Biography
Ilse Zacharias Rivera is a multitalented storymaker with a sharp point of view. Equally at home on stage, on screen, or behind the writing desk, Rivera brings boldness, depth, and humor to everything she creates.
Rivera's screenplay, La Chupacabra, was a finalist for the Sundance Institute's Feature Development Program and received a grant from filmmaker Jason Reitman's Seed&Spark. Her writing has also earned recognition as a Chicago Dramatists M.E.H. Scholar and as a nominee in the 2025 Blumhouse Screamwriting Fellowship.
As an actor, Rivera has performed in stage productions such as The Madres, The Abuelas, and Anna Karenina. On screen, she has appeared in The Exorcist (FOX), Chicago P.D. (NBC), and the short film Dirty Business, which premiered at the Chicago Latino Film Festival. Her stand-up comedy earned her a spot at Chicago's Laugh Factory and a feature in the 2023 Chicago Latina Comedy Festival.
In July 2025, she launched the podcast and web series Ilse Will Say, where she shares opinions on everything from pop culture and politics to underappreciated snacks. Smart, unfiltered, and full of warmth, the show reflects her signature mix of wit and joy.
Raised in a bilingual American-Mexican-Canadian household, Rivera's work is deeply personal, often exploring themes of identity, resilience, and humor shaped by her multicultural upbringing. In addition to the upcoming La Chupacabra, she wrote, produced, and stars in the short film Stop It and the web series La Law Firm.
When she's not creating, Rivera can be found boxing, swimming, or chasing the sun.
