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  Lee Strasberg Creative Center America Ferrera, appearing in "The Have Little," balances her acting career with her life as a high school student.

By Esther Pasternak

Daily Bruin Contributor

It is easy to flip on the TV or go to a movie and envy the actors for their seemingly easy and glamorous careers. The way America Ferrera balances being a high school student with being an actor, however, reveals the hard work behind the glamour.

Currently, America Ferrera is starring in the play “The Have Little,” at the Marilyn Monroe Theater at the Lee Strasberg Creative Center in West Hollywood. Ferrera plays Lillian, a young girl growing up in tumultuous South Bronx during the ’70s. The play explores Lillian’s struggle to find her place in the world in the face of poverty, a difficult relationship with her divorced parents and a boyfriend who turns to drugs.

Although playing Lillian might seem opposite to Ferrera’s life as a student at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Ferrera sees many similarities between the choices she and her character have to make.

“Lillian tries to find her place in the world, while I’m graduating high school and trying to see what I’m going to do with my career and education,” Ferrera said. “I’m faced with all those life changing decisions and trying to find my place in the world as well. I think Lillian is almost going through the exact same thing, but she is forced to do it at a younger age.”

To simultaneously reach her academic and career goals, Ferrera had to make many sacrifices. During her junior year, Ferrera had to miss classes when she received her first role to play “Yolanda” in the Disney Channel Movie “Gotta Kick it Up.” Even though Ferrera could not attend class for seven months, she maintained a full academic schedule that included two AP classes.

“School and my career are two things that are so important to me that it was worth waking up at four o’clock in the morning, driving to work, coming home at about nine and then doing my homework until about two and then waking up again,” Ferrera said. “It was a really rough time, but I’m sure it won’t get any easier, and I’m willing to do it.”

Ferrera’s dedication paid off after her second role in the film “Real Women Have Curves.” Her role as Ana in the film won her the first ever special acting jury prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. In describing her sense of accomplishment about the award, Ferrera echoed Halle Barry’s acceptance speech for Best Actress at the Academy Awards.

“I felt so much pride, not in myself, but in the art,” Ferrera said. “I felt honored that other artists can appreciate a young 17-year-old Latina’s work. I felt like I was accepting that award, not just for me, but for all the Hispanic women everywhere.”

“Real Women Have Curves,” which will air on HBO in September, explores the issue of self-discovery and finding an identity. Ana has to decide if she wants to please herself or her parents and society, a dilemma with which Ferrera also wrestles.

“It was so amazing to play that part because that is how I feel every day of my life,” Ferrera said. “I learned so much, not just about acting, but (also) about myself. I grew so much on that set. When I came in on the first day and when I left, I was like two different people. I had grown up so much.”

Now Ferrera is looking ahead to new academic and career challenges. She has been accepted to various colleges in California, including UCLA and USC, and is waiting to hear replies from Harvard, Yale and Berkeley. While leaning toward majors such as political science or international relations, she also wants to spend time exploring her various interests.

“The reason why it’s so important to go to college and continue my education is because smart people make smart actors,” Ferrera said. “I feel that every experience and everything I do in my life will contribute to my work and to what I do. All of the tough times I have had in my life have only made me a better artist.”

“I’m thankful for the bad things in my life just (as much) as the good things,” she added.

THEATER: “The Have Little” plays Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through April 14 at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Creative Center at 7936 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Tickets are $17 on Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees and $19 on Friday and Saturday evenings. For tickets, call The Lee Strasberg Creative Center Box Office at (323) 650-7777.

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