The telenovela "Nunca te Olvidaré", in its final chapters, has
provided Venezuelan Miguel de León with the possibility of
continuing his career in Mexico. He initiated his career in "La
Usurpadora" alongside his wife Gabriela Spanic, with whom he declared,
he feels no professional rivalry.
After Salvador Mejía,'s production, De León participated
in the children's melodrama, "Gotita de Amor". Presently, he's
participating in the story headed by Edith González and Fernando
Colunga. On location, he spoke about his acting career plans.
"'Leonel' enters the drama to form part of
a triangle with the protagonists. It's a strong role for the
telenovela's final chapters. That's what interested me because it
fundamentally shows another faucet of my work that I had not shown in
the previous telenovelas in Mexico," commented the actor during
the interview.
How difficult is it to enter a telenovela when it's
far into filming?
"I've done it many times. It has turned into
something very normal for me. The first thing I do is to check the
previous chapters using a videotape to see everyone's style of
acting with the purpose of entering in sync into the novela and not be
offbeat."
With his experience as a telenovela actor both in his native Venezuela
and in Mexico, Miguel de León mentioned that up till now he has
not felt himself sterotyped as a leading man, even though the majority
of his roles have that peculiarity.
"You know, I've always had the opportunity to play
leading men-type roles but with a twist. It happened in the
telenovela I did with my wife Gabriela where we fell in love and in the
ones I've done here. But I don't feel too typecast as a
leading man because I can interpret any type of role even if it means
sacrificing my physical appearance."
What happened to your career as an actor in your
country? What has the Mexican television given you?
"Mexican telenovelas aren't just produced for a huge
national market; they're also made for an immense international one. This
perspective is important to any actor. Many people say Mexico is the
"Hollywood" of soap operas and I believe it. When I came to this country,
I didn't do it with the intention of working. I came accompanying my wife
who had the project of 'La Usurpadora'.
Once here, people who were familiar with my trajectory in Venezuela started
offering me work and I felt it'd be good to start anew in a country where,
unfortunately, no one had seen any of my novelas."
So, are you thinking of making an acting career
in Mexico?
"Fundamentally, yes. Otherwise I wouldn't be
working and for the moment, it's the best vehicle for people to start
identifying me. Afterwards, we'll wait for other projects to
surface in the theater, where I also have experience."
De León explained that even though he's integrating with Mexican
television, specifically with Televisa, he doesn't count with an
exclusive contract like the one his wife, Gabriela Spanic, has. She
is currently filming "Por tu amor" and has signed a three-year contract with
the San Ángel Consortium after the success she obtained in "La
Usurpadora".
Has it been good for both of you to work in
Televisa? Is there any competition between you?
"Of course not. The best thing that could have
happened to us was to come to Mexico together. That's why I
thank the viewing public for accepting us. Because of that acceptance,
we've beem able to remain together. If it hadn't been for that, we would
each have had to go our own separate ways.
I've received job proposals from Venezuela but I've rejected them because my
married life is barely commencing. We've been married a year and a half,
and one has to take chances in life and search for new paths."
Lastly, the Venezuelan actor said he hasn't felt any difference in treatment or
any rejection, because of his being a foreigner, by his fellow co-workers whom
he's befriended. Such is the case with Fernando Colunga, whom he got to
know from his participation in "La Usurpadora".
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