Anna is diametrically opposed to the stereotype of a calm, serene and grateful mother for life. She is also Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (Rome, 1968) when she dives between the almost incomprehensible edges of this character that seems like a mental state. In The Mother, by Florian Zeller, the actress embraces a wounded woman, cheated by life – that’s how she feels – to tear apart a story about abandonment. In her, empty nest syndrome hurts and destroys.
Contrary to what happens in Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, who heals and builds as she pleases. Years go by and the actress, serene – she is – continues to shine. Now, with one of her most complex characters. Until May 12 at the Pavón Theater (Madrid).
So can a mother love a child too much?
As my character would say: “You can’t love someone too much. “You either love or you don’t.” You can love obsessively, from necessity, from dependence… It is the quality of love that must be questioned and not so much the quantity. Anna is a woman who projects all of her shortcomings and needs onto her son, who has dedicated her life to raising children and supporting a home. At this point, she finds that everyone is abandoning ship and she has nothing left. She then clings like a burning nail to this son, to her husband as well, although theirs is a worn-out relationship, of betrayals, of not exercising responsible parenthood… Because she feels an enormous terror of being alone.
Women and care tasks… Is Anna a victim of a sexist society?
I continue to see many women around me who leave their jobs to dedicate themselves to raising children. I think that all of us, also emancipated women, with passions, professionally fulfilled and who have lives full of many other things, continue to assume the role of caregivers as something that arises in us almost unconsciously. We are heirs of that. I love caring, I think it is a virtue, but I would also like to be cared for to the same extent that I do, and that is what does not happen. Fortunately, more and more men are taking responsibility. Anna symbolizes that feeling of monumental anger at feeling cheated by life.
What things have you filled yours with?
I nourish myself with books, theater, cinema, art and my deepest friendships. I dedicate a lot of time and space to friendship. I also need to move my body, take care of it and stretch it… walk. I really like the sea, I’m like a fish and summer for me means spending all day in the water.
Have you recognized in Anna something of the mother she is?
On the contrary, I have tried to have a motherhood that provides freedom for my children, instead of chaining them or emotionally tying them to me. It has been a very conscious work, because there is something instinctive that leads you to want to protect them. Children are also passions and you have to be measuring a little what you project on them, not pour out your frustrations, shortcomings or voids. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt me to see them go. One has already flown, the other is with one foot in and one foot out. Now it’s a different stage in which I have to learn to live with myself, to enjoy silence and to do whatever I want. I can go for a walk or to the movies, meet a friend or go to an exhibition without planning it.
She has once again chosen a difficult motherhood character…
I am very interested in these maternities that somewhat challenge the image of the good mother, her selflessness, generosity and dedication. Anna has a very wild and dark side, in the same way as when I played Medea or Nora. This feature slaps all that, as do many other female characters who question motherhood as we have understood it throughout the centuries.
She calms her anxiety with pills. A way to anesthetize the problems of our time….
I recently read that we are the country in Europe that consumes the most pills – tranquilizers, antidepressants, etc. – of the entire European Community, and women far exceed men. We have a country full of pillaged women. Also Anna, who can only live anesthetized due to a depression that has developed over the years due to not having herself.
What does the scenario mean to you?
Pure Life. It’s like a meditation. You must be in a state of consciousness, alertness and absolute presence. The same thing that one always tends to do in life, to live in the present moment. Well, theater is pure present moment.
In your now, can the pleasure of living be more important than the pleasure of working?
It’s the same for me! Work is a passion, a vocation, my means of expression, my path of knowledge, of exploring what happens to us, who we are, of asking myself questions… It gives me excitement, adrenaline… Working with people from whom I am always enriched, the affections that are created…
Do you fear that ageism will separate you one day?
I have gone through phases in which I have felt that audiovisuals, cinema, had suddenly stopped counting on me as it did when I was younger. Luckily, since I have always combined the three mediums, my theatrical career is allowing me to play the richest, most complex and deepest characters I have ever played. The audiovisual is more cruel. In any case, the fact that there are more and more women directing, and in the technical teams and in production and scriptwriting, is also changing the outlook.
How did the recent cases of sexual violence in cinema make you feel?
It seemed tremendous to me… And also absolutely healthy and necessary that they could come to light and that these women had the courage to tell it and to get it out of that place of shadow, of guilt, of fear… These situations will begin to stop happening when I stop There is impunity caused by the silence, shame and fear of these women who have not dared to raise their voices. They will do so to the extent that they feel protected, listened to and supported.
What life do you dream of until the last of your days?
What I’m chasing and what I’m finding: inner peace. I no longer say happiness, which is a burst of happiness, but rather an inner peace that helps me deal with the ups and downs that life inevitably gives you every second. I would love to continue being accompanied by the affections that sustain me, being part of this network of people who nourish and heal me. Keep working, be healthy, take care of myself… I’m working on it, because I want to have a good old age in everything that depends on me.
Are you afraid of getting older?
I’m afraid that my abilities will diminish… Not being able to read, walk or go on stage, or that my memory will begin to fail, more than death itself, getting old or having wrinkles. I will be increasingly limited, but, within that, I hope to continue having autonomy.
