Eduardo Rosas, actor: "Since I was 13, I've spent my vacations in Ares"

Since he told his parents in Ares that he wanted to be an actor, Eduardo Rosa (Madrid, 1993) hasn’t stopped. We’ve seen him in the successful Mexican comedy series La Casa de las Flores, in the Baztán trilogy, in the American production In From the Cold, and in Spanish comedies like Poliamor para principiantes and Pollos sin cabeza. Now, the actor, who also participated in MasterChef Celebrity, returns to the big screen with El Aspirante. "It’s intense; it’s made for the cinema, to experience the tension and grasp the message," says the Madrid native about a film that delves into hazing in college dorms.

—How would you define your character?

—Pepe is a born charmer who adores intellectual strength. He has an aversion to intellectual weakness, almost to the point of disgust for those he considers weak in that sense. For him, the world belongs to the strong—but not physically strong. He never touches anyone, but he still intimidates. He’s someone who feeds on the power his mind gives him, his ability to manipulate. He’s a character with many layers; that’s how the director, Juan Gautier, presented him to me.

—What attracted you most about him?

—His inner world is very powerful; he’s like a vampire. He has that energy of someone who feeds off others. I was fascinated by the character's arc, the journey I could build from beginning to end, showing his evolution. Juan Codina, my coach, helped me shape him. I always work with animals, and for me, Pepe is a snake: he seduces you, but if you let him, he’ll destroy you.

—Were you familiar with the world of college dorms and hazing?

—Years ago, I visited some where I had friends and got to see the atmosphere. The film is based on real events, but everything happens in a single night to add intensity. I’ve seen 18-year-olds nervous, addressing 22-year-olds formally and drinking until they vomit. We had extras who actually live in these dorms, which gave it more authenticity. I remember the tense atmosphere. The extras looked at me with fear when I approached, with the dim lights and threatening tone. At the Mallorca Film Festival, a journalist told us she had experienced hazing and that the film made her anxious because it reminded her of her own experience. She said it felt like a documentary. The problem with hazing is that there’s no referee, no oversight to ensure that the line between a prank and a crime isn’t crossed.

—Have you ever felt pressured to do something against your will?

—No, fortunately not. I was in a boarding school when I was 18, but I think that pressure is more common at university, when you’re away from home without your parents’ guidance and where drugs and alcohol can make things spiral out of control.

—You’ve declared yourself a feminist. Does the film address toxic masculinity?

—Yes, it critiques those behaviors and puts you in a position to become more aware of what’s acceptable and what’s not.

—You’ve gone from playing the romantic lead to the villain. How do you switch between them?

—For me, it’s essential to understand the film's context and the message we want to convey. From there, I start building the character from a blank slate, considering his psychology.

—You returned from Galicia just in time for the premiere of El Aspirante. How was your summer?

—Great. I’m 31, and since I was 13, I’ve spent my summers in Ares. It’s a wonderful place, peaceful, with beautiful beaches and perfect temperatures. I have friends there, and being able to escape the hustle and bustle of Madrid and the scorching summer heat is a relief. I also went to a few local festivities. I saw París de Noia and Grupo América, which is more rock. I had a great time.

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