Interviewing actress and singer Alana Claudiana

1-. How was your childhood?

I grew up in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a cousin three years older than me as my best friend. She was like a more mature and developed older sister to me, and we learned to dance and develop our artistic talents together. It was the time of the lambada rhythm, and we won dance competitions. We also danced jazz and musicals. From there, I began to be interested in singing and composing, and at age six I got my first piano and voice recorder, recording my first musical compositions. I also have a brother seven years older who always liked and studied computers, and I grew up with computers at home. By 1995 I already had internet access.

2. - From what age did you decide to be an actress and how did you know you had theskills to go on TV?

I've always enjoyed acting, and my cousin and I used to do parodies of Brazilian soap operas with friends in childhood, even creating new scripts with new stories and characters for our friends to act in. I studied drama at the university, which produced many great actors who are now part of the current Brazilian artistic scene. But after that, I decided to move to Spain, where I studied at the Central de Cine and took classes with Eva Lesmes, David Planell, the late Macarena Pombo and Patricia Ferreira, among others.

3. - Did your parents support you in the decision you made to be an actress?

They didn't want me to give up on my dreams, but they always thought acting was an uncertain and unstable career, and that I should study another career that would give me more guarantees of survival. That's why I also studied psychology.

4. - What was your first appearance on the screens?

At 15, I participated in a short film for the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), an important federal university in my hometown.

5. - What was the role you liked the most?

I enjoyed working on a short film called Femme Mortale, where I'm the protagonist but I don't speak at all, I only use my gaze a lot and I'm constantly drunk because I'm a victim of abuse by a husband played by the Spanish actor Tomy Alvarez, who acted in "Terminator: Dark Fate".

6.- What do you think led you to fame?

I believe that my background, being able to use my history to my advantage, and being a citizen of the world. Having been born in Brazil, having lived 11 years in Spain, and currently 9 years in the United States with triple citizenship, having learned and integrated perfectly into these three societies, allows me to be very versatile and unique.

7-. What types of characters you would like to interpret?

I like challenges. Schizophrenic characters, with a traumatized past, who managed to overcome it with a good character arc, characters we don't expect and learn from. Characters that surprise even myself, as I'm reading each page of the script.

8-. What actresses and actors do you feel comfortable working with?

Those who know how to better control their ego, devoid of vanity and pride when they need to let it go. Those who have the humility to know that you can learn from everything and everyone, regardless of how many years of experience you have.

9-. In what other genres of art would you like to participate? (Works of theater, music,among others)

I believe that theater is even more sacred than cinema, with all due respect. Film can be edited and reshot in multiple takes as many times as necessary; theater has rehearsals, but once on stage with an audience, it needs to be well-done and needs continuity. I have great respect for theater people and the stage, and I greatly admire this universe and would like to experience it fully, just as I have done with my musical tours.

10.- Do you have any anecdotes that have marked you in your life and as a person?

I remember once having voice lessons with the late Lidia Garcia in Madrid, and the recently deceased Veronica Echegui had just left (I was the next student), and she looked at me with such tenderness, greeted me, and smiled at me as if she had known me all her life. I was enchanted by her! She was still at the beginning of her career, I believe it was 2007, and she had just released "Yo soy la Juani".dsop

11.- What has been your greatest achievement?

My first album was recorded by Miguel Blasco in Madrid, the same producer of Paulina Rubio's first albums, and who also produced Alaska y los Pegamoides, Raffaella Carra, Paloma San Basilio, Raphael, among other great Spanish artists. It was a teenage dream of mine to be produced by him, as I saw his name on the liner notes of several albums I listened to. This album had great production quality and opened doors for subsequent projects and a record label.

12.- What projects will you make next and which ones do you have in mind?

I am about to release the seventh album of my singing career, the first in my native language, Portuguese. On this album I worked with Brazilian musicians and producers, and it's a reunion with my country of origin. There's also a proposal for a television series on streaming where I can't reveal many details yet because it's still confidential, and I'm also in the process of recording the biography of an important icon from my native country.

13.- Would you like to make a movie in Spain?

Yes, I would love to! I've always had that dream and I made many short films in Spain. I saw many films by Almodovar, Amenabar, Alex de la Iglesia, and a lot of independent cinema. It would be a great pleasure to be able to do something; I am very grateful to Spain and have a strong connection to the country. I am a proud Spanish citizen.

14.- you like spanish cinema?

Yes, I love it! I had the opportunity to watch a lot of Spanish cinema during my 11 years living in Madrid. I got to know many Spanish actors and directors because I studied with many teachers, unfortunately many of whom have passed away. I lived in Madrid and had voice lessons with Lidia Garcia, dance lessons with Arnold Tarraborelli, and many great Spanish actors and directors also went with them. I used to go to the movies on Calle Princesa a lot, and every now and then I'd see Almodovar there!