Cristián de la Fuente

I know it sounds cliché, but I’m living a dream I never thought possible. I remember when that dream was born. I was in Santiago, Chile – watching the first movie I had ever seen. It was “Star Wars.” I was six years old. And I knew.
But I also knew my dream of acting would probably never come true. After all, I was an only child who came from a very conservative family in Chile. My father was a chemist. My mother was a homemaker. Acting was not an option.
I didn’t know it then, but this was probably a blessing for me, because it forced me to discover other passions in life. I entered Universidad Catolica in Santiago, where I studied civil engineering. I became an officer in the Chilean Air Force Reserves, where I found my love for flying. And I played every sport imaginable, ranging from tennis to boxing to skiing. Funny thing is, while I was living this life – the life I thought I was supposed to live – I discovered that, sometimes, your dreams are so powerful, the world conspires to make them come true.
In my second year at the university, I was approached by a talent agent who convinced me to enter a contest in search of Chile’s “Super Teen.” Seemingly out of nowhere, I was experiencing a moment that would lead to the life I had dreamed about when I was just six years old. Amazingly, I won that contest – which paved the way to acting in Chilean prime-time dramas, a Spanish-language series based on “Starsky & Hutch” called “Reyes y Rey” for Sony Television and, then, I was cast on the CBS show “Family Law.” That experience not only led to a co-starring role with Sylvester Stallone in the feature film “Driven,” but to a part alongside John Travolta in the film “Basic.” I've been privileged to play recurring roles in the CBS drama “CSI: Miami,” the CBS sitcom “The Class,” and the ABC comedy “Ugly Betty,” but I’m also excited about my newest television series, “In Plain Sight,” which will be airing on the USA Network later this year.
But that’s not the only new thing in my life. Amazingly, I’ve been chosen to be a part of the new cast of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” I can’t tell you how excited I am about this opportunity. After all, I’ve always wanted to learn to dance, which further reveals how – if you stay open enough – eventually, all of your dreams can come true.
It’s what I’ve always believed. Nothing is impossible. You just have to set your goals and not listen to anyone who tells you it can’t be done. Because it can!
-- Cristián