Quim Gutiérrez (Barcelona, 44 years old) has not had a good night. One of his children woke him up at three in the morning due to a nightmare, so he spent until dawn “hunting” imaginary spiders. It hides tiredness well. “That’s the good thing about being an actor. We’re good at playing roles,” he says. He has been acting all his life. “When I was little I wanted to attract people’s attention. I saw politicians on television and I wanted that. I wanted to be mayor of Barcelona,” he remembers. He debuted at the age of 12 in the successful series Poblenou At 25 he won the Goya Award for best new actor for his role in the dramatic comedy BlueDarkAlmostBlack. Now, about to turn 45, he debuts as “Chico Almodóvar” in Bitter Christmasthe new film by the director from La Mancha. It’s hard to imagine a better birthday gift for an actor. “I’m in a good moment. I like to mature. I’m losing my hair ahead, but for now I’m holding on.”
Ask. What does it feel like to be “Almodóvar boy”?
Answer. I’m trying really hard to see it naturally, but I’m finding it difficult. It is difficult to get rid of all the mythology that surrounds Pedro and his films: the expectations of his releases, the contrary opinions he may generate, the awards he receives, the castings he chooses… An Almodóvar film is never just another project. It is an exceptional showcase, the most exceptional you can access in Spain. There is no better showcase than an Almodóvar film.
P. Did you receive a call from Pedro or did you have to take a test?
R. They called me for a test, but they didn’t tell me what it was for. There was a certain aura of mystery. When there is that aura, you already suspect that it is a Pedro film. Months later, they confirmed it to me and the meeting with him came.
P. What was that first meeting like?
R. It was overwhelming in many ways. I adopted the position of spectator, I wanted to hear him speak. It’s impressive to have it in front of you. The content of a conversation with him is so rich in references. I studied Humanities and I am a fervent reader, so we talked about Emmanuel Carrère and other writers who use their lives to write fiction. That is one of the themes of the film, the use of reality as fictional material and its limits. I was impressed by her vulnerability, which I found touching, but not from a condescending place. When someone is able to show you their wounds, it motivates you to rise to the occasion.
P. Have you ever been inspired by people you know to build a character?
R. As an actor, it hasn’t happened to me. But in promotions, where I am myself, yes. Now promotions are no longer about an actor talking about his character and a movie. We are forced to talk about our personal lives and also tell it in a funny way. You have to be ingenious, almost gifted stand-up. When you’ve been doing this for many years, you run out of good material and start using other people’s material. Promotion is extra work, sometimes more complex than filming. All this is powered by networks.
P. It is rumored that actors are now hired because of their number of followers on social networks. It is said that the industry wants actors-influencers. Do you feel that pressure?
R. Yes, I am on networks a bit by force. I, of my own free will, would do less than what I do. I have a small individual campaign of personal de-digitization because I have proven firsthand that I do not like the place it takes me to. But yes, now many times your ability to attract people during promotion is more important than your acting talents. Many times you are not offered a role because of your acting talent, but because of your ability to resolve the promotion. That seems very unfair to me. There are many actors who are introverts and I count myself among them.
P. What do you think of the intrusion of influencers at film festivals and at awards like the Goya? There has been some controversy in recent weeks.
R. Changes always generate resistance and fatigue in us, but I understand the controversy. I already struggle with maintaining my privacy enough to make my life the focus of my career. I’m not interested. I have many friends influencersbut I would never get into his shoes. I don’t understand why they willingly subject themselves to that scrutiny.
P. Were you invited to the last Goya gala?
R. Not this year, but last year I went. There are many actors and the faces have to rotate.
P. Before you said that networks take you to a place you don’t like. Where are they taking him?
R. Digital takes you away from the earthly and I firmly believe in a return to the earthly. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and I’m a father. I’m glad that age and parenthood are taking me to that place. I am seriously considering moving to dumb phone. Finally a technological fashion that interests me. It has been shown that networks have devastating effects on the brain. In my house there is a no-phone policy. He smartphone It is stored in one place and not picked up. It is not done scroll on the couch.
P. For years it has been fodder for the gossip press. Have you been tempted to profit from your private life?
R. Do you mean if they proposed to me to do a pose or something like that? No, I have always made it very clear that I am not interested in that. In fact, I can’t help but remember specific anger with the gossip press. Sometimes, I still get angry.
P. Are they still chasing him?
R. Yes, two summers ago a magazine published a video of me with my girl and my son on the beach. I haven’t done anything else with that header directly. A few years ago they took some photos of me naked. I sued and won. I didn’t want to publicize it at the time. Now that the years have passed, I can say that I won. When you are famous, two fundamental rights confront each other: that of information and that of privacy. But the right to information cannot put a guy involved in the card case in the same bag. black already an actor who goes out with his ass in the air. It does not have the same informative value.
P. Would you say that is the bad thing about your profession?
R. It is one of the most difficult parts to carry out, but, on the other hand, it is necessary because you do work that is of interest to the public.
P. Bitter Christmas will compete in the theaters with Torrent. Do you like that type of cinema?
R. I’m glad people go to the movies, but Torrent It’s not the type of movie that attracts me.
P. After Almodóvar, what can we aspire to? In addition to repeating with Almodóvar.
R. (laughs) Yes, we all think this. You leave the shoot and think: will Pedro have liked me? I try to be cautious with my expectations, but I have dreams of greatness.