6 Years of facilitating Arts for Healing and Mental Wellness Workshops

“Tessie is the greatest blessing of 2020”

— TOM TODOROFF