The magic of Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero

Saipan native Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero is Hogwarts School choirmaster at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal in Orlando, Florida. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“Wingardium Leviosa.”

Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero goes to the magical school of Hogwarts every day.

If that is not enough to have Harry Potter fans on the islands “levitating” with excitement, the fact that Deleon Guerrero is also Hogwarts’ first Chamorro student should do it.

Saipan native Deleon Guerrero was recently cast as an actor with Universal Orlando entertainment, as a choirmaster at the theme park called Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The choirmaster conducts the Hogwarts School choir and welcomes people into Hogsmeade Village.

“[I believe] I’m the first Chamorro Hogwarts student!” Deleon Guerrero said. “I went from being a little creative kid [on] Saipan to working for two of the top entertainment companies in the world, at the two most visited theme parks in the world!”

Deleon Guerrero, who lived in San Vicente until she moved to the U.S. mainland for college, started acting at a very young age.

“I come from a very musical family, so singing was my first love. But once I stepped foot onstage in Annie Jr with Friends of the Arts, I was sold. I knew I wanted to be an actor since I was 8 years old. But, I had a lot of work to do.”

Saipan native Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, from San Vicente, started her acting career at 8 years old, when she first appeared onstage in Annie Jr with Friends of the Arts. Now 25, Deleon Guerrero is working her magic as choirmaster at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal in Orlando, Florida.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

She received her certificate in Acting in Musical Theatre from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England in 2014, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting in 2016, and is working on her master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management with an emphasis in Advocacy and Outreach.

Aside from being cast as a Hogwarts choirmaster, Deleon Guerrero is also a scare actor at Halloween Horror Nights, prowling the streets of Universal and scaring the living daylights out of people. She has been an extra in several major movies, and also works as a tour guide and costuming person.

The gigs did not come easy to her, though. Deleon Guerrero landed them by doing what every actor that has come before her has done: audition, audition, audition. This Saipan-born actor has auditioned at almost every theme park and regional professional theater in the Central Florida region since moving there in 2016.

Racism and depression are also among the issues she faced.

“I’ve faced racism. I’ve faced prejudice. I’ve faced severe depression. I’ve faced financial troubles. I’ve faced homesickness. I’ve faced self-hatred. I’ve faced anxiety. I’ve faced trauma. I’ve faced complete exhaustion in every sense of the word.”

Deleon Guerrero said that most of these things are ongoing battles that she is fighting.

“I continue to look these things in the eye because I have three very special things: an amazing support system (God, my mom, my family, friends, teachers), self-love, and passion. Without the love and support of these people, I probably wouldn’t be who or where I am today. I mean that whole-heartedly.”

As for the people back here, at a place she calls home, Deleon Guerrero has one special message: Do not be afraid and doubtful of what you have to offer the world. You can start late, be different, and still succeed.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of “Spotlight,” a recurring series featuring CNMI personalities. To suggest a person to feature in this section, email us at editor@saipantribune.com.