When Joseph Julian Soria decided he wanted a career in show business, nothing could stop this talented young actor from pursuing his dreams. Almost immediately, Julian scored a gig in the FX drama The Shield before moving on to roles in films Days of Wrath, Hamlet 2 and Fast and Furious. He also appeared in a number of television dramas such as Bines, NCIS and Dexter before landing a recurring role in the successful Lifetime series Army Wives as Hector Cruz.

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with this rising young star about his role on Army Wives, joining an already-established cast and what advice he has for aspiring actors...

Q: Did you grow up knowing you wanted to be an actor?

Joseph: "No, not at all. I played sports all my life and didn't get into acting until college. I took a class in college because I needed units. I feel in love with it. I wasn't even there to perform; I just learned what acting was all about, which is storytelling and creating a character. This has probably been my calling my whole life, but I just didn't realize it. My grandmother used to tell me bedtime stories, but I would never fall asleep because I was so interested in the story."

Q: What were your biggest obstacles?

Joseph: "Getting the industry to see that I'm more than what they've seen and now I'm starting to broaden. There was a time when I was playing bad boys and street thugs and characters of that nature and this character is the first that has shown my abilities.

This character has made some bad choices in his relationship, but he has a heart. This character is getting me out of the box, so to speak."

Q: What was the worst non-acting job you had?

Joseph: "I'm a glass is half-full king of guy; I haven't really had any bad jobs. My first job was at Blockbuster and then I did security for Universal Studios -- it's kind of funny that those jobs were in the industry. For a long time I worked with special ed kids, which was one of the best experiences of my life."

Q: You've had so many great guest starring roles - which has been your favorite?

Joseph: "There was a film I did called Mission Park and this role gave me the opportunity to show emotions I've never been able to do before. It was the most vulnerable I've ever been. I love playing vulnerable characters because everyone can relate to them."

Q: And now you play Hector on Army Wives, what similarities do you share with your character?

Joseph: "It may not seem like it so far, but Hector really does love Gloria and he wants to be the best husband for her and I can relate to that because when I have a girlfriend, I want to be the best partner and be there for her. He does want to be a good man, but he's young and he's been little dumb. We all make dumb choices and he hasn't lived enough life. He's growing into being a man."

Q: Have you heard whether you'll be back next season?

Joseph: "If the show comes back, I'll definitely be back -- they've already worked on the storyline. Hector is going to be going through a lot of sh*t emotionally and I'm excited to see what they have in store for me."

Q: Did you do anything special to prepare for your role?

Joseph: "No. I didn't come in at the beginning of the season; I came in a little later, so before I knew it, I was on a plane to South Carolina. I was literally working out and got an email from my agent saying I had an audition in two hours. I did get the Army Wives book and watched a couple of episodes to get a better feel for the show. It all happened really fast."

Q: Was it difficult to come into an already established cast?

Joseph: "Everyone there is really like family. I don't know how familiar you are with military families and how close they are when they are on base, but that's how it is on set. Everyone took the time to get to know me and help me run through lines. They're a very loving group -- both the cast and crew."

Q: What are your plans for hiatus?

Joseph: "Right now I'm working on a film that is about to wrap and a short film I am going to start working on next week."

Q: Do you watch any TV shows on a regular basis?

Joseph: "I really want to get into Newsroom. I love Aaron Sorkin's writing and would love to get in on a couple of episodes if I can."

Q: Are there any special charities you work with?

Joseph: "For years I worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District helping disabled children, kids with high functioning and low functioning autism. That experience over those years taught me so much about myself and about life."

Q: Do you use Twitter to keep in touch with your fans?

Joseph: "Oh definitely. I post my whole life on Facebook: JJ's Official Facebook Fan Page. I love helping and giving advice to people when I can. I have a saying, 'my passion is acting, but my purpose in life is to inspire.' I have used this social media outlet to do that. I love knowing I can bring positivity to help people. There is no other feeling that can compare to that."

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Joseph: "Believe in yourself and other will believe in you. When I first got into this business, nobody believed in me. You believe in yourself from the beginning and over time, eventually the whole world will believe in you. It starts with yourself. Be persistent and do something every day that will get you closer to your goal. Be very clear with your vision and know what you want."