Joana and Mireia Vilapuig: A Shared Spotlight and a Personal Journey
the sisters Joana and Mireia Vilapuig, aged 28 and 25, starred as child actors more than a decade ago on polseres verdes. the acclaimed tv3 series opened doors and offered them something few teenagers experience. now they explore the blur between reality and fiction in auto tape, a movie series that probes themes of success, failure, jealousy, and rivalry within a demanding acting career.
how did the idea for the series begin?
joana vilapuig: after polseres verdes wrapped, casting calls for the same roles flooded in, and comparisons began. for a moment we thought, the two sisters aren’t living the same reality, yet we were quietly pitted against each other. it felt like a wall between the dream we shared and the reality we faced. we struggled to find work, and the future we imagined seemed out of reach.
mireia vilapuig: the first step was a long, honest conversation between us. we talked through what each of us had experienced in the past and how those moments shaped our choices moving forward.
was it hard to manage constant comparison between you?
joana: it was heavy. with time and working alongside mireia, i learned to handle jealousy and the urge to measure ourselves against others. physically we resemble each other and we share a place of origin and a similar goal, which complicated things at times.
mireia: acting is a field of constant comparison among peers, yet it remains a tight, intimate industry where everyone knows everyone. we bought a house and lived with our sister, always aware that someone could be watching. the line between professional life and personal relationships often felt fragile.
how much of the show is fiction versus fact?
joana: there is a strong mix of both.
mireia: it’s about fifty percent factual and fifty percent imagined.
the plot of selftape kicks off with mireia stepping into a role that joana would otherwise receive.
joana: we’ve kept in mind a difference in career momentum: mireia’s character may excel professionally but struggle in relationships, while joana tends to face hurdles finding roles yet maintains a broad network of friends.
one hallmark of the series is the cast and family moments that give the production its name through self-tapes created on set.
joana: archival footage blends with fiction to illustrate the origins of the sisters’ “trauma” and the dynamics at play.
mireia: a pivotal moment was the decision to weave in stock footage from the series itself, underscoring the sisters’ evolving relationship.
joana: that approach further blurs the line between what’s real and what’s created for the screen.
was childhood acting challenging, and did growing up present the risk that success could be fleeting?
joana: things change after childhood. mireia: growing up in the public eye has both advantages and drawbacks. some peers began later in life, which is natural and tough for them to navigate. starting so young can steal part of a childhood and shape how one views the future.
joana: the industry can cast a rosy picture, yet it brings hard moments. our mother reminded us not to assume failure at twenty but to recognize there is a long road ahead. those fears tempered our expectations and showed that the path is rarely a straight line.
mireia: the profession wears a beautiful face, but it carries many difficult moments as well.
“Our mom used to say: you can’t think you’ve failed at twenty”
selftape also looks at how past child acting affects close relationships today.
mireia: selftape isn’t a drama centered on sex, but it openly examines personal situations we’ve faced. as teenagers, we experienced heightened sexuality. navigating those feelings required listening to each other, setting boundaries on shoots, and learning what felt safe on set.
joana: sex scenes were challenging, sometimes making us feel vulnerable or exposed even if we could cover up later. we aimed to protect ourselves while telling a truthful story, acknowledging the risk of sliding into overexposure or an exploitative tone if not handled with care.
was the decision to blend catalan and spanish language important, with occasional english and norweigan appears?
joana: language identity mattered. we wanted to stay true to our catalan roots and to reflect real life, so we were given creative freedom to write in the languages we use daily. i speak english with my partner and catalan with friends and family, while spanish threads through other conversations.
mireia: maintaining language consistency was essential. avoiding a language barrier felt more about politics than purpose, and we chose to stay as honest as possible about our lived experiences.
has the series offered therapeutic value for you?
miriam: absolutely. before this project, our bond wasn’t as strong as it is now.