Meeting Ana De La Reguera

Considered one of the best and most beloved young actresses in Mexico, Ana De La Reguera plays Sister Encarnacion, in the new movie Nacho Libre, which opens next Friday, June the 16th. De la Reguera has starred in numerous Spanish Novelas, including “Gitanas,” “Luciana y Nicolas,” “Por ti,” “Todo por amor,” and “Pueblo chico, infierno grande.” She was the star of the novela, "Gitanas" which aired last year. Her feature films include the recently completed “Asi de precipicio,” “Ladies Night,” “A Beautiful Secret” (“Secreto de Esperanza”) and “Por la Libre.”

I had the priviledge of sitting down with Ms. De La Reguera, at the Cresent Hotel, this past Tuesday and we spoke about her Nacho Libre and some other things. She is not your average actress as you will see......

Synbad: How old were you when you decided you were going to be an actress?

Ana:  I was 16 when I joined a small theatre company in Veracruz, where I am from. At the age of 19, I moved to Mexico City and I auditioned for Centro de Formacion Actoral de TV Azteca, which only accepts 25 actors a year. There were 5,000 that auditioned when I did.  My first role was in "AZUL". I had a really small part. "AZUL" also starred Kieko the whale. My first big role was in Pueblo Chico Infierno Grande with Veronica Castro. 

Synbad: This is your first American Film, is there any difference in the making of Mexican or American film?

Ana: Well there is nothing really, other that Nacho Libre had a bigger budget so I had more freedom to act and we were able to do more takes of the same scene. I had just work with the same film crew on another film in Mexico so the atmosphere was great because we knew each other.

Synbad: So what it hard to be professional when working with a very funny Jack Black?

Ana: Well since this was my first American film, I wanted to be really professional so I was really concentrating and focusing on being a good actor so that the scenes between he and I were fresh and I didn't want to ruin the scenes.

Synbad: So being from Veracruz did you grow up watching Lucha Libre?

Ana:  No, I wasn't that interested in Lucha Libre when I was growing up. I would see the old films where Santo would fight the monsters, but I didn't really follow Lucha Libre. But now that I have made this movie, I really admire their talent and wrestling skills. I think they are amazing with all the moves they can do. I mean in Mexico every Sunday you can see Lucha Libre on TV and you can walk into a resturant and see a Luchador eating with his mask on and it's just a normal thing.

Synbad: Are you ready for your new sex symbol Label?

Ana:  Actually, I am not ready for anything like that, I just want the movie to be successful. I am working hard on my English and acting classes and my career. This movie has created opportunities for me and I don't have a problem with being called sexy. Although the roles in the movies I have finished have not been the bombshell sexy ones, but maybe one day I will get those roles, but I am very happy with the roles I have been getting because they are interesting roles.

Synbad:  If you were able to produce a film about any subject you wanted what would it be about?

Ana: A Woman, a regular Mexican women living in Mexico today. For example in Oaxaca they are only women in the village because all the men are in America working. There are several small villages that are like this with nothing but old people, children and women and no men.  These women are having to work around the house, be a woman, and be the wife without a father figure in the house. This is who I would make a film about.

I was truly impressed by the intelligence and the heart of this young Mexican actress and she has a bright future not only in Mexican movies but I am sure you will see her in more American movies.

Ana is very aware of the Immigration issues on both sides of the border and we spoke briefly about that. Ana feels that there is a demand in the US for the hard working Mexicans that are coming over and that no matter how big of a wall is built as long as Mexicans want a better life for themselves and their children they will do what they need to to come to American. But she also feels that the Mexican Government can do more to help the people of Mexico have better lives.

You can see Ana De La Reguera in Nacho Libre next Friday at your favorite Movie theatre!