Graduated from the Faculty of Art of Tandil -su Natal City-, Fernanda Metilli He arrived in Buenos Aires in 2006 with the dream of being a comedian and today serves in two of the highest grossing works of the Buenos Aires theater billboard. One, humoristic “We are the girls of guilt”, together with Connie Ballarini, Malena Guinzburg and Natalia Carulias, in El Nacional. The other, “Start with D, seven letters”with the direction of the laureate Juan José Campanella (also author of the piece, together with Cecilia Monti) and as a pair of Eduardo Blancoin polytheama.
There, Metilli -which comes from ‘exit’ and before ‘Matilda’– and the so -called “fetish actor” of Campanella embody a felt and reflective story about love and second opportunities. In this case, between two people from different generations (she 40, he 65) and different life experiences.
Topics that the actress and Standupera addresses in this talk with news, in addition to other topics such as this new interpretive challenge, coexistence, motherhood and its 10 years in couple with the also comedian, magician and musician Agustín “I’m Rada” Aristarán.
News: When Campanella contacted her on WhatsApp, he thought it was a joke because he doesn’t have a photo of his. After the astonishment, did he ask why he chose her?
Fernanda Metilli: So directly, no. When we started talking, he told me that he believed that the female protagonist was for me, for the type of humor I do. And then he told me that I had seen me in “like the ass” eight years ago, in “jets” and “immature.” He also told me that I had seen some videos that I make with Agustín on YouTube. What filled with pride, because I feel that he saw me quite before proposing the paper.
News: Read the script, did you feel that the paper was for you?
Metilli: Yes. History surprised me, because I never had a couple with a lot of age difference, but Miranda’s situations and responses to Luis, Eduardo’s character, immediately seemed very funny. The sad parts, which are also thoroughly, generated some fear, because I did not deepen that as an actress. Juan had no doubt that the funny thing was going to do it well, but the dramatic parts – he told me – were an unknown. There we risk full. But that combination of comedy and drama, so balanced and so typical of Juan, I loved immediately.
News: What was the biggest challenge that the character presented to him?
Metilli: Its tenderness and its moments of fragility, because although Miranda is a very strong mine, in a second reading I noticed that it also has a broken part. Which led me to delve into another field of the performance to which I was not used to. I trained that at the Faculty, but not labor. Although the body remembered, everything was there; And now each function is training.
News: He told me that he had no generationally disparate couples. Is it prejudiced in that regard?
Metilli: Yes, enough. Especially with men, because from the woman I understand it a little more. But I have the prejudice with the “pendeviejos” that girls of 20 rise, not with people of the ages of Luis and Miranda, because they are already mature people. In this story, the generational difference goes to the background, because it is basically a love story.
News: Campanella and Blanco worked a lot together and, in addition, they are friends. How was it to join that pair?
Metilli: I learned a lot. Because while they are a team, in some things they do not coincide, and that is very transparent. And seeing how they came to a balance, was fascinating. I really enjoyed that creative process. Both, in addition, are very generous and had no problem listening to my suggestions. I never felt them like a block, because they have a simplicity that makes them very close.
News: In a moment of the work, Luis and Miranda raised the theme of coexistence, a matter to which you do not adhere in your personal life. Did you move something internally what the characters raise?
Metilli: It only introduced me when I read the work. There I thought: “They are crazy! Each one at home! Then I adapted to the characters and all good.
News: Non coexistence with your partner was by mutual agreement?
Metilli: At first Agustín proposed to live together and I told him that I don’t think he proposed because he was a very young dad, he lived a lot with Bianca’s mother and had never lived alone. There I said: “Are you crazy? First, you have to learn to live alone and then see if you want to live together.” Today we both enjoy having their place and getting together when we want.
News: Did they rule out living then?
Metilli: Today is not a necessity, but at some point it can be. We both are clear that it should be in a very large place or in two houses, next to each other, joined by a bridge.
News: But that costs a lot of money …
Metilli: Yes, so for now we will continue like this (laughs).
News: In “Matilda” she embodied a mother who really did not want to have children. What do you think of motherhood?
Metilli: I never had the desire to be a mother. I am happy with my nephews and with the children of my friends, but I do not see myself raising a person, I do not see my responsibility. It seems crazy to bring a child to the world knowing that I don’t want to change anything from my life. There are many women who had children because they had them, by mandate. My mom, without going any further. In those cases I think: “No! Poor!” And if one day I want to have a child and I can’t, I will adopt. In fact, I live adopting dogs.
News: Tell me about your role as “mizzra”, as you and Bianca say.
Metilli: I love being your “mocktack.” Not only because I saved from putting limits, but because now, he is studying at Iuna and goes to castings, we share a lot of the profession.
News: Dalia Gutmann says that the stand-up is the art of making the public believe that everything is improvised. Does it coincide?
Metilli: Yes. The stand-up is a carefully written text and the “deception” consists precisely that the viewer believes that you are saying it for the first time. That is the great challenge. Obviously, in each function, one finds new things, because the stand-up is with the public and always ends up cooking on stage. It is a round trip, a dialogue.
News: Would you make a stand up monologue again?
Metilli: I think it would cost me, because I haven’t done it for a long time. I wouldn’t know very well what to write. Today, for me, the stand-up goes through what I do with the girls.
News: What is it like to go from a function of “We are the girls of guilt” to another of “Start with D …”?
Metilli: For me it is natural, because I always made stand-up and theater. I love both things and enjoy that versatility.
News:How important is humor in your relationship with Agustín?
Metilli: It is fundamental, as individuals and as a couple. We don’t look for it, we just have it. It is a way of life, which does not mean that we are doing jokes all day.
News: He always talks about his dogs. Because?
Metilli: Because for me, life without a dog is a waste, I really don’t understand. I always had dogs, because my parents were very painful. Except in my early years in Buenos Aires, I was complicated by lack of work, but it was like I miss something. It is unconditional love.
News: Weeks his mother died, the person who supported her most in her desire to be an actress. How did you face your job commitments?
Metilli: Some functions could not do them because I had just arrived from Tandil with all that background. But I returned quickly because I am very active and it makes me good. Although if one day I cannot, I think to respect me, because in both works they were all very loving and there is a lot of confidence to say it. Apart, I do not adhere to the phrase “The show must continue.” No, we are people and this is theater, no one is going to die because a function is suspended.
News: His mother came to see her in “Start with D …”?
Metilli: No, neither in this one nor in “Exit”, because a year ago I was sick.
News: His dad either, right?
Metilli: Nor, because several years ago he had a stroke and there are things that he does not hear or understand. But in his own way he accompanies me.
News: Did he stay in Tandil?
Metilli: Yes, at home, with caregivers. The same ones that took care of them both.
News: Mondays, the only day he has no theater, will it continue to go to Tandil?
Metilli: Yes, totally. I did it while they were both and it will continue to be like that.
By Sergio Nuñez
