Elena Anaya Video Interview On ‘The Skin I Live In,’ Antonio Banderas

Elena Anaya, the stunning Spanish actress, co-stars opposite Antonio Banderas in Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In. For Anaya, working with Almodovar was an incredible experience. Anaya had previously worked with Almodovar—in Almodovoar’s Oscar-winning 2002 film Talk to Her—though Anaya’s role in the film was minor. “I worked with him 10 years ago, briefly, and I had the feeling that I had eaten the forbidden apple because it tastes so good. So, I had the whole basket of apples and it was delicious. It was [a] crazy-delicious feeling,” remarks Anaya. Anaya also asserts that Almodovar is a “demanding” director who always “knows exactly which indications he needs to give you.” Nonetheless, there was also a fair bit of collaboration between Anaya and Almodovar. “We made these characters together,” claims Anaya.

The Skin I Live In, a film which is already generating much award-season buzz, is a film full of murder, secrets, lies, gender ambiguity, all the elements of any great psychological thriller. Anaya, however, says that the scenes that were most demanding for her were the simpler ones. “Even though there are scenes that are white and brief and violent…for me, the most difficult scenes were when I was alone in my room with no partners,” remarks Anaya.

Hear more of what Elena Anaya has to say as she answers your questions in our exclusive interview.

Q: Which scene was the most difficult for you emotionally and spiritually?

A: You know, normally, those scenes are the ones that [don’t] seem that difficult. Even though there are scenes that are white and brief and violent – hell for me, the most difficult scenes were when I was alone in my room with no partners. Just by myself, dealing with a room to where I was almost another character and dealing with the fact that this character has been a prisoner for 6 years in that precise room.

Q: Please tell us about your experience from working with the great Pedro Almodovar.

A: I worked with him 10 years ago, briefly, and I had the feeling that I had eaten the forbidden apple because it tastes so good. So, I had the whole basket of apples and it was delicious. It was [a] crazy-delicious feeling. He’s very demanding. He’s very talented when he needs to direct you and he knows exactly which indications he needs to give you. We made these characters together. We built them together. It was a long process of working out with him.

For more on Elena Anaya and Antonio Banderas:

EXCLUSIVE: Antonio Banderas On ‘The Skin I Live In’

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas Kid Around At Cannes Film Festival

Salma Hayek Says She’s Nobody’s Barbie

EXCLUSIVE: Antonio Banderas: Almodovar Pushed Us To Be ‘Creatively Naked’