Milena Smit: "When you spend months dedicating yourself to the life of another person who is not you, it is as if you do not know how to return to yours"
At 25 years old, Milena Smit is already the young promise of Spanish cinema, despite the fact that she entered the profession completely unexpectedly. She admits that she herself would not have imagined it in her best dreams, but the reality is that it is happening. And she doesn't surprise us. Milena is character, naturalness, personality and talent, above all talent... For her first film 'You won't kill' she was nominated for a Goya 2021, and this 2022 is for Pedro Almodóvar's feature film 'Madres Paralelas', where she plays Ana and for which she aspires to the statuette for 'Best Supporting Actress' with her co-star Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, with whom she shares the nomination category. This is the level.
She was born in Elche in 1996 and the Alicante coast saw her grow up. In 2022 the whole planet will accompany her on her new journey. She is already one of the "Almodóvar girls" (although "something different" as she herself confesses) and, although her career has only just begun, we believe (well no, we know) that a precious journey awaits her, as much as light which gives off We talk to her.
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First of all, congratulations on your nomination. What does it mean for you to be a candidate for this Goya for 'Best Supporting Actress'?
In the end, a nomination is a recognition of your work, so I couldn't be more grateful and happier because my colleagues have considered that, for the second consecutive year, I have a place in the nominations, also in a category that is new to me, since last year was “revelation”. And the truth is that I am living it from a very beautiful place because I am very calm, I am not generating false expectations because then frustrations can appear that seem completely unnecessary to me. We are here to do our job and enjoy it, and in the end the prizes will come...
Of course, I am very happy to share the nomination with great figures in Spanish cinema, especially Aitana.
In 'Madres Paralelas' you have worked alongside an impeccable cast of actors, such as Penélope Cruz and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, with whom you share the nomination category. How has this experience of working with them been?
Go figure! An experience that I think there are very few like this in life. The family we have created and the energy we have felt with each other is amazing, and above all being able to learn from two great actresses from our country and being lucky enough to be so close is, of course, a gift that I feel I Pedro has made me for me, as a person, and for my professional career.
I have always greatly admired the work of both, also that of Pedro and that of all my colleagues, and in 'Madres Paralelas' I have discovered a great way of making films in a very peculiar way and with a lot of love, giving my life for the film and always being at the foot of the canyon, and seeing how the rest of the colleagues and departments do it too. I think it's the key to a wonderful and beautiful film like the one we've made.
You have stated on several occasions that you feel like a different “Almodóvar girl”. Why do you consider yourself different?
I think it's more a matter of time and stage. In some way I am one of the youngest and I think also because of my personality, because of my way of entering this world, this profession, the way everything has happened... Maybe I can find many similarities with Penelope , which we have talked about on many occasions, such as pursuing a dream that you don't even think is made for you.
I also think it's a very aesthetic thing. I consider myself a little more different for these reasons but it doesn't mean that it's better or worse, but different because we are all different from each other in general. Nor do I think that a stereotype of “Almodóvar girl” can be generalized because the beauty is finding actresses and actors who resemble the characters that Pedro is creating.
Working with Pedro is a gift for you. How have you experienced it?
I have lived it in a very natural, very organic way. I think our relationship has been based on naturalness constantly and I think that's what has made it special. At the time I started to do the tests and in the end they told me what project it was for, what was clear to me was that I wanted to work with this person and not with the name they have. Starting from this point we have been very honest with each other in terms of the character, the story...
It is really inspiring to work with a person who has a master's degree in this profession and who is somehow the quintessential director of our country. It is a pride, a privilege and an honor to belong to this family but, above all, to have been able to have such a human and honest relationship with him and without any layer of ego on his part or mine, because in the end he is very easy to try to create a mask that you are not to satisfy or reach the expectations of an important person. The journey of being able to meet him has been very, very beautiful and very inspiring.
There are no expectations, but if you were the lucky one and won the Goya, who would you dedicate it to?
We are always clear about the people to whom we would dedicate it, which in the end is your family, your mother, your father, your friends, your closest people... I certainly feel that after this film I have a lot to be thankful for because I have very nice people by my side, and I already thank them every day. Also everything that comes to be the team that has made it possible for the film to go ahead, of course to Pedro for having the courage to tell this story, to my companions for helping me trust and grow with the character and not having any fear or no barrier to feel free and be able to draw with my interpretation something that is very beautiful, such as the fact of telling a story. But hey, it's not something I think about much... This is what comes to mind.
Your profession has to have many good and bad things, it has to impose facing a new challenge from a new character, dealing with nerves, frustrations... But, what is the most positive part of this profession?
What I really like the most is that it makes me feel that doing it is worth it. It makes me feel useful, that there is something that I am especially good at and that distinguishes me from the vocations of the rest. I think that to get into this profession you have to be very brave because you are working with the most sincere and most vulnerable thing we have, which are our emotions. Exposing yourself and opening yourself up in this way in front of thousands of spectators is something as risky as it is honest and beautiful. Being able to make many people feel identified with a character, a story or with a simple detail, such as a moment in the movie that makes you remember something you have experienced. Without a doubt, it is what fills me the most and what encourages me to go to work every day. I think how lucky I am dedicating myself to something that I love and that heals many things for me. Art helps us heal.
And what less?
The danger that we often run due to the very thing that excites me, which is that exposure of our emotions. In the end you spend the whole year living completely different lives, with their past, present and future… But that's not your life. When you spend months dedicating yourself to the life of another person who is not you, suddenly that filming ends and you return to your life and say, "Holy shit, where had I been?". It's like you don't know how to get back into your life, you know?
I had never stopped to think about it and I think that the public, despite being aware of all the work, we are not aware of how the life of a character who becomes your new "day to day" can permeate you... And suddenly you have to be Milena again.
Is that! In the end, we all live a process of personal development and emotional education. That leads to a series of confusions and loss of reality many times, and you find yourself in absurd situations that suddenly you don't know how to react to them and you say "wow, I have a very hard job to do to continue being well", and if after a month or two weeks you start another project with another character… You have to be very careful, because in this profession we are very exposed and we have to take care of ourselves, protect ourselves and rest.
Has it ever happened to you that something of a character has remained in you?
Yes. While recording 'Madres Paralelas' my friends told me that I had gestures that weren't mine or ways of reacting to things that weren't mine. Somehow they didn't finish recognizing me at certain moments. In the end you are so involved and you are living with the character for so long that it even affects your mood. When I have had super hard scenes, my mood is as if what is going to be shot is going to really happen.
Specifically the character of Ana, has it been difficult for you?
Connecting with her was very easy, distancing myself from her was complicated and the truth is that the whole trip I made with her was very nice. Yes, maybe the most complicated thing could seem to me were things that I had not experienced, for example childbirth, which at the same time was my favorite moment, but they are things that when you have not lived and have not felt become more difficult for you though it's pretty too. But overall it has been a beautiful journey with her.
Something that draws a lot of attention are the physical changes that accompany Ana in all her transformations. With which of all have you felt more identified?
Actually with everyone and with none. I think I felt identified because I felt that the character was added but not really with Milena. My hair is always dark and I try to keep it long, although sometimes it is difficult, but in the end it is a process that you adapt to favor the character's story.
Now you are one of the most anticipated actresses on the red carpet. Do you feel comfortable on the red carpet?
Yes, very comfortable. I really like to play in favor of aesthetics, fashion, costumes... I really want to prepare what we are going to wear, do all the design, makeup... That process is wonderful!
What do you think is what makes your style unique?
I think there are not many references in Spain that can go with my aesthetic. I think that is what can most impact the media and people who seek to have a fashion reference with which to feel identified.
You have pending the premiere of 'Libélulas', by Luces Knowles, and 'Tin y Tina', together with Jaime Lorente and director Rubin Stein. What can you tell us about these feature films? No spoilers...
We can't say much yet, but both trips have been very important for me because they have taught me a lot and have helped me get up to speed to put many things I have learned into practice. I have been lucky enough to be able to share these projects with immense colleagues and learn a lot from them. Regarding the project it is better to wait a little bit!
You also have a leading project in the works 'La Chica de Nieve', a Netflix series inspired by the novel by Javier Castillo. How is this job?
I just came from rehearsals! I'm super happy, I'm understanding myself very well with the directors and with my colleagues. It's been very nice since they told me about the project until now. I am very motivated and wanting to start shooting and be able to get my hands on the character. And I think it's very different from what I've been doing so far.
A dream?
Ugh… I guess love was easy.
