MIGUEL DE LEÓN

Miguel de León talks about his new project and about his divorce from Gabriela Spanic.

The actor has an ascending career in Mexico.  He's the male leading star in "Alegrijes y Rebujos".  RCTV is currently broadcasting "Vivan los Niños" ("Long Live the Children") where he has a special guest role.  He feels his marriage with Gabriela Spanic was an interrupted chapter in his life.

Miguel de León likewise does not know the whereabouts of Gabriela Spanic.  From his home in Mexico, the actor responded --via telephone--:  "I haven't seen her since last October (2002).  Our lawyer called a couple of days ago trying to set a date for the divorce because we both have so many commitments we haven't been able to sign the papers.  I was told she had finished filming 'La Venganza' and that she would be spending her time between Venezuela and Miami."

He has moved twice perhaps because he's searching for a new environment that will permit him to forget the lowest point of his life.  The house he used to share with Spanic seemed too big now.  He needs a little bit of concentration to study the script for "Alegrijes y Rebujos" where he has the responsibility of the leading role.

You're present in only 15 episodes of "Vivan los Niños".  Isn't that too short a time for such an experienced actor?
No, not at all.  Small roles can also result in great characters.

What other means have you used to promote your career in Mexico?
I've used all the teachings and experience I've acquired from doing ten years of Venezuelan television.  That's what has kept me growing professionally.

Was Gabriela Spanic your "door" to getting work in Televisa?
No, I never got any work through her.  We did get to work together in "La Usurpadora", but after that we worked with different producers.  I came to Mexico in the beginning to accompany Gabriela.  I had no intention of staying and neither did she.

Nevertheless, you both got a lot of exposure on television as a couple.
I don't deny it, but they only used us a small bit on television.  The ones who were really interested in us as a couple were the newspapers and magazines.

RCTV is announcing your return to their channel by way of "Vivan los Niños".  Would you be interested in returning to Venezuelan television?
I will always have a desire to return to my country to work, but Mexico is where I've chosen to stay.  I can't be ungrateful.  Mexico opened its doors to me.  As long as I have work, I could be anywhere.

If you were to return to Venezuela, would you insist on a leading role?
No, I never insist on a starring role.  Ever.  If so, I never would have made "Vivan los Niños".

Doesn't it give you more status to return to Venezuela after having worked in Mexico?
Working in Mexico only gives an actor greater stability.  But really, I would accept any job anywhere because I love my profession.

Under what conditions would you accept work in Venezuela?
I couldn't return to my country with a list of demands.  I would only be interested if the character was good (appealing).

How do you recognize when a character is good?
When the character has a past, a history; and if it doesn't have one, I make one up.  I invent one.

Even though you say you don't look for starring roles, is your leading-man image still intact?
Actually, I have always tried to promote myself as an actor.  They've used me as a leading-man because I've never refused to play one.  The truth of the matter is I try to maintain a cheerful attitude.

Could it be that the youthfulness you display has led you to act in children's stories?
I don't know (laughs).  It's funny how it was Mexico where I became a specialist in the topic of children.

Could it be because you're friendly (approachable)?  Are you?
Yes, I try to be friendly with everyone especially the children.

But, can you live in a world of fantasies?
Of course, I feel like half my life has been a fantasy and that's because I'm always in telenovelas.

More than a fantasy, was your marriage with Gabriela Spanic like a telenovela?
Perhaps people have that impression of our marriage because they saw it unfold on television:  the courtship, the wedding, the separation, as if everything were part of some script.  But I don't see it that way.  I believe I have a private life different from the one you see on television.  That's why we kept many things to ourselves.

Was it because of that private life that both of you decided not to reveal the real motive for the divorce?
Yes.  They've asked us many a time for the causes but it's something we're keeping very much to ourselves.  Besides, why talk about the bad part?  It's better to stay with the good part.

What is the good part?
When we were first married.  The first years.  The adventure of having to relocate to Mexico, to live in another culture with new customs.  All of which was fantastic.

You mentioned you were always surrounded by children in Mexican television.  Could it be because the joy of a child was missing from your marriage?
From now on, I'm not going to talk to you about my marriage, only about my life.

You used to live with another woman before you met Gabriela Spanic.  [Miguel was married to Nubia Quilarque.]  Did you also not have any children?
No.

Do you miss not having any children?
¡Ajá, plenty!  It's necessary for any human being.  It's something I've wished for for quite some time now but the opportunity hasn't presented itself.  I believe God is the one who decides.

Do you regret the separation in any way?
I don't regret it.  I believe it was the logical thing to do.  One can't force another person to leave their career, to leave their accomplishments, to descend from the train they were riding on en route to a life that in a certain way they had always been waiting for.  I couldn't take that opportune moment away from her.  Opportune moments should never be allowed to slip by.

Was it very difficult for you to accompany Gabriela Spanic to Colombia? I went only three times before the relationship ended.  I'm not blaming it on the distance.  It was because of other things we had lived thru during the last two years of our marriage.

If you had lived in Venezuela, do you think the relationship would also have ended?
I believe that when something is destined to happen, it will take place.

Do you see your marriage with Spanic as an interrupted chapter?
Yes, but I see life itself as a serious game.

Has a date been set for the signing of the divorce papers?
It'll be sometime in late June.  Televisa has already granted me permission (to take time off to sign the papers).

Did you have to confront the separation by yourself?
In the beginning I did, but I got a lot of support from some friends in Miami and from my family in Venezuela via the telephone.

What do you think you still need to do in your life?
To keep learning even after death.

Do you fear death?
I fear how I'm going to die.

Does one have to be quite a coward to try and take one's own life?
Of course.  It's a huge cowardice.  It was said, in my case, that I had tried to kill myself but that's not true.  A divorce is not a good enough reason to stop living.  I have no suicidal tendencies whatsoever.  I love life.

Nowadays, what are the rules in your game of life?
Simply to live.

What remains of the scandal?
Nothing.  We had always talked about taking our time before announcing the separation.  I don't like rumors.  I like to avoid gossip.  That's why --when they started to comment about the romance between José Ángel Llamas and Gaby-- I decided to talk.  I didn't want things to get misinterpreted, especially for her sake, because people could view her in a bad light thinking she was still married and playing the field.

Was there ever any betrayal when you were together?
Never.  It was a faithful relationship while we were together.

Do you "play" at being happy right now?
Yes.

What makes you happy at this moment?
My work.

Are you still single?  Would you like to remake your love life?
I'm still alone to a certain extent.  I've been going out with a young woman for about two months now.  We're not going steady but I do think it could lead to something romantic.  It's something we need to talk about very thoroughly.  I still need to resolve my divorce.

How do you feel things are going for you in Mexico?
I feel I've gotten ahead in spite of what some people told me in the beginning... that Mexico would be a step back in my career.  I feel I've embraced a major market.  Somewhat like a leap.  I was already coming from a dramatic-series producing country.  I simply changed "houses".