Hey, there! I’m Dayandra (or “Dee” if you’re a fan of nicknames) 🌸

Originally from Fortaleza, Ceará in Brazil, I immigrated to the United States as a child with my parents and older brothers. As part of a family tradition, I grew up studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with my brothers, who also happened to teach me the value of video games, anime, and rock music. My love of film and TV was cemented when I watched Lord of the Rings for the first time and truly believed magic was real. I wanted to be up on that screen too - slaying dragons and telling stories. Raised in a small Midwestern town, my love for acting blossomed as a way that I could use my voice. It was only through telling the stories of others that I found the strength in my own story. About the moments in my life where I was ostracized for an immigrant, for being Latina, and for simply being my shy, awkward, nerdy self. I became a passionate advocate for equality and representation in the arts. In a world so filled with hate, my guiding principle as an artist is to cultivate love, empathy, & understanding through the stories that I help bring to life.

I received my BFA in Acting with Honors from Indiana University South Bend. While there, I worked with InterAction Initiative Inc. to collect anonymous stories of discrimination in the community and turn them into a theatrical production I directed called “Stage for Change”. I continued my training in an intense production internship with Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia, a Shakespeare intensive at IU Bloomington’s Midsummer Theatre Program, and the Film & Television Intensive at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles. Immediately following graduation, I booked an acting contract with The Rev Theatre Company touring shows throughout New York State. A lifelong student and artist, I love learning and am currently based in Los Angeles pursuing that lifelong dream of the big screen.

You’ll see me in the upcoming feature film Wally Jackson and the Probability of Love and Car Accidents where I star as a romantic lead, as well as the sci-fi horror short film Joshua Tree where I’m on a trip to the desert that goes wrong. I am beyond excited to be on this journey to share my work with the world and am grateful for each and every project along the way.

I aim to continue to break barriers, spread positivity, and connect different communities through my work. When not performing, you can find me drawing, making silly voices, reading fantasy novels, or engaging in a fierce discussion about superheroes, ghibli films, and anime. ❤︎