Hugo Silva (Madrid, 1977) was not one of those boys who dreamed of becoming a football player. He always wanted to be an actor. Today the ball continues to pull him quite a bit. But he understands the passion evoked by the king of the sport. Inside ‘headless chickens’‘, the series starring HBO Max created by his son Jorge Valdano based on an opinion Alex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bangreintroducing his witty vein to immerse himself in all the details of the football world.
Beto character ends his football career to become the representative of football stars. And he quickly realizes that this is a very competitive industry full of sharks.
He rediscovers himself in a world he knows. He starts well because he’s talented, he knows what he’s doing, rebuilds his life, gets rid of his addictions, but is suddenly betrayed by the star football player and begins to descend further.
Do you think the world of football easily gives way to comedy?
The world behind the football in which the series takes place gives a lot of space to comedy. First of all, because it is very unfriendly. The more the character suffers, the funnier the comedy, and it’s a great minefield.
Are you a football fan?
No. But you don’t have to be to enjoy this comedy. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an actor, not a football player. Also, he was very bad with the ball.
Although you are not a football fan, do you understand the passions aroused by the king of the sport?
Yes, also these passions are necessary to get you out of your life or out of a routine. Getting violent isn’t normal, but if there’s passion, cheering on your team is because it makes you feel alive. I don’t follow any of them, but I experienced that electricity at a concert.
Worried that the series is being compared to the award-winning ‘Ted Lasso’, who also brings the football world to the fore?
I haven’t seen it before. I didn’t even know it existed until I started the promotion. But according to what I’ve been told and the trailers I’ve seen, these have little to do with it. The football world is out there, but that’s something else.
Did you get a ‘squad’ to play Beto?
I did not do. I’m lucky to have a character that comes to mind. So I immediately understood the energy I needed to bring to him.
It’s a luxury for them to write a character that thinks of you.
This is a big chance. It’s only happened to me twice in my life, and on both occasions it was very easy to get close to the character.
He thought that with his career, he wouldn’t have to be on so many ‘rosters’ anymore.
Yes, I ‘cast’, we all do. Also, it’s good to make them because they keep you fit and if they don’t and then you see the product, you’ll understand why they said no to you, that you weren’t the one to give them. the energy that partner gives them.
Were you not surprised by the features of Beto, who wrote for you?
I didn’t like them. They thought of my energy to address this, but whatever happens to the character, the weirder and the more pain it causes him, the better. The more flaws it has, the better I like it.
Have you ever admitted that you can’t afford to be unemployed because you have a mortgage and two kids? You don’t have to worry anymore because you have six projects waiting to be published. Among them is a series from Almodóvar’s production company Mentiras pasajeros.
I have been very lucky and very lucky and I am very grateful to this profession and the people I think have always been very good to me. That answer was, do I take a break and prepare the character? I humbly told myself that I wouldn’t be able to take too many breaks and that I was very lucky to be working on projects I loved, but maybe if others came along that didn’t motivate me that much and I needed them, I would. because I live in the real world.
You were one of the protagonists of ‘Ministry of Time’, a series with very active fans. Its creator, Javier Olivares, said he wrote the fifth season, but TVE didn’t buy it for him. Do you think they made the show bad?
I won’t go into whether they’re abusive or not, but I think it’s a series that is much needed and should always continue because of its informative function. I know they show it in institutes and schools as it’s a series that helps us understand each other so it should go on. I say this not as an actor, but as a spectator. It would be great if the series continues with another patrol and other actors. Also, because we have a very wide background, it has no borders.