Happy birthday, Ana de Armas:
Interview with the power woman

Ana de Armas' story is what you would call a fairytale. It begins with her growing up in poor circumstances in Cuba, being in front of the camera as a teenager and moving to Spain with 300 euros in her pocket. When she moved to Hollywood, she spoke so little English that she had to learn the lines for her first film phonetically. This is followed by leading roles in "Blade Runner: 2049" and the surprise hit "Knives Out". The comedy stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis. After filming, Jamie Lee Curtis writes an email to director Steven Spielberg. She is so enthusiastic about Ana de Armas that he should take care of her. He thanked her politely and wrote back that he already knew about her. He had probably already met her and was enchanted. Like everyone who talks to Ana de Armas. Because it's hard to resist this mixture of professional ambition, acting skills and Cuban friendliness.

Mrs de Armas, you were born in Havana, first moved to Spain and then to Los Angeles. Do you need a lavish lifestyle to be happy?

On the contrary! The fact that I grew up in Cuba says it all. I don't necessarily want to talk about myself first, but rather quote people who have told me about their trips to Cuba. Every one of them said that the people there own nothing and share everything, that they are incredibly nice, play the tourist guide and dance all the time. It's a revelation for foreigners.

But to come back to you: How has life there shaped you?

When you grow up in a country like Cuba, you grow up much faster and learn what is really important in life. There are a lot of people today who complain about things that are absolutely irrelevant to me because I know what I should really worry about and what I can just leave alone. That's why I really appreciate what I have.

Your parents didn't own a television. What is your relationship with modern technology today?

I took a long time to get used to something like email. I was sent scripts digitally and I had them printed out because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to read them - plus I always want to make notes on them. But I do need a smartphone, firstly as a GPS device so that I don't get lost, and secondly for translating. And when I'm in Cuba, I use it to take photos. It's also good for music. But those are the only really useful functions for me.

You probably won't get lost in Cuba.

Where do you think you're going? That's my home. My parents and many of my best friends are there. I know my streets and favourite places, and if I want to see someone, I just pop in. You don't have to call anyone and check in. Life has a much better flow.

What memories of Cuba are the most memorable?

My whole childhood was just a dream. I grew up in a small coastal town near Havana, there was a beach with all these crazy rock formations that I walked over barefoot. My mum was amazed and wondered how I did it. I also have wonderful memories of my grandmother, who died when I was very young. But I remember exactly how she cooked. She didn't have the classic "this is the protein, this is the rice and beans and this is the tomato salad" type of meal. Instead, she always served up huge dishes. There were three salads and croquetas and tamales, almost too much for three people.

You now live in Los Angeles. What has remained of the Cuban way of life?

I'm a person who likes to share, that hasn't changed. I organise big dinners for my friends. It's also very important to me that there's a good breeze in my house. I want to feel it. That's why I leave my door open all the time and have already had to buy a grille so that my dog doesn't run away. But the draught thing is just a Cuban preference. You can't change some things because they're ingrained in your system. And I just need little things to be happy – for example, that my door is open.

Was it actually difficult to get used to Los Angeles, where the lifestyle is very different and the desire for simplicity is not so pronounced?

I found it quite complicated at first, because this city is so huge and hectic. Everyone is constantly rushing from one place to another. A lot of people pretend to be someone else and conversations are usually pretty superficial, which I had to get used to. It's funny – if someone there asks you "How are you?", you expect the answer to be "Good, and how are you?". But if you answer honestly and say "I'm actually doing pretty badly", everyone immediately runs away.

And how did you ultimately come to terms with the city?

By simply finding the right people for my personal environment. I made good friends, had to grow into it, that took time, but at some point I started to feel comfortable in the city. However, I may well move away again one day. Maybe Los Angeles is just a temporary residence.

Your career certainly developed rapidly there, including roles in the James Bond film "No Time to Die". How did you get on with Daniel Craig?

At first glance, he seems brittle. I even thought he was a bit uptight, but then I got a real surprise: he has a dry sense of humour and works very hard. Craig is someone who may be tired, who may have broken all sorts of bones beforehand, but still gives his all.

The Bond girl is associated with the image of the superficial sex symbol. Did you have any reservations about taking on a clichéd role?

<In this case, that wasn't the case. I was allowed to play a real, actual woman. Two things counted: Intelligence and beauty. Sure, it's a James Bond film, it has certain rules, but times are changing. There used to be these Bond girls who you knew from the outset were going to die at a certain point in the plot. But that's no longer the case. The women in our film are Bond's equals, they're not just some ladies waiting for their saviour. I personally find that much more interesting.

Is there still that girl in you who daringly jumped over the sharp rocks? (...)

→ Read the full interview with Ana de Armas in the rampstyle #25!