Mateo Silva is 9 years old and lives in San Jose, California. He has an older sister and a little brother who he loves spending time with. Mateo has been passionate about acting and singing since he was very young. He enjoys watching movies and pretending to be different characters. In the summer, he loves going out on his family’s boat to the lakes, where he has lots of fun. Mateo also practices karate and kickboxing, which help him stay active and feel strong. He’s excited to keep learning and growing in everything he loves to do!
HELLO MATEO SILVA, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! WHAT GOT YOU INTO BEING AN ACTOR AND MODEL THAT MADE YOU REALIZE THAT IT WAS YOUR CHOSEN PATH?
I’ve loved movies since I was really little. I always liked learning the lines and acting out the characters with the movie. It’s so fun pretending to be someone else, and that’s when I knew acting was for me!
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING HAVE YOU RECEIVED SO FAR AHEAD OF IPOP!?
I started doing Children’s Musical Theater when I was 6, and I really fell in love with being on stage. Since then, I’ve been taking acting classes like acting techniques, commercials, monologues, and self-tape. I’ve also done modeling boot camps and vocal boot camps to get better at everything!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROJECTS THAT YOU TYPICALLY PREFER?
I like TV and screen the most! I like to watch thrillers and comedies because thrillers are exciting and comedies are funny. Those are my favorite kinds of shows to be in!
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR AN AUDITION?
I practice a lot with my mom, dad, and grandma. My mom even records me so we can watch it together and fix anything that can be better. I also look up stuff on my computer and watch other monologues—it helps me focus really hard on what I’m working on. After a big day of practicing, my mom and dad sometimes take me and my brother and sister for ice cream as a reward, and that makes me super happy!
HAS THERE BEEN ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE SO FAR THAT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF?
Becoming a big brother! I love helping my mom and dad take care of my little brother. It makes me super happy to help him learn and grow up to be strong like me.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES GROWING UP THAT HELPED TO MOLD YOU INTO WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
My mom, for sure! She always tells me to dream big and not be afraid to try new things. Without her, I don’t think I’d have the chances I have today. Someone else I’ve always looked up to is Michael Jackson. He’s been one of my favorites since I was really little. I think it’s so cool that he started singing when he was young—just like me! I love his dancing and his songs, they’re so awesome.
I also really look up to Jenna Ortega. She’s Latin like me, and she started acting when she was my age too. I love watching thrillers, and she’s been in a bunch of them. She’s also really funny in some of her shows. One day, I want to be in both funny and scary movies, just like her!
IF YOU HAD ONE MESSAGE TO GIVE TO YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Don’t be scared. Just go for it! If you want something, try your best and don’t give up. Even if it’s hard or you feel nervous, do it anyway. You can do amazing things if you believe in yourself. So, keep going, and don’t ever stop dreaming!
IF YOU WEREN’T A PASSIONATE ACTOR, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU BE DOING?
If I wasn’t an actor, I’d want to be a special effects makeup artist for movies. It looks so cool, and there’s so much to learn behind the scenes!
WHAT IS ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Passionate! Because when I love something, I go all in and never give up. I put my whole heart into it!
WHAT IS ONE FOOD YOU WILL NEVER EAT?
Carrots, I don’t like the color or the way they feel when I eat them.
DO YOU PLAY ANY SPORTS OR INSTRUMENTS, IF SO, WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?
I’ve played football and baseball before, but my favorite is karate! I love practicing it because it makes me feel strong and focused. I also played the drums—my Grandpa gave me a drum set for my 4th birthday! They were really fun, but I wasn’t super good at it.
WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM JOB BE?
I would love to play roles like Jenna Ortega! I really like watching thrillers, and she’s so good in them—especially in Wednesday! That show is one of my favorites. She plays her character so cool and spooky. She’s also Latin like me, and that makes me feel like I can do it too!
FOR FUN! IF YOU WENT BACK TO THE GOLDEN ERA OF HOLLYWOOD, WHICH ACTOR DO YOU RESONATE WITH MOST AND WHY?
Alfalfa from The Little Rascals! He’s super funny and kind of goofy, just like me. And he was a lover, not a fighter—and I’m the same way!
WHAT IS YOUR THING TO DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS?
I love making forts and playing Roblox! We build the coolest forts and play games online together. I also love playing with my little brother, he’s 3, and we have the best time being silly and laughing a lot!
HAVE YOU SET ANY 2025 PROFESSIONAL GOALS TO ACHIEVE?
Yes! I want to compete in a karate competition and place! I also want to be more confident and try new things without being afraid. I’m going to keep working hard in acting and modeling and keep learning and getting better at everything.
WHAT DID YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT ATTENDING IPOP!?
I loved making new friends, and the improv classes were soooo much fun! We got to be super silly and use our imaginations a ton!
At first, I was really nervous going on stage for the fashion show, but the first time I walked out there, all my nerves went away, and I felt CONFIDENT!
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW YOU ONLINE?
People can follow me on Instagram @mateosilvaofficial and Facebook.
