The one director Ana de Armas has always dreamed of working with: “Such a legend”
After primarily tackling Spanish cinema for a number of years, Ana de Armas moved to Los Angeles in the mid-2010s to make inroads in the English-speaking film community. From being unable to speak the actual language until her mid-20s to becoming an Oscar-nominated actor with a very bright future ahead of her, it’s been one hell of a journey.
Since her rise to stardom, de Armas has worked with some of the finest directors around. Cary Joji Fukunaga was in charge when she stole the show in No Time to Die, while Todd Phillips was the first English-speaking director to really notice her talents when he cast her in War Dogs. Rian Johnson, Denis Villeneuve, Ron Howard, and many more have followed, but there is one creative mind right at the top of her list of dream collaborators.
In an interview with C magazine, the Ballerina star revealed that she’s has her eyes on working alongside acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. “That would be a dream,” she gushed, “He’s such a legend. He’s incredible. Now I’m a Bond girl, but I would love to be an Almodóvar girl. I’ll audition for him for sure.”
Born in the wonderfully named town of Calzada de Calatrava, Almodóvar is by far the most famous director to hail from Spain, and one of the most famous in the Spanish-speaking world. He has developed a cult following over decades of hard work, creating movies that reflect the sexual and personal inhibition of the post-Francoist period that he grew up in.
The term ‘Almodóvar girl’ wasn’t just something de Armas made up for this interview. It refers to the many women (usually fellow Spaniards) the director has worked with over the years, as his films tend to prominently feature or be told from the perspective of female characters, with the two most prominent ‘chicas Almodóvar’ being Spanish actors Chus Lampreave and Rossy de Palma. They have both appeared in eight of the director’s films, although de Palma has the opportunity to overtake her competitor, as Lampreave sadly passed away in 2016. Penélope Cruz is also hot on their heels with seven Almodóvar productions under her belt.
Spanish might be her first language, but the Cuban-born de Armas doesn’t fit the traditional mould of an ‘Almodóvar girl’, which has seen Cecilia Roth, who was born in Argentina, be in seven of his films, while Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore starred in his English-language debut, The Room Next Door, with the latter showering him with a stellar review.
He might now be in his mid-70s, but Almodóvar is showing zero signs of packing up any time soon. That gives de Armas plenty of time to shape herself and join the ranks of his ‘chicas’, and I for one would love to see that happen.
