Between Susi Sánchez from Valencia, born in 1955, and Ramón Barea from Bilbao, born in 1949, there is no room for doubt. It proves hard to imagine otherwise when they look at each other with such warmth. The bond is obvious to the audience and, of course, to themselves. They grew up together in life and on screen, becoming two almost inseparable titans. Not the kind that barely touch, but two people who have built a fortress of art from the street. Fourteen decades, one hundred forty years combined, one hundred forty movies and forty five TV series. The numbers are impressive, yet what matters is the perseverance they faced. They never claimed easy success; they always sought truth. That perseverance is why they endured. Their motivation remains the same as when they started, to understand the world through storytelling, a task best achieved by companionable art.
This Saturday both aim for the Goya awards — Barbarians in Begoña and Koldo Five Little Wolves. They stand as the two oldest names in a generation that is undergoing change. Even so, she will select for him a second time, stubborn if needed. Instead, this time it is her first. It is notable that sometimes art does not grant a statue; the real reward lies in continuing to tell stories. This is how the world actually changes, and they have never stopped doing this.
They worked under the direction of IcÍar Bollain, Pedro Almodóvar, Alex de la Iglesia, Enrique Urbizo, Juanma Bajo Ulloa, Grace Querejeta, and others. Yet such collaborations did not guarantee lasting permanence in the profession. Through highs and lows, none of them allowed the challenges to push them out of the ring. Their weapon is authenticity, a quality that helps them mature in their journeys. “We feel privileged compared to peers who cannot endure the pace,” they remark.
Susi and Ramón are experiencing a renewed vigor, a happiness they had yet to know. Fears, doubts and past troubles have gained color, while old weights seem lighter. Over time, duels become iron armor that enables progress. They have always carried on. They champion projects that mark before and after, revealing the best and worst of human nature since they were sixteen. They act as a living mirror, reflecting the viewer back. That is what makes them so special.
Do they feel age catching up at seven and seven and thirty years old?
Susi speaks first: she is keenly aware of her age and the work she still undertakes. Yet she does not believe years and life experiences should always align. Time can make sense, but not always. There are things she can no longer do physically, but her curiosity remains intact, and she intends to keep feeling until the end.
Ramón replies that he enjoys the craft more than ever. Some days demand more of oneself than possible, others require distance. His circle of theater friends is surprised that he no longer walks on stage, merely sits and breathes. Even as work evolves, passion endures.
Have birthdays opened or closed doors for them?
Susi believes obstacles have been faced and overcome. The aging process has left fewer peers, granting her more opportunities than before.
Ramón notes the constant presence of younger colleagues. A day arrives when aging cannot be denied, yet he remains alive and more capable than many. He has no intention of stopping.
Is it hard to look back now?
Susi reflects that every mistake and every success has formed a sum total that defines her. The past is not a simple ledger; it is a foundation for forward motion. Learning never ends up to retirement.
Ramón notes that both grew up on stage, where challenges, experiments, and playful risks rule the day. The life they lead is traditional in its perseverance, though never showy. The ritual of theatre kept them grounded long after the first breakthrough.
When emotions ride a roller coaster, did they ever consider quitting?
Susi admits the path felt overwhelming at moments, yet she stopped worrying and began enjoying the work. She no longer seeks external recognition as a defining goal.
Ramón recalls a socially vibrant period during the independent theatre surge after the Franco era. That phase provided courage to continue, even when food was scarce. He did not quit and believes his current orbit is well in hand, without dwelling on what might have been.
What does success look like now?
Ramón views continuity as the greatest achievement, a sign of lasting relevance. Success is not a flash in the pan; it is endurance.
Susi agrees, describing a sense of fullness and ongoing evolution that comes with maturity.
Ramón has just received his first Goya nomination, while Susi won in 2019. Is a second one possible for her?
Susi states that she never chased prizes; her aim has always been to give her best in every character. While recognition is a separate layer of reality, it carries its own tools and implications.
Ramón jokes about cinema belonging to others in his view, a sentiment echoed by how medals have felt. He has never been nominated by the Film Academy, but he has enjoyed watching colleagues speak on stage and admires their happiness from behind the scenes.
The Carmen Awards edition in 2023, organized by the Andalusian Film Academy, highlights regional pride. Do they support consanguineous marriage in art?
Susi believes institutions empower actors by recognizing the talent from their autonomous communities. Without that homegrown support, some films might not reach the screen. Yet she notes that politics can tint awards, and art must survive because of genuine backing.
Ramón finds that exact science is elusive. Competitions tend to produce winners and losers, an outcome that seems built into the system.
Have they reached a stage where they can pick projects at will?
Susi notes that there are fewer actresses of her generation, which makes calls easier. Screenwriters also have fewer profiles to choose from, simplifying decisions.
Ramón adds that opportunities come in waves and that overlapping dates sometimes force choices. As he aged, more projects appeared, granting him a broader palette.
Stage fright, a ghost of the theatre, did it haunt them?
Susi recalls a terrifying early stage experience. Therapy helped, and gradually fear faded as the love for acting endured even in anxious moments.
Ramón also faced a moment of forgetting lines. The fear of blankness stretched time, turning five seconds into an eternity. Yet the resolve to stay on stage never waned.
How do they handle financial pressures in a volatile profession?
Susi remembers lean times yet learned to improvise and stretch every resource. Food tricks and resilience carried them through, and the present era would be unthinkable without that earlier struggle.
Ramón emphasizes adaptation and belt-tightening. Balancing the hunger to keep working with the realities of the market helped them weather the hard years. Old wounds faded as better days arrived.
To whom would they dedicate any earned prize?
Susi would prepare a speech for the moment, but she has no fixed recipient in mind yet.
Ramón recalls numerous meaningful claims and says that the thrill of seeing a prize on TV is never quite the same as witnessing it in person. He has gained special insights along the way, and those moments still carry weight.