IN CONVERSATION WITH MARINA SALAS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Fresh off her acclaimed run in ‘El Entusiasmo’ at Madrid’s Teatro María Guerrero, Marina Salas has delivered a sweeping range of work across film, television and theatre—earning major festival premieres, awards recognition, and growing international attention. This year, she has appeared in three feature films — ‘Miocardio’, ‘También esto pasará’ and ‘Esmorza amb mi’ — all celebrated at major Spanish festivals, while the second season of ‘La Ruta’ premiered at the 73rd San Sebastián Film Festival. With several new projects on the horizon, including ‘Caminando con el diablo’, ‘Corredora’, and ‘Esta soledad’, Marina stands at the forefront of Spanish storytelling—fearless, multifaceted, and continuously redefining the scope of her craft.

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You’ve had an incredibly prolific year across stage, film, and television. How does this moment feel in the larger arc of your career?

I’m grateful every day on set and on stage. This year has felt strangely organic, and having the opportunity to encounter such well-written stories and characters so rich and complex has been a challenge that has pushed me to work hard, not settle, not play it safe. I wanted to propose new things, different from one another.

What does choosing a project look like for you now? What makes you say yes?

What draws me is the experience I sense I might have with the project. Obviusly, you always want a character that expands you and your freedom, but deep down, for me, it’s about the collaborators I may find along the way and what that project leads me to experience.

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You’ve worked in nearly every genre. Is there a through-line that connects the characters you’re drawn to?

I believe in the unconscious, and I believe there are many things we don’t see but are still there. As certain authors repeat themes, sometimes it happens to us, actors, too. The characters speak to each other, the themes, the materials. There are common denominators. Even so, I feel truly fortunate with the complexity of the characters that come my way and the depth I can find in them.

You’ve just performed in ‘El Entusiasmo’. What has this project unlocked for you artistically or emotionally?

In ‘El Entusiasmo’, I was able to collaborate again with Pablo Remón, and that has been fascinating. I think he is an exceptional playwright and an extraordinary director. I’ve laughed a lot and learned so much from doing comedy. I love comedy, it’s very demanding and makes you laugh at yourself and at life. We really need that.

Theatre continues to be a major pillar in your career. What does the stage give you that screen work doesn’t, and vice versa?

Theatre is an everyday meeting with yourself, with the audience, with your colleagues, with the author. That’s why I love it so much. And because of the investigation, it’s my place for research.

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You also have new films coming soon, ‘Caminando con el diablo’, ‘Corredora’, and ‘Esta soledad’. What can you share about these upcoming roles?

The three are debut films, yes, although I had already worked with Javi Giner, the director of ‘Esta soledad’, on ‘Yo Adicto’. Shooting again with him and Oriol was very important to me. It makes me very happy to work with Javi again. They’re fascinating collaborators whom I love working with. 

Laura García Alonso has a unique rhythm and gaze, and when I met her it was love at first sight. And ‘Caminando con el diablo’ has very powerful characters. I was eager to do genre, the script hit me hard, and the technical and artistic team is incredible.

Several of these are directorial debuts. What excites you about working with first-time filmmakers?

Discovering someone, meeting for the first time, and establishing a new creative bond is also important for your growth. You never forget your first films, and supporting someone’s vision and the purity and excitement that emanate on set every day is something I really enjoy. Then something happens, which is that you don’t really know what movie we’re making. I like going into rehearsals without preconceived ideas, creating together, letting things happen there, and not knowing in advance what the result will be.

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You’ve played characters shaped by trauma, instinct, humor, intellect, and rage. How do you protect your own emotional space while working?

I try to imagine not taking it home, but it’s impossible. Your body has lived things, and when you get home you take them with you. You can’t leave your body on stage or on the set.

Winning the Max Award for ‘La infamia’ was a huge moment. How did that recognition impact you personally?

It was a great joy, and we celebrated that day so much. And it’s very beautiful to see how the people around you are genuinely happy for you too. The next day you have to keep working, and nothing changes that much in the short term.

As audiences discover your work internationally, what do you hope global viewers understand about you as an artist?

I believe there is a non-stopping search within me, and that’s my driving force, to understand ourselves, to understand life, to open myself more and be more available. I suppose that’s what I would like to convey. And nothing makes me happier than a group of humans collaborating, joining their wills.

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TEAM CREDITS:

talent MARINA SALAS
photography ANDRÉS GARCIA LUJÁN
styling FLORENCE RÉVEILLAUD
makeup and hair PEDRO CEDEÑO
photography assistant ISABEL ANDUEZA
studio LA MADAME
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA