Page 31 - MG_Magazine 22ED_WEB

la reina de indias y el conquistador

ne fine day you packed your bags and left concept of 60 episodes in which there is no time for an actor
for Colombia... to develop his work under the same conditions as in shorter
I’m very happy with how things have evolved productions. Prime time in Spain or the USA is occupied by
on this side of the world. I’ve been able to series of 10 to 12 episodes which are made in 5 to 6 months.
Obuild up a very good career and today, I can On the other hand, in Colombia, 60 episodes are shot at the
modestly praise myself for having had the courage, or the same time and with a double unit. This forces the team to
unconsciousness, to cross the ocean to find my life. I al- film 12 to 14 daily scenes, which are not the 5 to 6 scenes
ways understood that, at some point, the market had to go that are done in series like Secretos de Estado. There is a clear
global. The feeling that we had 10 years ago about having difference in budget and time, which also translates into
series “made for us” had to change because we are 500 maximum commitment and effort.
million Spanish-speaking worldwide. The avalanche of TV
platforms has caused series to be broadcasted all over the Yes, I´ve been lucky enough to be nominated for "Leading
planet, with more than 150 million people watching you Actor" in the 2020 Produ Awards, which are distinctions
from every corner. Today, it´s common that an actor trav- from the Latin American industry. It is an honour to have
els and opens borders, but 10 years ago not everyone was been nominated together with Andrés Parra, one of the
willing to take that risk. My goal has always been to be able best actors in Colombia; Gael García Bernal, one of my idols
to star in Spain, Colombia and Mexico and I’ve done it! in this profession; Eduardo Noriega and Óscar Jaenada,
When it comes to TV, these countries are the three “Span- who don’t need any introduction.
ish-speaking forces”. In Colombia I´ve starred in 7 projects
and in Mexico I’ve had the opportunity to play the antago- In Colombia you are famous and since you starred in the
nist in El Señor de los cielos, a well-known series in the Latin Nip/Tuck adaptation, Mentiras Perfectas, the media de-
American market. fines you as a “galán”. How is it to be a celebrity? Has it
changed your life? Is the Colombian press more respect-
In Spain, Yo soy Bea was my first national series. I worked ful of your privacy than in Spain?
with great actors and it was a school for me. Secretos de Es- I don't really like the term “galán” but it's something I have
tado has been like a culmination, I endured many years with- to live with after some of the roles I've played. The press in
out returning to Spain to work because I wasn’t offered a Colombia are not as "intense" as in Spain, but it´s true that
suitable character. there are times when you are on the air and you can´t go un-
noticed in a shopping centre. I’ve always thought that fame
In 2020 we´ve seen you in La reina de Indias (Netflix), is what you do with it, there are actors who really develop a
a series for which you were nominated for the Produ feeling of inaccessibility and there are others who carry it
Awards. What was it like to get into the skin of the con- out naturally. I’ve never stopped leading a normal life, not
queror Pedro de Heredia? even when I was starring in some successful projects in
It was a great pleasure because I was looking forward to do- Colombia, which at times caused the insistence of people
ing a series for Netflix. It is a window for the whole planet to wanting to take photos with me. As long as it´s done in a
see you which is something very important for an actor. I’ve respectful way, I always respond with pleasure. It´s also true
had the opportunity to perform as a period character again that I’ve lived some moments where things have gone a bit
and I’m very happy with the results. It’s a very well done crazy in an airport, but in the end, with a little sense of hu-
project. We have to take into consideration the Colombian mour you can get by.

MG MAGAZINE 31