When I was little: “It was a nightmare. He had sea panic”

Paco León was invited by director Ruben Alves to be part of the cast of the film “Santo António – O Casamenteiro de Lisboa”, which arrived at Portuguese cinemas on September 10. 

In the feature film – which brings us to the seventh art this heritage so Portuguese that it is the marriage of Santo António and addresses other important issues such as loneliness or mass tourism and the loss of the identity of traditional Lisbon – the Spanish actor gives life to Jaime, who makes romantic pair with Beatriz (character of Maria João Bastos). 

In conversation with News to Minutes in the premiere of the film, in Lisbon, Paco León explained that he “did not know” very well this tradition of the marriage of Santo António, despite having heard before such an annual event. “I heard talk, but I had not lived so intensely and did not know what it meant to the city, and that it was important to many people.”

Today, after learning all about this tradition, he confesses, he does not imagine to tie the knot on June 12, at the time of the popular saints of Lisbon. “I don’t think so, but Jaime also never thought he would be at the Weddings of Saint Anthony and then enjoyed it, enjoyed [the moment].”

In the film, to mention, Jaime lives with his partner, Beatriz, outside Portugal, comes to visit his girlfriend's family and does not know that the purpose (at least, of the bride's mother, character played by Ana Bola) is to marry for the weddings of Santo António. In fact, there is a reason behind this initiative of the mother of the bride, which is discovered throughout the film. 

About your connection with PortugalPaco León said that “it’s your favorite place for vacation.” “I have many friends, I love food, to come to Lisbon, to the Algarve and Alentejo, and to the whole country”, highlighted, however, adding that, professionally, this was the first time that he integrated a cast – to whom he calls family – portuguese. 

“ This invitation from Ruben to be in this cast was like a vacation too, on business, but I met a parallel family. Here, in this film, are the best of the actors and actresses of Portugal, and I was lucky to work with them – with Maria João and the whole cast, it seemed incredible ", he said. 

Asked about whether he felt any difficulty in adapting the Portuguese project, the actor immediately said that “no” and said that “the actors are actors all over the world, it’s the same”. “There was a family. Most had worked together before and there was a family already built. In Spain it's the same. But there was good atmosphere, lots of companionship, lots of brotherhood, lots of fun.”

Paco León is today the guest of the heading When I Was Little, do Fame to Minute, where she shares some childhood memories.

The favorite dish in childhood (and who prepared it) and the food that you did not like and that you now like?

My favorite food was Patatas con costillas stew [a dish prepared from stewed potatoes and pork chops in a broth], and it was my mother who prepared it. 

When I was little, I hated cod, I was almost the only one who didn't eat. Then, when I grew up, I discovered cod and Portugal had a lot to do with it – with my discovery of cod.

Who was the person you admired the most?

I admired film stuff, actors..

What were the best vacations when you were little?

We didn't have a vacation, we were very poor. Sometimes we'd go to the beach with food and I'd panic. It was a nightmare. There was sea panic. As an adult, I discovered [the beauty] of vacation, but when I was little, summer was sad. I had complexes in taking off my shirt, it was all a nightmare..

What day did you come back as a child? And why?

There was a day when I dragged my mother into a tent where disguises were sold. There was a Harlequin disguise and I wanted it. My mom said she was going home to get money to buy me, and she bought it. It was the happiest day of my life. And then I went undercover. It wasn't just a gift, it was what I've dedicated my whole life to.  

At the time I thought, Today is the happiest day of my life, I have to remember it when I get over it. When my daughter was born, it was also the happiest day of my life. 

Complete the sentence: If I went back to my childhood, never.. it would be so good. It was very good. 

Paco León© Organisation