LOS ANGELES — It may be a shampoo bottle and a bathroom mirror, not an Oscar and millions of people, but Malu Martins can picture it. 

“Holding my Oscar as I look through my sea of peers that are like, 'yes we did it,'” she said, holding a shampoo bottle practicing her would-be Oscars acceptance speech. 

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Martins came to L.A. from Brazil five years ago with two friends. They all went to college in Orange County, all hoping to get into the industry. She’s done a few small films, student projects, but she’s still hoping for her big break. 

“When you book a job it’s like 'Oh my God!' But then there’s always a side hustle. I’m an office assistant. It’s always a balance of both, trying to keep the dream alive,” she said.

She’s found a side hustle, though that helps her work her acting muscle. She’s an office assistant at the Michelle Danner Acting Studio, taking acting classes with renowned coach Danner herself when she’s not working. 

Five years in, as she hones her craft, and waits for the big audition, Martins admits...

“It does feel lonely. Especially in L.A. where a lot is about image and what you look like. It can get lonely,” she said.

But it’s what she came to America for. So, despite it all, has she ever thought of going home? 

“Never, not once. It always crosses your mind why am I here. But you have to remember it’s what you love,” she said. 

And she says she is fully prepared to pay her dues, work her way up, and watch every Oscars show for inspiration.

“It's inspiring. It fills me with hope and you see yourself. You run toward that picture, there’s nothing else to do,” she said. 

Well there’s one thing you can do. You can practice so your acceptance speech is spot on. While keeping your Oscar, I mean shampoo, safely on the mantle, or in this case . . .  the shower rack.