WITH daniel grao (Sabadell, 1976) we got used to seeing him surrounded by young people because in the show “BEAT” (TVE-1) She represents a dedicated adolescent educator, and the role earned her a Feroz Award nomination. However, since her debut on TV-3 with ‘El cor de la ciutat’, the actress has showcased her acting art in successful series like ‘La catedral del mar’, ‘Gigantes’ and ‘Gigantes’. ‘Loss’. Now the starsInvisible girl’ (Disney+)Fiction inspired by the Blue Jeans trilogy.
The series has been given a darker, more adult feel than the book.
That was the starting point. Tito López, who I have not worked with since ‘Acusados’, called me and said that they recommended the show to him and that he said it was not suitable because he usually does not shoot teen dramas. But Morena wanted to own it as they wanted to take it to a more adult and darker format. The scenarios come to me and it’s really a classic ‘thriller’: A murder happens and you have to find out who is guilty. We all know this foundation. The murdered woman is a teenager with young characters, but her series and style are handled in an adult way, even when we get into her story, nothing is pointless, out of date.
Tell me about your character.
He is a lieutenant in the Civil Guard who leads the investigation. And in this thriller journey, the father-daughter relationship is affected. The starting point is very interesting to me and it differs from the novel. And this man, who was widowed two years ago, goes to the town he came from with his teenage daughter in that loneliness. And that murder occurs that affects the whole town and the relationship. She is a very special girl: very intelligent and mature. Emotionally, he can teach the father a lesson. And he got over the loss of his mother better. That weight is still on him.
I said a classic ‘thriller’ and it is. As in ‘Ten Little Blacks’ by Agatha Christie, everyone looks suspicious. Is that the crux of the series?
Yes, and take him to this small town where everyone knows each other. It’s not an action series, it’s very psychological. And it’s drawn in such a way that you feel like you’re getting inside these characters’ heads and you start to suspect everyone. Because we all have bright areas and dark areas. And we can all imagine ourselves committing any crime. This is a little played. And it does not cease to be a reflection of a society where we believe we know each other but keep many secrets. Also, the ‘suspense’ element is fascinating and the first trump card that can hook you up with the show, because it’s an excuse to talk about sexist violence, ‘bullying’, addictions…
“The ‘suspense’ component is fascinating and an excuse to talk about sexist violence, ‘bullying’, addictions…”
There is a disagreement between father and daughter. Will the investigation eventually lead them to find each other?
The case we’re going through mutates that relationship, and the two will teach each other something. Despite being older, I find him more emotionally mature. The investigation will force them to communicate and change the relationship.
A special character nominated for Goya this year with a special actress like Zoe Stein. How was it working with him?
Zoe has this resemblance to the character because she has a friendly and childlike side, but her head is so well framed. And he has a very heavy way of being. The character is a bit like that because he’s smart and different. Sometimes it causes it to not fit at all, but it brings it into focus.
Countryside settings have a long tradition of fiction because they intensify many passions and hatreds.
It is also a very attractive setting for the film. The almost claustrophobic town helps to impregnate the series in this warmth. And by reducing the social representation to a few characters who think they know each other but not that well, you encourage quarrels, hatred, jealousy, criticism. Finally, you’re talking about the human condition, but in a very small, oppressive environment.
I probably wouldn’t read the book because it’s literature for young people. Did you do it then?
I haven’t read it yet and now it seems strange to me because I built the story based on so many scripts and working with the director… I know a lot about the novel because Blue Jeans was so popular. He’s been there since the scripts and filming, and he’s happy with the outcome knowing the premise was to move the show into a darker, more adult setting. Moreover, in my case I play the father, in the novel the adults are very scattered, almost non-existent.
“You take your experiences into the characters. I’m not the same actor because I’m a father”
She has a pre-adolescent son at home, so she’s already entering the ‘wonderful’ world of puberty. Did you bring your own experiences with you?
Whatever you experience directly or indirectly, you carry it to the characters. And since I am a father, I am not the same player. For those of us who dedicate ourselves to this, what happens to us in life adds something to us. And things you haven’t experienced before are now more familiar to you. I always take the class on communication and trying to build bridges.
It’s not her first drama with teenagers. He is acting in the drama “HIT”, a drama where he gets a lot of “feedback”. Exciting?
Too much. He is a character that I love very much. I think he was the one with whom I felt more free while working. Joaquín Oristrell (director and screenwriter) gives me absolute freedom over texts and sequences. I like the way you approach it with this critical point slightly upstream; most of the time it’s politically incorrect, a little harsh… And finally he talks about personal growth, what hurts us, and getting to work. These are the subjects that interest me a lot in life and I was able to find a lot of work afterwards.
“I am very fond of the character I played in ‘HIT’. He is the character that I feel more free while working on.”
And another season will be released: the third.
Yes, I’m very happy about it, because in addition, a change is being made: we are no longer in the classroom, but in a rehab center, and we are fully involved in such honesty as mental health. Having a certain youthful presence, however, is called youthful, but ultimately it has to do with the tone. It doesn’t matter if they are of one age or another. There are a lot of teenagers in ‘Invisible Girl’ and things their age are being talked about, but when they are treated honestly and given the attention they have, they don’t look like teenagers. Because if we fall in love or whatever, the same things hurt us whether we’re 40 or 16. In a different way, but just as important.