IN CONVERSATION WITH DENISSE PENA
interview by JANA LETONJA
photography by DANI GÓMIZ
Denisse Peña Molina is a Spanish actress who has grown up in front of the camera, evolving from child star to one of the most promising young talents in Spanish television and film. Her breakthrough into household recognition came with ‘Servir y proteger’, where she portrayed Olga Torres for six years, growing both as an actress and alongside her character. With her mix of versatility, dedication, and the rare experience of evolving on-screen from childhood into adulthood, Denisse Peña stands out as one of the most exciting rising stars of Spanish fiction today.
You began acting at just six years old in ‘El Internado’. What do you remember most about that experience and how it shaped you?
I remember that time very fondly. It was one of the happiest times of my life. It was where I discovered what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, which is lucky because most people take a long time to figure out what they want to do. But I always knew what my passion was, so being able to enjoy all those years at ‘El Internado’ was a dream come true.
How did your family support or influence your decision to pursue acting from such a young age?
I will always be very grateful to my family for supporting me in my decision to become an actress, and for enabling me to live my dream from such a young age.
Do you think starting so early gave you a different perspective on the industry compared to actors who began later?
It could be. I always say that being on a film set is the greatest learning experience of all, because everything happens so quickly. You're always working to very tight deadlines and there are often setbacks that you have to resolve on the spot in order to get the job done. All this, added to the good fortune of working with colleagues who are great actors and already had very solid careers, has been a real example of commitment to knowing how to behave on set, of respect, companionship and hard work. So, I think that having experienced all this from a young age has been like a masterclass and has given me many tools for all my future projects in this profession.
Your role as Olga Torres in ‘Servir y proteger’ lasted six years. How did it feel to grow up with your character, and what impact did that journey have on you personally and professionally?
I think a daily series is one of the things that toughens an actor up the most, because you get used to a much more frenetic pace of work and a pace of study that is also frenetic. Daily series are series in which things are happening all the time, so you can go through many emotions and places in a short time, which is a lot of fun. It keeps you on your toes and ready to create. For me, being on ‘Servir y proteger’ was a wonderful opportunity where I think I grew a lot. It gave me many tools and also allowed me to meet incredible people who are still in my life today.
Looking back at your transition from child roles to more mature ones, what were the biggest challenges in proving your range?
When you start out so young, I think the challenge comes in the adolescence. It's a difficult time for many careers, as there aren't that many castings for teenagers, since these roles are usually played by older people. Suddenly you find yourself in limbo, with no roles for your age range and you are only known for your childhood roles. So, I think the challenge is to work on letting the industry know that you can really handle bigger roles and give you the opportunity to prove that you've grown, developed as an actress and are capable of creating new things.
In recent years, you’ve been part of big platform projects like ‘Las chicas del cable’ and ‘Desde el mañana’. How has streaming changed the visibility of Spanish actors worldwide?
I believe that streaming platforms have opened up a world of opportunities for us. There are now many more co-productions or foreign productions featuring Spanish actors, and I definitely think that streaming platforms have helped a lot in this regard.
Out of all your recent projects, which role has pushed you the most outside your comfort zone?
I would say Laura's character, the role she played in ‘La agencia’, which is currently on air. And I think it's because ‘La agencia’ is a comedy with dramatic touches, and my storyline in particular does have more emotional weight, so capturing the tone of the series and at the same time being able to interpret everything that was happening to Laura without making it all fall flat was a challenge for me.
What inspires you when you choose your next projects — the character, the story, the team, or something else?
It's usually a combination of all these things, but I have to say that one thing that also excited me about being in the series ‘Las chicas del cable’ was the era in which it was set.
The Spanish audiovisual industry is thriving internationally. Do you see yourself exploring opportunities beyond Spain in the near future?
I would love for that opportunity to come along. What streaming platforms have done, in addition to opening doors for actors, is bring us closer to a lot of productions from other countries that I consume and love, and in which I would of course love to participate at some point.
Outside of acting, are there creative passions you’d like to explore, such as directing or writing?
At the moment, I don't see myself directing or writing, but you never know what will happen in the future. Maybe at some point I'll feel like taking the plunge.
Looking ahead, what kind of roles or stories would you most like to tackle in this next chapter of your career?
In general, any role that excites me or challenges me, exploring new roles that are as far removed from me as possible. Stepping out of my comfort zone and playing roles that, in principle, you would never imagine me in.
What can you share with us about your upcoming projects?
Well,’“La agencia’ hasn't finished airing yet, but the plot is open to a possible second season, so I'd love to be able to work with that wonderful team again and my colleagues, whom I admire so much.
