teresa crespo hartendorp

teresa crespo hartendorp

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Teresa Crespo Hartendorp's (TCH) story is a remarkable journey of artistic expression, dedication, and multifaceted talent that reads like a classic Hollywood tale. Immigrating to the United States at the age of seven, she began working as an actress by seventeen and has since built a career in the entertainment industry spanning nearly thirty-five years.

TCH has consistently worked in theatre, film, and television, but her drive for creative freedom led her behind the camera, where she found her true calling. She thrives as an auteur, writing, directing, acting, shooting, editing, and even composing music for her own projects, embodying a fierce sense of independence in her work.

Her on-screen roles have included appearances in notable productions such as Nails with Dennis Hopper, Out of the Dark alongside Bud Cort and Divine, and Session Man, which won the Academy Award for Best Short in 1992. She’s also had parts in House Down the Street, China Beach, the Ace Award-winning 6 Minutes, and the internet series Aliendog.com and Life in the Laff Lane with John Hawkes. Additionally, she starred in iconic music videos like Lionel Richie’s Hello, Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel, and Mick Smiley’s Magic from the Ghostbusters soundtrack.

In theatre, TCH had her first taste of the stage in Ebbe Roe Smith’s original play O.D.: Other Dimentionalists and has gone on to perform in a variety of renowned venues including The Stella Adler Theatre, The Cast Theatre,
The La Jolla Playhouse, and the San Diego Fringe Festival, among others.

Behind the camera, TCH has established herself as a true one-woman film company, creating numerous films, music videos, and documentaries, such as The People of Peace: A Message From The Hopi, hArmOny & mELOdy, Vigilantette, and shE smilE prEtty, the latter of which debuted at the LA Women's Theatre Project.

Despite her wide range of talents, TCH identifies foremost as a storyteller. For her, it’s always about the story—narratives that resonate deeply with the human experience. In her words, “It’s really all about the story, stories that convey the spectrum of human emotion; when souls kiss and transform."

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Beyond film, TCH is also a musician. Under the project TCH SOLO, she performs as a guitarist and singer-songwriter, currently recording an album of original songs that continue her storytelling through music.