Susi Sánchez: Acting is a Work of Investigation and Self-Discovery
In an interview published by elpais.com, Spanish actress Susi Sánchez reflects on her career, her aversion to stardom, and her role in Jaime Lorente’s debut film El mal hijo. At 71, the Goya-winning performer discusses why she approaches acting as a quiet investigation rather than a pursuit of fame.
Stepping Outside the Star Persona
Waiting outside the Hotel Capitol in Madrid, Sánchez attracts attention from passersby on the Gran Vía, yet she admits she never learned how to play the part of a movie star. elpais.com reported that her film credits include work with Pedro Almodóvar in La piel que habito, Julieta, and Dolor y gloria. She secured a Goya Award for best leading actress in 2019 for Ramón Salazar’s La enfermedad del domingo and another for supporting actress in 2023 for Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Cinco lobitos. In addition, she earned a Max Award for best supporting actress in 2014 for Cuando deje de llover.
In El mal hijo, she plays Pascuala, the grandmother of an 11-year-old boy who moves in with her after his father disappears. Sánchez notes that working with a director making his first feature proved surprising. She describes Lorente as a dynamic, sensitive figure whose poetic expression left a strong impression.
Sánchez Recalls Early Career and Family Reactions
Sánchez shares that her father held a mistaken view of the acting profession and opposed her career choice. Unlike workers in other fields whose labor does not end with public applause, she never sought fame or public adulation. elpais.com noted that her mother felt proud of her achievements, though she remained unfamiliar with the mechanics of the industry, occasionally asking if the award nominations were decided by a lottery.
Reflecting on her entry into the craft at age 16, Sánchez recalls a turning point during a body expression class. When someone startled her, an unexpected, powerful scream escaped from her—a release of everything she had never voiced in her quiet, shy youth. That singular moment prompted her to understand the inner mechanics behind such emotional expression, drawing her toward the theater as a space for personal discovery.
Therapy Helps Sánchez Manage Public Prominence
The relentless cycle of interviews, photo shoots, and promotional duties exacts a toll, leading Sánchez to rely on therapy to recover from the sensory overload. She notes that the constant praise carries the risk of skewing one’s perspective, making it necessary to protect her sense of self. During the 2019 Goya Awards in Seville, she juggled red carpet interviews with her theatrical commitments, running back to the theater in full makeup and hair to perform alongside Ginés García Millán and Marina Salas before returning to the gala just in time.
Addressing the common perception of actorly ego, Sánchez argues that the best performers possess the least ego, allowing them to disappear entirely into their characters. When she considers her personal life, she speaks candidly about her 19-year-old dog, Dalai, and her desire to clear her schedule to spend the remaining time with her aging pet.
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