How Cuarón discovered Yalitza Aparicio

Yalitza Aparicio, Oscar nominated for best actress for "Rome", tells how she was discovered by director Alfonso Cuarón.

The story of how I changed the life of Yalitza began about three years ago, when she accompanied her sister to a cast made in her village, Tlaxiaco, a town of 40,000 inhabitants located in the state of Oaxaca.

She was studying for a preschool teacher, but encouraged by her sister, found the time to attend the test "for a movie". At that time, he did not imagine becoming a celebrity.

The unusual way in which the casting was done, This has prompted the Oscar nominee and her family to think that it could actually be acting on human trafficking.

"At first they were opposed, when I went to the next stage, I had to go to the city of Oaxaca, they got scared. We searched for information, but only mentioned that it was a film that was going to be shot in Mexico and that they were looking for women of all profiles "said Aparicio.

Suspicions increased when he was told that he was going to Mexico City to do other tests. Her mother decided to accompany her so that she was not alone, as strange as it was.

"She came with me to travel, as well as many girls accompanied by their husbands or parents; my mother was with me until the last moment "explained Yalitza.

And it had to be her. Alfonso Cuarón based the role of Cleo, the protagonist of Rome, in his childhood nanny named Libora & # 39; Libo & # 39; Rodríguez.

"It was immediate, I speak of Libo, I have always known her, I know her qualities, I know her treatment. I know that smile. It was one of those times when you meet someone and you say: please, I hope she says yes. "Said Cuarón.

Yalitza was not the only woman from Tlaxiaco to participate in Rome. Her friend Nancy who brings to life the character of Adela, He brought his knowledge on Mixtec that was very useful in the film.

"I've known her for six years and after doing the casting and I was selected They asked me if I had a friend who spoke the language of my community and I thought of her. "

International critics have not stopped praising Aparicio's performance. He says that paradoxically, he was afraid of the camera all his life.

"Something funny, says my mother, is that I've never liked being photographed and I've never liked talking in front of people. I do not have many pictures of little girl and those I always have with a scared face because the first thing I did was run. "

The objective and the challenge for Alfonso Cuarón, was to show him as he is, without posing.

"He was trying to forget all who are behind the camera, and think that you were alone, simply. Everything emerged according to the indications of the director, "says the actress.

Yalitza Aparicio did not know that he was working with a famous Mexican director, but the familiarity with which he treated her was essential to the realization of the work of interpretation.

"I absolutely did not know his career and all he did, just the fact that he speaks to me as if we were longtime friends and that the trust he has given me has helped me to continue in this way ".

The character of Cleo was not only the key to the success of the actress, but also a powerful example of life.

"Cleo is an example of how to deal with problems, because in the end, life is life, with its ups and downs, and you have to go from the front. During the recording, I discovered that her life was difficult and painful, but she still faces everything with a smile. This is an amazing person. "

With information from Vogue