Mexico City /
Eiza González met Guy Ritchie in London through friends. She was a fan of the director’s work, he didn’t know hers. This did not prevent González from having an offer for Ritchie’s next film, a week and a half after this meeting. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfaredespite the fact that such a role was written for an English actress. A mixture of daring and discipline seems to guide most of the company’s actions. mexican; and it is working for him.
He connects to our interview on the way to the airport. You must take a flight to Canada to record a comedy with James Marsden and Vince Vaughn. Your agenda is completely full. This year, in addition to his film with Ritchie, he released a science fiction series created by David Benioff and DB Weiss, 3 Body Problemand another in which he acts alongside Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal, The Machine.
“I don’t stop. “I don’t like to stay static,” she says, laughing.
In this conversation to M Magazine of MILLENNIUMGonzález demonstrates that being in the right place at the right time only results in success if, through hard work, you are prepared for the opportunity.
What part of your Mexican heritage do you carry with you at all times?
I always carry the discipline that I learned in soap operas. Not going out, sleeping early, memorizing lines and studying constantly are lessons that are acquired from a very young age. It’s something that was marked in me since I was young. I also carry my dad’s teachings with me. He was strict and firmly believed that education could change my life. Additionally, the more time I spend outside of Mexico, the more I appreciate my culture. I’m not American. I am one hundred percent Mexa and that will never cease to be present in my life.
What is a good start for someone who wants to study acting in Mexico?
Art is a personal expression, my main recommendation is to never stop learning and look for what inspires you. So, every time a new project arises, be prepared. It is not necessary to start from scratch. The more you learn, the more opportunities you will have.
How do you choose your roles?
I am interested in diversifying, I can do everything, without problem. When I choose a project, I consider the script, whether the character is something I haven’t done before, or the creative team behind the film. For example, in 3 Body Problemworking with DB Weiss and David Benioff after they made game of Thrones I was very excited. The characters I choose challenge me, they even make me doubt if I am capable of playing them. These constant challenges are what I look for in my career.
What do you think of science fiction as a vehicle to address social issues?
That was exactly what caught my attention. 3 Body Problem. I love how fantasy, science fiction, and human relationships intertwine. My character is very unlikable in the first season, and I like that, because it challenges the need to please the audience, something I felt a lot at the beginning of my career.
In The Machineyou play Irasema, a sports journalist. Did your vision of journalism in Mexico change?
Definitely. My character is very complex, she is the ex-wife of a boxer in decline, who has dedicated her life to being a mother. Throughout the series, we discover his connection with journalism, an unfulfilled dream.
She is a dedicated woman, which I find very interesting, because it works as an analysis of Mexican women who dedicate themselves completely to their family and withdraw from their own dreams. Here we find her in a reconnection with her identity, involved in a sexist and misogynistic career. What I liked about the character is the possibility of representing many women in the world of journalism, especially in the sports field.
How did you convince Guy Ritchie to give you the role of Marjorie Stewart, despite not being English?
I met him in London through some friends. He was casting for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He didn’t know me, I mentioned that I had read his script and that it fascinated me. He told me that the role should be played by an English actress, to which I replied that I could speak with the correct accent. And so, with great guts—as I told my mother—I began to speak with an English accent. A week and a half later I got the offer for the film. I think he respected me a lot for the fact that I was so bold. People respect those who have the desire to learn and grow. I’ve already had three films with him, and it surely won’t be the last. The following year it premieres In The Graywhich I did with Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill. It’s very old school, full of fast dialogue and complex situations. I’ve realized that I’ve been in a lot of action movies without actually doing action scenes. It’s my turn to star in one in which I am the center of attention.
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