Josh Diaz normally kicks goals on the football field, but more recently he’s been kicking them on screen.
The Wyndham Vale footballer is making a name for himself in film and television, recently returning from a year in Los Angeles to be cast in two Australian films and a television series pilot.
“Growing up, I never knew what I wanted to do. Doing a trade or going to university didn’t appeal to me,” he said.
“At 18, I was driving a delivery truck, and I sat down one day and thought ‘what am I doing? I’m not happy with where I’m going’.”
A friend suggested acting, and the idea gelled.
“It was a powerful moment for me,” Diaz said.
“I realised I can do whatever I want, and acting is what I wanted.”
He spent the next two years attending acting classes in St Kilda, but at 20 took a risk, packed his bags and flew solo to Los Angeles.
“I just had to do it; I was burning,” he said.
He applied and was accepted as a student at the prestigious Stella Adler Academy of Acting, known for churning out actors such as Mark Ruffalo and Henry Winkler.
His talent scored him a fully funded scholarship at the school, and he plans to return to Los Angeles in October.
“That is my absolute final deadline. I’ll be there; there’s no other option,” he said.
“My ultimate goal is to win two Oscars. Acting is my life, and I’m going to keep going. Nothing can stop me.”
