Tell us about your character in "Los Querendones".
He's Valentín Alcántara, a lawyer who returns to Venezuela after
many years. He had his own law practice in New York City, but after
several failures in his life... especially of a sentimental nature... he
decides to return to his native country, to remake his life here and to
become a member of an existing law firm. That's where he starts to get
entangled with the protagonists.
Why are you letting your beard grow out? Aren't you
afraid of looking older?
(laughs) Not in the least bit. I hadn't sported a beard since doing
"Como Tú Ninguna" and the film "La Virgen de Coromoto" over ten years
ago. I decided to go with the beard because the character is very
European. He dresses in suits and turtlenecks a lot.
Your outward appearance is different but how does one
achieve that with one's acting? How will you make your leading character
from "Sabor a Tí" and this one... different?
The character from "Sabor a Tí" would oscillate between happiness and
bitterness in an impressive manner. Valentín, on the other hand,
is more stable. He doesn't have those extreme ups-and-downs.
He's already gone through things in his past and he's cured. He's
looking to rebuild his life but he bumps into Fe (Fabiola Colmenares) again.
Will you finally be playing the role of a villain?
I don't know. As of this moment, we still don't know how the story will
turn out.
But, would you like to play the role of a villain?
What's happening is that I do the job that needs to be done and up until now,
there has been no offer to play a villain. Normally I've played
the good guy, but I would also like to work as the bad guy.
Do you feel typecast as the good guy and as the father of
the protagonist.... like in "Carita de Ángel"?
In the case of labels such as the good guy, the bad guy, or the guy that
gets the girl... that's just what they are to me... labels. I work
with well-defined characters.
So then, you don't care if you no longer play the main
character of the story?
It's not a problem for me if I'm the father of a child protagonist, or the father
of an adult protagonist, or if I'm the villain. As long as the role is a
good [quality] one. I didn't study to be a leading man... I studied to be
an actor.
How would you sum up your career of 24 years?
I've done theater, television, and I've even hosted a show. It's been a
wonderful time, full of learning experiences. I actually started in the
theater back in 1982 with the University's Theater workshop in Macanillas.
Thanks to the guidance of Ricardo Acosta, I got interested in the
theater while taking his classes and I did it for seven years until
television came along.
What show did you host?
It was a show from the Ministry of Education's Division of Educational
Technology on channel 5 called "La Cultura Popular" [The Popular Culture].
I hosted it for two years; we taped 46 programs, and it was a learning
experience in another area.
Which one do you like more, theater or television?
Each one has its appeal. You live the theater in two hours and it's over.
You either convince in two hours or you're dead. Television has other
characteristics. It's more intimate.
But television provides you, as an actor, with maximum
exposure.
Yes, because you remain on the air for ten months.
Have you lost anything because of that exposure?
I haven't sacrificed anything because of my career. I'm used to moving
about like a normal human being. I go out on the street, to the shopping
centers, and the people can approach me. I'm just one more face in the
crowd.
Famous or popular?
I consider myself well-known.
Married for the second time. Is this the one for
keeps?
I feel as if it was the first time. I'm currently dividing my time
between the telenovela and my wife, who in April will make me a father of a
little girl, and I'm very happy.
Would you like your daughter to follow in your
footsteps?
Let her follow, but after she's 18. I wouldn't like it if she pursues
acting while still young, because this is an industry that requires a
well-formed personality. And none of this "daddy's going to help me"
stuff... if she wants to be here, she'll have to study to be an actress.
A sweetheart?
Yes.
Do you cry?
Sometimes... in my personal life.
Romantic?
That too. I like to give the gift of flowers. I like to create
romantic moments and be very affectionate. It might well be one
of the things that Jennifer, my wife, has no complaints about
(laughs).
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