Andres, how does it feel to play the role of one of the most controversial leaders of modern times? Did you have any doubts before accepting this challenge?
No, no; no doubts. I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason…that one must take advantage of opportunities when they are presented and never doubt them. I saw this opportunity as a responsibility to myself – because of how challenging a role like this is— and also as a responsibility to the public. For me, it has been a tremendously rewarding experience on so many levels. I feel truly fortunate to have been able to take on this challenge alongside such a marvelous team of people and to share these past eight months with them.
People know you as Pablo Escobar from a number of series, most notably El Patron del Mal. What do Escobar and Chavez have in common?
They both have controversial personalities. I think that’s probably the only trait they have in common, no? They’ve both impacted the history of their countries. In Colombia, there’s definitely a ‘Before’ and ‘After’ when it comes to Pablo Escobar, just as there is in Venezuela when it comes to Hugo Chávez. They’re the type of men who come into the world for reasons we may not know or understand, and they shake up absolutely everything. Everything. I think they can be compared in terms of the enormous influence they’ve had. They came to break paradigms, to question society, to force us to confront our worst fears….to divide us, even. And I think that’s what a love-hate relationship is, isn’t it? That’s the unifying thread between these two men. Some people considered Pablo Escobar to be the best thing that ever happened to them, while for others, he was the worst—and the same can be said of Hugo Chávez. I think that’s the biggest thing they have in common. Both of these men had very unusual missions…very unusual. And achieving them shook up both their countries.
How did you prepare for this role?
The process took about a year, maybe a bit more. And, I was not alone; I had the help of Venezuelan director Henry Rivero, and the Colombian director Felipe Cano. We had the opportunity to go to some meetings and conferences organized by Venezuelan journalists, writers and historians, who really helped us understand the phenomenon of Venezuela. They helped contextualize several points, including the philosophies of Simón Bolívar’s fervent followers, how an oil-rich country like Venezuela functions today and how it has functioned throughout history, and how Venezuelan independence was achieved. Of course, we talked about Chávez as well, and his impact on politics. They recommended a couple of books to us, and those books led us to more books. Let’s just say it was a very thorough read-through, consulting many texts, and making note of personality details, making it possible to provide a more factually-based historical and geopolitical context. And, then there were also many hours listening to Chávez on Aló Presidente. I honestly think that I’ve listened to around 400 hours of Aló Presidente, speeches, interviews – watching him, observing him. There was also the makeup process, including various tests. The makeup workshop was held in Mexico. The molds and casts, the sculptures, were worked on there and later brought to Colombia. There was also guidance from my vocal coach to make sure we were finding the exact point where the character’s voice needed to be. Then, rehearsals took place with the directors and the rest of the cast before filming began.
What is the thing that struck you the most about the person you are portraying in this series? What would you say was his best quality?
There were two things that really impressed me that both stem in part from my own ignorance. The type of information that made it to me as a citizen… what I ‘knew’ about Chávez, and what I deducted from the news… was that he was a controversial Venezuelan leader, very gruff, uneducated, and even seemingly ignorant. That’s the kind of image that many of us had. Some would think he was also rude. So, the biggest surprise for me has been learning that Chávez wasn’t the least bit stupid. He was a very educated man, very prepared, with a deep understanding of many issues. He was passionate about history, an avid reader, someone who understood what was going on in every country; he had the whole world in his head. That’s the first thing that really caught my attention because I didn’t know that this role would be so complex in that regard. And, in terms of charisma, I didn’t realize what a talented orator he was. He was a great entertainer, too, and he had the ability to connect with people unlike any other politician. He had all of the necessary ingredients to accomplish his goals.
I think Chávez knew how to utilize and benefit from all of his skills. And being the entertainer he was, he could go on stage, sing, dance, orate, recite poetry, play an instrument, tell a joke or an anecdote; he was a storyteller, an herbalist – he was so many things. As a poet, he knew many famous passages from some of the most celebrated minds in the world. He had a vast knowledge of so many topics. Few people know that. It’s so uncommon for one person to have so many different talents. Very unusual. And when you have this gift, you can choose to use it for good, or for evil…
How would you describe his relationship with Castro?
I think it’s a relationship of admiration. I think that it’s like my relationship with Anthony Hopkins—pure admiration, and if I were to meet him tomorrow (laughs)—well, I’d probably be very excited.
They were working on the same project; they had common political aspirations and ideologies. So, I think that it was a relationship in which there was tremendous respect, and…I’d even go so far as to say there was guidance. I think that’s what the relationship was—like someone meeting their childhood hero.
Who was his biggest enemy?
I don’t know… Half of the country, I guess.
Would you ever consider entering politics, or even running for president?
Never, no. Never… Politics are over, and things keep getting worse. I don’t want to be part of something so horrible. ▪
