No trembles the hand as Eva Llorach speaks about how having ego isn’t always wrong for certain things. Perhaps what happens is that in the case of women, it is quickly mistaken for arrogance. Since last Friday, the Murcian actress is on screens in Disco, Ibiza, Locomía, playing Nieves, a character she created with absolute freedom alongside Kike Maíllo. She embodies the voice of reason amid an egos clash in the entertainment world, a clash that in real life she navigates daily to avoid getting stuck in muddy territory. She also hints at an exciting project on the horizon, one that could brighten the world a little more.
Although Disco, Ibiza, Locomía premiered at the Málaga Festival last March, it is now the audience’s turn to own the film. What were the first impressions after that initial viewing? Pride and the urge to share it, or cautious optimism?
I wasn’t able to attend the festival, but from what I’ve heard the film was very well received, and audiences left the screening delighted. I’m eager for people to see it. But cautious? Not at all. I imagine the actors portraying the Locomía members might feel a touch of that doubt, given the stakes in their world.
Tell us about your character, introduce the lawyer you portray in Disco, Ibiza, Locomía.
My character is named Nieves. She is a mediation lawyer who steps in to help the group and the producer reach an agreement after a history of misunderstandings.
Even though Nieves isn’t part of the group, she remains connected to the colorful world of dance and Locomía’s music. How did I prepare for this role?
The mediation aspects are fictional, so there was room to create. The director, Kike Maíllo, approved every idea I proposed. I also drew on the insights of my sister-in-law, a longstanding family mediator who runs the Family Mediation Service in the Region of Murcia, thus adding mediation elements that weren’t in the script.
Before this film, did you have any connection to the band? Any memories or curiosity, or has this role opened a new chapter in Spanish pop for you?
Definitely. I remember them clearly—those fans and those outfits. I was in a different era, punk in my early teens, not the dance culture they represented.
Returning to her character, she is the voice of reason, a link between a group in crisis. Was it easy to empathize with her story? Would you have behaved like her in real life if placed in that predicament?
When mediating a conflict, one cannot (or should not) empathize publicly with any side. Privately, empathy is almost unavoidable, and because this is a comedy, that vulnerability is used. Nieves can’t help but be fascinated by what the Locomía guys represent. And I, of course, have my own opinion.
I ask because ego is what dynamited the group. Delving into this story, which mirrors many artists, did the cast see a moral to it, a glimpse of a possible abyss?
Indeed ego played a part, but so did the need to take the reins of a project you created, to be yourself and not hide your identity for what the industry expects. The film touches on fascinating themes, yet it does so with pure comedy—lots of laughter, which is its strongest force.
How is managing ego learned in the world of show business, and how do you handle others’ egos and your own feelings?
This is a reality in art, but true in any workplace. Knowing how to balance one’s ego and understand others is the best approach to life. On a set, a team works toward a shared goal with varied visions, so staying alert to those dynamics is essential. I’m always learning—about myself and others—and how to steer away from muddy ground. Sometimes, I simply flip the switch and pretend not to notice what’s going on. It’s surprising how well that works.
Is a man’s ego tolerated more than a woman’s?
What do you think? There is little to say about this. We already know that a confident woman is often labeled arrogant. It is also necessary to define what it means to have an ego because it can be a wonderful thing when it is expressed with clarity and purpose.
This year won’t be the last for her. In summer, attention shifts to a new release, Un lugar común, in which she also stars. What can she share about this project?
[–>
Un lugar común, yes. She hints that it is one of the characters of her life. A leading role in a heartfelt, funny comedy that pays homage to all the women in her family and to women in general. She believes it is one of those films that makes the world feel brighter. It is a strong statement, but she means it. When you watch it, you leave the cinema with real emotion. But that will be in August, and for now, the plan is back to the cinema to see Disco, Ibiza, Locomía and to laugh a lot. And to dance, because there will be plenty of music and many other surprises.