Marc Anthony Samuel’s handsome face is familiar to you because he plays the openly-gay nurse Felix DuBois on ABC’s “General Hospital.” This summer, he graced the big screen in the film Hot Guys with Guns, an action comedy thriller likened to Lethal Weapon but with a twist, hunkier and sexier detectives.
Here, the actor shares insight on how he stays motivated and what led him on his career path.
What inspires you to show up at work every day?
My family.
How did you determine your career path?
I was influenced by watching my father to act when I was a little boy.
What other industries connect to your career choice?
Any industry where artists create.
Describe the skill sets that are essential to future business leaders and innovators.
Education, servitude, communication skills.
Define innovative methods you apply to your business and life.
I am an avid fan of watching people and speaking with as many of them as possible. Everyone I meet is an opportunity to have the human experience. That is the backbone of my work.
How do you set goals and evaluate your success?
I write the main goal down. Then I list the sub-goals necessary to achieve the main goal. When I complete each goal, I celebrate.
Who do you consider peers in your field? Who is setting a great example of best practices?
My peers are the countless actors who struggle and those who flourish. The ones that don’t give up in the face of adversity and the ones who are winning gracefully are each setting the best examples of good practice.
How do you stay abreast of changes in your field?
Read publications, vote, talk to my peers.
Name your favorite role models for success in two industries.
The late Steve Jobs was amazing because he created devices that revolutionized his industry based on paying attention to people’s needs. Meryl Streep creates the most amazing and multi-dimensional characters by paying attention to detail.
Names three books that changed how you saw life that you would recommend to others.
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
Explain why lifelong learning is important to you.
It’s the only way you can grow and participate in a constantly changing world.
Describe the voice of success that you hear in your head.
It’s a feeling of awareness on my present, that tells me that I am the only one who can determine what I can and cannot do.
Community success based on what you do in the community means what to you?
It means a lot. It’s a way to show a younger person their true potential.
What role does technology play in your daily life? Use it everyday.
Using it now to answer these questions. [laughs]
What software and technology tools have made the biggest difference in your life?
The iPhone and voice directions in a car [GPS].
How do music and cultural events define your self-identity?
Music is very important to me. It’s life’s soundtrack. It immediately takes me to important time and place. When I share it, I’m sharing a big piece of my self expression.
Define your personal culture.
International, culturally-mixed, residing in Los Angeles.
Describe your favorite vacation spot.
It’s a toss up between Rio De Janeiro and Sydney, Australia right now. Madrid isn’t too far behind.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?
I’d make it more transparent, so we could see how alike we all are, instead of living in fear of what we don’t know.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
The beauty is that I can change things about myself, and I continue to do it. For the purposes of this question, I’ll say I’d be an inch and a half taller. [smiles]
