Nearly all about Antonia - Antonia San Juan - Brief Article

Antonia San Juan, Almodovar's new discovery, is a woman who keeps you guessing

In a career that spans 13 feature films, Pedro Almodovar has shown a knack for discovering and showcasing wildly memorable female talents like Carmen Maura and Victoria Abril. With his casting of Antonia San Juan as the down-to-earth transsexual Agrado (Pleasure)in All About My Mother, the director has topped himself. A cabaret performer in Spain who had previously appeared in two little-seen films, the droll, beautifully striking San Juan is surprisingly shy in person. And in discussing her gender she is elusive.

When did you start performing?

I came to Madrid at 19 from a small town and started acting. At 291 stopped because I suffered a crisis.

A gender crisis?

Well, I don't really want to talk about it, but you know what I am saying. Then I had an operation and started doing stand-up.

Your biography says "cabaret."

I say stand-up because in Spain all you need is your body, a good outfit, and the ability to speak.

Was the shift from theater to film difficult for you?

The problem is the technical. Someone on the side telling you not to move when you talk to someone is pura locura [totally crazy] to me!

The character you play is very moving, a transsexual in search of female friendship and a companion. Was it emotionally difficult?

No. To play a mother, to play a transvestite, you find them all on the street, and then you find a way to have them conform to your body. Once they put the makeup on me, I'm just playing, letting the character be in my body.

You were acting with some of Europe's leading actresses. Was that intimidating?

Oh, no, we understood each other immediately, When all of us got together, we would drink and talk about sex and boys. The normal things.

Did you get to improvise any of your marvelous dialogue?

No. The world of the script is closed when it comes to changing words. Pedro would not have it. You suggest a change, and he says, "Learn the words and say them, thank you." [Laughs] But he is also very easy to work with because he knows exactly what he wants and knows how to get it.

Everyone seems drawn to your character in the film. Was that conscious?

Well, a character named Pleasure--come on.

Very sweet.

That's the way Pedro described her to me: a girl with tits and sugar.

Do you identify like the character?

No.

You don't consider yourself transsexual?

No, of course not. I'm not a transsexual or a transvestite, There is a lot of confusion about me, but I am an actress, and that is all there is to say about that.

All!

Yes.

You have a great line in the film. You get roughed up by a trick, and the morning after, you are bruised and beaten. But you get dressed in a wonderful outfit to look for a job. Do you remember the line?

Yes, of course, line a throaty cigarette-induced snarl] "Nothing like a Chanel to make you feel better." [Laughs]

Do you have a Chanel?

I'm not really into fashion and makeup. I'm hardly wearing any makeup now. Look closely.

Your reviews are great. Is your life changing?

Well, I've had bigger changes.

Alfaro is a playwright and performance artist living in Los Angeles.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group