Winner of the Goya at the young age of 12 for 'Pan's Labyrinth', acting continues to be her great passion and her way of life. Crossing the ocean, she starred in 'The Shannara Chronicles' and now she has returned home to film a short film with a strong social message.
Her passion for acting has led Ivana Baquero (Barcelona, June 11, 1994) to travel to many parts of the globe. Recently, she has returned from the States to film Offline, a short film directed by Gerard Vidal Cortés and produced by ESCAC, that delves into the world of artificial intelligence and the importance of not leaving aside the human part.
At just 12 years old, you managed to win the Goya Award for Best New Actress for "El laberinto del fauno" (Pan's Labyrinth). Did you always know that acting would be your life?
Actually, I didn't know until I stumbled upon acting quite by chance when I was 8 years old. I had always been a bit of the showgirl in the family. I loved making songs, Christmas shows... I enjoyed it, but I was so little that I had never considered becoming an actress. At the age of 8, they were looking for a girl who spoke English very well for a Paco Plaza movie - "Romasanta" - and they came to my school, auditioned all the girls in my class, and chose me. That's when I experienced it and realized that I wanted to be an actress.
Back then, social media wasn't as evolved. Can you imagine how different that early fame would have been if you had social media so close?
I've thought about it many times, and in part, I'm thankful that there wasn't social media at that time because I was so young. "El laberinto del fauno" came out when I was twelve, which is a tricky age, and I think not having so much external noise benefited me, allowing me to have a relatively normal childhood. I did my shoots like someone doing an extracurricular activity, but then I continued in school. Although it's true that social media is a tool for work, and in that sense, I also think that perhaps, on the other hand, it might have been beneficial to have them a bit later. But it happened as it happened, and I think it was the best thing that could have happened to me at that time.
Several years have passed since then, and you haven't stopped for a moment, with productions on both sides of the Atlantic. If you had to choose one, which one would you choose?
I've had the opportunity, as you rightly say, to shoot in fantastic locations, to travel very internationally, and it's hard to choose. I've been to wonderful places. I've filmed movies in Portugal, New Zealand, the United States... It's very difficult for me to choose because each project has something special. Even relatively recently, I did one in Madrid for Netflix called "Alta Mar" (High Seas), which I am very attached to, because it also marked my return to Spain. It's difficult to choose, but it's true that I did "Las crónicas de Shannara" (The Shannara Chronicles) project in New Zealand, and I spent about three years going back and forth. The project was very special, but I think on a personal level, being there for so long was a unique, practically unrepeatable experience. If I had to choose a project that has filled me a lot both personally and professionally, it might be that one, "Las crónicas de Shannara."
You've been able to compare the national film industry with those of other countries. What differences do you see, for example, between the Spanish and American industries?
I think the magnitude of the productions, especially. Although it's changing. Since the arrival of platforms in Europe and Spain, projects have a much larger scale, productions are grandiose, and there is more funding and investment. But it's true that, in general, the United States is very seasoned. They have been doing it for a long time, and productions are with very large teams. But in terms of artistic quality and stories, I truly tell you that great things are done in both, and I've never noticed a difference. That's why I've always liked being able to combine the United States and Spain.
With "Alta mar," you returned home in 2019, and now you're back with "Offline." How has the return been?
With the covid situation, I stayed in the United States for a couple of years. I was working there and did a movie called "Black Friday," about zombies, and I really wanted to come back and enjoy Spain more. Now that I'm getting older, I miss Spain, and nowhere else is life lived like here. The quality of life is wonderful. I miss my family a lot, and now I'm in Madrid; I love it. I did the "Offline" project, which is about Artificial Intelligence, a very relevant topic nowadays. It's a beautiful story; I found it very moving when I read the script. And I really wanted to do it. Besides, it's filmed in Jumilla's vineyards, so it's a project I'm looking forward to seeing.
To what extent do you feel that AIs have also entered the audiovisual world, in cinema...?
At least in the audiovisual field, it's not yet well regulated. In fact, in the United States, we were on strike until recently with the union precisely to regulate the issue of AI, image rights, and what it implies for artists to coexist with this technological world. It's being regulated more now, but it's true that it's intimidating. On the one hand, it's very interesting and can be beneficial, but on the other hand, it's a very unknown world for now, and I think that, to some extent, from the actor and artist's perspective, it has to be regulated and to put some limits.
We talked about your childhood without social media before. How is your relationship with them now?
I have a fairly healthy relationship because I set my limits. I enjoy it to some extent because I like to share; I like people to know what I'm up to. But also maintaining distance, understanding that social media is also work, and without being too attentive. In fact, I have a set time limit on social media and try to stick to it.
If you could make a wish for the coming year, what would it be?
A lot of health and a lot of work, especially in Spain. In fact, I already have some things brewing here, and I'm really looking forward to it.
(c) Interview by Noticias de Navarra.
Translation by Ivana Baquero Italia.
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