IN CONVERSATION WITH AGUSTIN DELLA CORTE
interview by JANA LETONJA
Agustín Della Corte will soon star In Netflix’s series ‘Olympo’, starring alongside Clara Galle, and in the feature film ‘Papeles’ by Arturo Montenegro, alongside Megan Montaner and Carlos Bardem. He made the leap from theater to film in ‘The society of the snow’, whose international acclaim has garnered him countless titles and awards, including 13 Goya Award nominations and a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
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You began your theater journey in Uruguay. How did that foundation in theater shape the actor you are today?
In fact, I began exploring acting almost at the same time I started working as an actor, and I feel very grateful to have had that opportunity. I believe that being able to put into practice on set what I was discovering in my acting training enhanced my growth as an actor and made me enjoy the experience to the fullest.
My first approach to acting as a “subject of study” was in theater classes. That’s where I discovered the true value acting holds for me. The magic that appears in class, in a carefree context, far from the pressures of work, is hard to replicate on set, but it’s as if those sensations get imprinted on your body, and then each person creates their own tools to bring that experience to the job. I think that chasing those magical moments one feels while acting contributes to an artistic consciousness that is key to keep alive when this becomes a profession.
Can you share a memorable lesson or piece of advice you received from Lucía Soomer, Santiago Ventura, or Alejandro Catalán?
The time I spent in Buenos Aires was a life lesson. I began my studies with Alejandro Catalán, and acting took on a new meaning for me. He constantly repeated a message that left a mark on me, “In acting, we cannot allow ourselves what we don’t allow ourselves in real life.” With that understanding, the art of acting became an experience that allowed me to recognize which parts of myself I avoided, consciously or unconsciously, inhabiting, and to begin exploring them in depth, discovering that acting can change how I allow myself to live. Also, as a crucial element in achieving this, there's the influence of your scene partner as a mirror, making you aware that acting cannot exist without building a real connection with the people you're acting with.
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What do you think makes the Uruguayan acting scene unique compared to others in Latin America?
Uruguay is a fairly small market and heavily influenced by our neighbor, the artistic giant that is Argentina, so I was referring to the acting scene there, which is the one I know best and which has most nourished this part of my life. From my experience, one characteristic of our industry is that projects developed there are born from creative processes quite disconnected from the commercial aims that the world often imposes. In other places, there's a greater volume of projects with a strong commercial focus, which is something less common in our region, where there’s a tendency to create more intimate stories. In my view, Argentina and Uruguay place great value on this type of work, and that results in a cultural contribution that I find very interesting and valuable.
Your cinematic debut in ‘The Society of the Snow’ under J. A. Bayona was a major step. What stayed with you the most from that film?
Participating in ‘The Society of the Snow’ involved a very long casting process, a stage of detailed rehearsals and script rewrites, and a shoot that lasted over a year with a level of resources unusual for a Spanish-language film. It was literally a film school. Being part of a project of that scale, led by a creative genius and passionate professional like J.A. Bayona left me with countless lessons. Without a doubt, what stayed with me the most is that when a project is conceived with such a grand vision, so big it’s almost intimidating, even scary, the only way to achieve a good outcome is with a team willing to face those feelings and work with a level of commitment and dedication that transcends them.
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How did working with a director of Bayona’s caliber influence your approach to acting on screen?
From the beginning, J.A. helped me build a level of self-confidence that no one had ever helped me experience before. He valued the naturalness I brought to acting and even joked about banning me from studying acting. He also consistently recognized my commitment and discipline toward work, and made sure I knew how important that was on a film set. Undoubtedly, receiving that positive and sincere reinforcement from someone I admire so much, both as an artist and as a person, and who continues to advise me to this day, filled me with the confidence that is crucial for taking the winding path that is an acting career.
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The film received international recognition, including an Oscar nomination. How has that exposure impacted your career?
For all of us who participated in the project, it gave us visibility and a great calling card for the industry. However, I never thought that it would make things easier. I’ve always continued to work very hard to identify and seize any opportunities that came my way. And I will continue to do so for as long as I dedicate myself to this craft, which I hope will be until the day I leave this world.
Next, we’ll be seeing you in Netflix’s series ‘Olympo’. What can you tell us about your character and the story?
In ‘Olympo’, I play Roque Pérez. He is the captain of the Spanish National Rugby 7s team, and his storyline mainly centers around the difficulties he is forced to face for being openly homosexual. Unfortunately, homophobia still exists in the world of sports today, and through Roque, the audience will experience the impact that this kind of discrimination has on the life and career of someone who suffers from it.
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Also soon, you’ll be starring in ‘Papeles’, which brings you together with talents like Megan Montaner and Carlos Bardem. How was that experience different from your previous projects?
In the film ‘Papeles’, directed by Arturo Montenegro, I have a small role, yet it meant something quite big for me. It was the second feature film I had the chance to be part of, and the scale of the project is very different from ‘The Society of the Snow’. Therefore, the way of working was different, and I learned a lot. It’s a more independent, auteur-driven project, carried out by people with a lot of heart and a strong ambition to restore the reputation of a fantastic country like Panama. It also gave me the opportunity to film there, discovering a new place and meeting new people, which is always enriching. Moreover, having the chance to share the set with Megan Montaner was wonderful. She is an actress who immediately brings a very special energy to everyone on set. I believe it’s essential to always remain in a learning mindset and be open to even the smallest details that can enrich my work. That’s why seeing the confidence and assurance with which she works was incredibly inspiring for me.
Do you approach your characters differently for theater versus film or television?
Honestly, I don’t have enough theater experience to dare give an opinion. Hopefully, one day, when the time is right, I’ll get the chance to discover new things by preparing to step onto a stage. But for now, that’s not in the short-term plans.
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How do you choose your roles? Are there particular stories or directors you’re drawn to?
What my team and I prioritize when making decisions is what each project can bring me, depending on where I am in my career. Personally, I’m very drawn to more naturalistic stories that manage to speak to the dramas of real people from an original perspective. The films or series that can offer viewers a different perspective on people’s everyday realities using simple elements are the ones that interest me the most. I’m fascinated by the idea of portraying characters that people can identify with and take away a message that makes them question something about their own lives. To name two people, I greatly admire how Carla Simón and Paula Hernández manage to achieve this.
Coming from Uruguay and working internationally, how do you navigate cultural differences in storytelling and performance?
Globalization has enriching aspects, such as giving us access to content from all over the world and letting us learn from it, but it also has aspects that may not be as positive, like the creation of mass-consumption products with less cultural identity so they can be viewed in many countries. That’s something I’m less interested in. As an actor from Uruguay who wants to project internationally, I seek to understand and adapt to the different ways of working and storytelling in as many places as possible, but without losing my own cultural identity, which is the most valuable asset I have, both as a person and as an actor.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent AGUSTÍN DELLA CORTE
photography ANDRÉS GARCÍA LUJÁN
styling FREDDY ALONSO
styling assistant ANDREA ORTIZ
photography assistant ISABEL ANDUEZA
grooming SANDRA MARCOS
equipment NERIONATHLETICS
special thanks TOLA MADAME PEREZ STUDIO
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
