Soap Opera Renacer: «Sofia is the Mirtha Lilia that only I know»

I did not ask her. But I am sure that Mirtha Lilia Pedro is one of those actresses who does not believe in minor roles: you just have to see her shine and reach the hearts of the audience from beginning to end in every production she has been involved in. We still remembered the young Iluminada from Destino Prohibido, or Reina, in El rostro de los días, when Dayana, «la pichinga», stole the show in Asuntos pendientes.

Regarding her involvement in the soap opera Renacer, which is being currently broadcasted in prime time, we spoke with Mirtha Lilia.

—How did the character of Sofia come to you?

—I received the invitation from Heiking and Molina to play that character. Initially I was hesitant, because I had the proposal for a work trip and I was afraid that the execution times would coincide. They decided that, if they were at that crossroads, they would continue looking for another actress. I wanted to accept it, but at the same time I had made another commitment. I was in a hard position. I called the next day and they already had another actress. Approximately, two months passed, Heiking called me again and asked me: “Are you still in Cuba?” I replied: “and I really want to work.” The actress they had chosen had the opportunity to make her first soap opera as a general director and both they and the management of the Production Company were waiting for my answer to decide whether or not she would direct the other soap opera or not.

“This character was a great temptation for me, because, as Heiking conceived it, it was outside my comfort zone and, therefore, it was a challenge.”

—Many say that Sofia is a kind of “fairy godmother” in the soap opera. However, little by little nuances have appeared in the midst of that goodness. How would you describe her?

—Sofia is a woman of integrity, fair, who has gone through very serious situations in her life, and one day, like Aitana, she left her land with her son in her arms and never returned. That is a secret she has not told anyone, not even her son. From a very young age, she faced life alone, with determination and courage. Her down-to-earth soul makes her help everyone she meets along the way, but inside she has a lioness who stands up for her people without harming anyone and marks her territory. She is optimistic, but she is not happy.

—It is inevitable to talk about Dayana, “la pichinga,” from Asuntos pendientes, who stole the hearts of viewers. What has this character left you?

—Dayana, “la pichinga,” from Asuntos pendientes, left me the joy of being Cuban. La pichinga is the neighbor you find in any neighborhood in Cuba, the supportive, talkative, sometimes exaggerated, the one who rises up to the occasion in the face of any difficulty with optimism and spreads it to those around her.

—Who does Mirtha Lilia have more points of contact with: “la pichinga” or Sofía?

—I feel more identify with “la pichinga.” Sofía is, perhaps, the Mirtha Lilia that only I know.

—In “la pichinga” you showed a certain comic side. However, Sofía is a very dramatic role. What determines that Mirtha Lilia feels comfortable or not with a character?

—My relationship with others, for sure. It doesn’t matter how complex the character is if I achieve an environment of trust and security with my partners, so that all spontaneity can unfold without obstacles. That is breathed in the scene afterwards and provides veracity and organization to the staging, then the character, whatever it may be, looks real. The same goes for the technical staff and directors, who are the first spectators. I like to foster that atmosphere of complicity that, in the end, becomes a barrier of support for everyone.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff