Whether appearing on the stage of the Teatre Borràs in Barcelona as a surprise guest of the Ilustres Ignorantes, or making an unexpected cameo dressed as Neo from Matrix in the Lola Membribes room of the Teatro Lara in Madrid during the recording of the podcast Nadie Sabe Nada, the ovation -delirious, endless- is assured. “Everyone likes Raúl,” comments a man who is sitting near a servant, a regular at comedy shows, and who can attest to the warmth that the public gives to Raúl Cimas (Albacete, 1976) every time he comes on stage.
Perhaps it was that somewhat clueless good-natured appearance that made the audience laugh when the twenty-year-old Cimas got on stage to perform Shakespearean tragedies. The “high” of La hora chanante, Muchachada Nui or Museo Coconut, television shows in which he co-starred with his colleagues Ernesto Sevilla and Joaquín Reyes, has in his resume many other television programs (Cero en historia, Late motiv…) and films ( Those in the tunnel, Time after…), as a comedian, screenwriter and actor, and endless monologues.
One of the La Mancha native’s latest works, the Movistar series Poquita Fe, won the Ondas award for Best Comedy Series last year. He has just released the film Politically Incorrect and says that he already has all the work done for this year and that he is not moving from his house, far from civilization in the Sierra, near (but far) from Madrid, for the moment.
On the other end of the phone you can hear the barking-crying of a dog puppy. And also the peculiar meow of a cat: “wi, wi, wi…”.
What’s wrong with the cat?
Well, he wants to go out, but he sees that it’s windy and he goes back inside and blames me. When it rains or is windy, he thinks it’s my fault and complains: “wi, wi, wi.”
What’s it called?
It’s called Wi, because of that sound it makes, that gets into your head, and I try to give it back to it so it can see what’s wrong: wi, wi, wi.
Wi Cimas? Or is it spelled Güi?
Well, I don’t know how to write it, I only know it phonetically. But it’s just Wi, he has an influencer name, like Ibai or El Rubius, without last names. Furthermore, I have not given him surnames because I have no desire for my lineage to endure.
Is it that cat that was on top of a closet in a photo you posted on Instagram?
That same one. The doorman of my previous building in Madrid gave it to me; Some friends of his found him. He is totally street, he is black and white and he is very good. He is six years old. Until almost a year ago, he had another cat that died and was left alone, the poor thing. That’s why the dog will do well.
You just adopted a dog, right?
My neighbors mastiff had a litter two months ago, and I kept this dog. The father, it is not known what race she is. So give me some time, and I’ll tell you what Trufa is like. Likewise, she will become great because of the race of her mother.
And what’s the dog’s name?
It’s called Truffle. The name was already given to him, the neighbor’s son had given it to him, and I didn’t want to change it. He has taken a liking to Trufa, and we have agreed that he can come see her whenever he wants. I have already told you that we can take half care of her and also cover half the vet expenses, and that is what we are going to do; I don’t care that the kid is only eight years old (laughs).
Is this the first time you have a dog?
In my family home there were always cats, not dogs, although I have always liked them. I had never dared to take the step of having a dog, I had a lot of respect for not knowing much about them and for not having space in an apartment, and above all, for my job, going here and there all the time. Now I live more calmly, here in the countryside, with land to be able to have a large dog and I have this year’s projects already rolled out, so I have dared to take the step. The closest experience I had had to date with a dog was with the dog that an ex-girlfriend had. She even got jealous because the dog was crazy about me (laughs).
They say that dogs have a sixth sense to capture good people…
They say that and also that they approach those who fear them, right?
I have also heard that females prefer their male owners (if you can use that word, “owners”), and vice versa. Now that I have a dog, I see that a lot of things are said about them, there is a lot of mumbling, everyone is an expert and everyone knows more than you about how to take care of them (laughs).
How are these first days of experience with Trufa? How are you getting along?
I am delighted. Let’s see, he cries because he’s a baby. And it bites everything it catches, but it also fills you with love.
Does it let you sleep at night?
Nothing. Anyway, little by little.
Does he sleep with you?
Yes, the three of us slept in the bed: Wi, Trufa and me.
And how does she behave when she’s awake?
In the mornings I take the car and take her down to town. It is the sensation among the neighbors, everyone wants to see it. Now that she’s a bitch, people fall in love; When he becomes a mastiff, we’ll see if they get that close (laughs). Then we come home, she eats, bites everything, pees on everything and then falls asleep. Puppies, as you know, go from zero to one hundred and from one hundred to zero in the blink of an eye.
How does the cat handle the arrival of a dog companion?
Well, with some suspicion at first, but as I say, it’s very good. I think that, in some way, the cat takes pity on her because he knows she is a puppy, even if she is of a different species. Sometimes he looks at her in awe of her madness, as if to say, “My God, what is this bitch doing?” (laughs). He has already given her some touch, which will be good for her to calm down a little and the cat will also be better, with this new joy at home. Furthermore, they already sleep together and start playing with each other.
Any conflict when it comes to eating each their own?
Sometimes it is difficult to control that the dog does not take a bite of the cat’s food and vice versa, yes. But it’s all a matter of getting used to living together.
Are you one of those who consider their dogs and cats as children?
I had not thought of it. Of course, they are closer to family than anything else. They give you all the love in the world, you also worry and suffer for them… I imagine it’s similar to being a parent, but calling them “children” is a bit crazy, right? (laughs).
Living in the middle of nature, do you consider having more animals in the future?
For me I would even have cows, I came to the countryside because I love nature. Although to begin with, I lack training, just as I have not had dogs until now. If I could and knew how to take care of them, I would have horses, chickens… But you have to learn that. And also, in this area there are martens and foxes, which are very badasses.
What has surprised you most about having a dog so far?
Well, there is something that has caught my attention. When you have a puppy, everyone comes up to you and says, “My, puppies are beautiful, but then you feel sad when your dog dies!” People talk to you about the death of their dogs (adults, seniors) and remind you that that time will come… even if you have a puppy! It makes me want to go through churches, get into baptisms and say: “My, babies are beautiful, but then it makes you sad when people die!” (laughs). It’s as if you were reminding everyone that their mother, father or grandfather is going to die one day. Well, they make those comments to me all the time when they see Trufa.
You told me that this year you don’t plan to leave the field because you finished all the projects in 2023. Is the second season of Poquita fe also recorded?
Politically Incorrect has just been released and in a month another film will also be released, Methuselah, about old rappers, with Julián López. Soon we will also see a new series with Malena Alterio, En fin. Everything is done, except Little Faith 2. If I had to shoot all this, I wouldn’t have caught the bitch. I’ve been non-stop for more than 20 years and needed a quieter life, at home. Now, when I travel, I enjoy it more, and when I go to Madrid, I sightsee, visit the Prado and do things that before, as a resident, I didn’t do. I am lucky that they are calling me to work and also in supporting roles, for which I do not have to be away for much time, except with Poquita fe, where I am the protagonist and of course, I will have to take Trufa and Wi with me.
What about the performances?
Now I’m going to try to work one year and raise dogs the next (laughs). For now I won’t do performances; I am comfortable dropping anchor, passing pending subjects, like getting my driving license or taking care of animals. It’s okay not to always have a half-full suitcase ready, not to spend your life between trains and hotels, facing the loneliness of walking up and down.
