IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCÍA CARABALLO

interview by JANA LETONJA

Spanish actress Lucía Caraballo is gearing up for her next big-screen adventure with La Maleta, an action-comedy arriving October 16. Directed by Carlos Therón and co-starring Alejandro Speitzer, the film begins with a chance encounter between Laura and Nacho on a flight, and a playful bet at baggage claim that goes spectacularly wrong when Laura accidentally walks away with a suitcase belonging to terrorists. We caught up with Lucía to talk about stepping into Laura’s shoes, finding the comedy amid the chaos, working with Alejandro, and what audiences can expect from La Maleta.

For someone discovering La Maleta for the first time, how would you describe the movie in your own words?
I would describe La Maleta as frantic, fun, and, above all, unexpected. You never know what is going to happen next, and that keeps you in suspense the entire time, glued to your seat. I encourage everyone to go see it in theaters because I feel it is a film that is enjoyed much more on a big screen than at home.

What was your initial reaction when reading the script? Was there a specific scene or element that made you want to play Laura right away?
From the very first moment I read the script, I loved it. I felt it was super different, and Laura's character in particular seemed very original and far removed from what I usually see regarding young characters. Something that inspired and motivated me a lot to portray her from the beginning was that fun, spontaneous, and very "here and now" side of hers, being completely present all the time. I was also fascinated by how she always gets her way and has a thousand strategies to achieve it. She has a very quick mind, and that makes her extremely fun to play.

How much do you identify with Laura's spontaneous side? Could you see yourself making a bet like hers with someone you just met on a plane?
I identify with Laura quite a bit. I am also very spontaneous, very much in the moment, and yes, if I suddenly realize I like someone I've just met, it might occur to me to make a bet or play a game just to prolong the moment.

The movie blends romance, action, and comedy. As an actress, is balancing such distinct tones more challenging than working in a single genre?
Finding the tone of a project is always the most complicated part. In fact, even if during filming you think you know the tone you are working in, once you see the edited project, it always surprises you because editing is super decisive and it is a team effort.

In La Maleta, many genres combine, but everything is very much in a comedic key, a comedy that stems from very surreal and impossible situations. We tried to work through those situations from a place of truth and by letting ourselves be affected as characters, which naturally set the tone, whether in the more romantic, action, or comedy parts, creating an inevitable humor.

Without giving too much away, what physical demands did the action part of the movie present? Was there a particularly difficult or fun scene to shoot?
Even though we spent the entire movie running in cars or on foot, especially Alejandro and me, though Leonor also does her fair share of running, I'd say the biggest physical challenge was being handcuffed to Alejandro for almost the entire film. In the end, there was maximum trust. We wouldn't even take the handcuffs off and we learned how to move together. In fact, I felt strange when they took them off because we had gotten so used to them, even though your wrist hurt and the iron would hit your bone. That was the most peculiar physical demand of the shoot.

As for fun scenes, I experienced many, but I especially remember the subway scene. I won't say anything else or why, but it will be very obvious when you see it.

Comedy relies heavily on chemistry and timing. What was it like building that rhythm with Alejandro Speitzer?
Comedy depends entirely on chemistry and timing, and in a story centered on two characters, especially in a comedic tone, working with Alejandro was very easy. He always brings a very textual and physical comedy, and he is super quick with gags and jokes. That isn't necessarily my strongest suit as I don't have that quick mental speed for cracking jokes, but I understand his type of humor perfectly and he understood mine, even if they aren't exactly the same.

That combination gives the movie many different points of humor. I have a more physical comedy supported by emotion, while Alejandro is extremely good and quick with jokes.

If you were actually in Laura's position and realized you had accidentally taken a suitcase belonging to terrorists, what do you think your first instinct would be?
Taking a suitcase by mistake is something that could happen to me, in fact it has happened to me before, but in a situation like that, I wouldn't react like Laura at all. If I realized what happened, I would quickly grab my cat, put her in a carrier, maybe alert the neighbors to leave the building, and call the police immediately. If I called my parents, I'd die and start crying. I am very law-abiding.

What did playing the character of Laura allow you to show the audience that they might not have seen from you before?
I feel that thanks to Laura, the audience will get to know me much more as an actress. Every character has a bit of the actor playing them, and Laura has quite a lot of me. For instance, my mental tempo. I am also very fast and talkative.

Additionally, Laura has a very warm quality and quickly establishes closeness with people. In her case, also to get what she wants. In my personal life, I always break the ice whenever I can. I like creating closeness and at least a minimum level of intimacy with the people I work with or meet. I feel Laura creates that closeness very quickly, and so do I.

As your career evolves, are there specific genres, filmmakers, or types of characters you are eager to explore next?
I love comedy and I would be happy continuing to do it, but I really want to explore drama and projects that don't lean as much into comedy. I'm curious to see how I handle it and how it affects my day-to-day life, because I absorb the energy of my characters a lot and inevitably bring it home with me.

Regarding filmmakers, I would love to work with Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and Arantxa Echevarría. There are many incredible directors, but I would highlight those three in particular.

What keeps you creatively inspired outside of acting?
Life, humanity, and the world in general are an inexhaustible source of creativity. We can never lose sight of that, no matter what we do for a living, but especially if you dedicate yourself to interpreting life and expressing it through film or theater. You have to be very attentive to observe what happens around us, which is why humanity is my greatest inspiration.

Lastly, when the audience leaves the theater after watching La Maleta, what would you like them to be talking about?
Honestly, if they leave talking about the movie, I already consider that an achievement, because nowadays we tend to forget what we've just done so quickly. I hope they leave the theater and stay talking about La Maleta for a while. Luis Tosar always says that we have to free ourselves from ego and let the audience interpret and see whatever they want or need to see in what we've made. So, whether they want to speak well or ill of it, they are completely free to do so, but I would love for them to exit the screen room and keep commenting on it or laughing at something they saw in the film.

TEAM CREDITS:
photography CARLOS VILLAREJO
styling ANTONIA PAYERAS
makeup MARÍA GARCÍA