El Mundo Es online chat with Diego Luna
2004

After Y tu mamá también, Nicotina and Soldados de Salamina, Mexican actor Diego Luna takes Patrick Swayze's relief in the new delivery of Dirty Dancing 2 that comes to Spanish cinemas July 16 (2004). While in out country to promote the movie, Diego Luna has found free time to chat with the readers of elmundo.es about the premiere of his new work and his plans for the future.

? Hello, I am Peruvian, I am at work right now but I have read the paper and it made me emotional to know that perhaps they were asking you what you write, so here it goes. Do you remember your beginnings when you worked in EL PREMIO MAYOR together with Laura León and Huicho? Did you ever imagine these times to come, up to where you have come now?
Diego:  I was nearly managing to forget, but no way. I will suffer with my crosses my whole life. I never thought I'd reach either side, though now when I think of it, I always believed I was going to finish as a football player.

? Do you like Dirty Dancing I more?
Diego: The credits to the end. It cost me a lot of work to see it. I saw it one week before beginning to shoot this one. The truth is that I am not a fan. At this age I preferred spaceships.

? Congratulations on the movie that you are going to film in Mexico with Carlos Bolado?
Diego: It is a story of love between a Brazilian and a Mexican. It is an orphans' movie and this topic touches me a lot. It is filmed in Mexico and Brazil.

? Can you dance or did they double you in the scenes in DD2?  Tell me the first thing please.
Diego: They did not use a double for me, the two of us did everything. I trained for two months, 8 hours a day, but the truth, for dancing, the good ones are Cuban.

? After that scene of sex and tequila, are you good friends now with Gael and Maribel?
Dieog: He was already a friend before. Remind yourself that it is a movie. There was neither tequila nor sex.

? Diego has participated with Spielberg in The Terminal, though it does not seem that for the time being it is a box office hit. I believe that it has received good critiques. Since your relationship with Spielberg, what do you think about him as a director?
Diego: I believe he is very good and besides he is an adorable person. It is a very different movie from everything he’s done before and he is a guy that I admire and would work with with my eyes closed.

? Darling Diego… your look has me hypnotized… a weekend in Tenerife (Canary Islands)? Kisses...
Diego: Even though you do not know my friends. If the three of us go away invite us the full week.

? Last year we were lucky to have you at the Festival of San Sebastian. Return when you want. Though I hope you return with something from your country like Nicotina and not so American and common like Open Range. Do you believe the American roles you have done are more attractive? I give you many kisses.
Diego: No, I do not believe so. You have to see Criminal which has not yet had the premiere, and The Terminal. But it is also true that I enjoy being employed in my language very much and I will never stop doing it. I also send you many kisses.

? What do you look for in a girl and when you are promoting… do you go out to discos or only promote in a country and then leave?
Diego: The first thing in a girl is that she is entertaining and the best thing of the promotions surely are the parties. One has to be a monk when filming, the fact is that the chaos is in the promotion.

? My partner fell in love with you so that I cannot go to see your movies, she sighs whenever you are on the screen. I admire you as an actor.  What do you recommend?
Diego: I am sure that when you stop reading this chat her infatuation will disappear suddenly and if not, what can you do.

? In real life are you better in bed than in Y tú mama tambien?
Diego: Almost anyone is. I am a monster. Boogie Nights is based on me.

? You are very good actor and I would like to see you direct. You reckon to do theater in Spain? Would you like that?
Diego:  I would enjoy it. In fact, I have a project that I want to develop at the beginning of the year. Theater is more of what I have always done and will continue doing.

? Pardon, I’m dying a little… the fact is that I see you on camera and good heavens, how are you? Do you have girlfriend? Do you want one?
Diego: I have no girlfriend and I believe that it is because I have not searched in Spain. I need one. A kiss.

? Hello handsome! How did you feel about substituting for Patrick Swayze? Will you dance like him?
Diego: But much better. What do you think? I am much more manly. The truth is that he is a professional ballet dancer. Go see it and you decide.

? How is the relationship between you and Maria Luna (your half-sister)?
Diego: Quite good. There is a big difference in age between us, the fact is there was never rivalries or anything.

? What it is the worst moment you had to live through?
Diego: To have to promote Nicotina, when the 9/11 attempt had just happened.

? Hello Diego, what actress would you have liked to have worked with in Y tu mámá también in the role of Maribel Verdú? Not to say it was not good with Maribel Verdú!
Diego: Come on, with regards. I would not change Maribel, rather I would change Gael for Penélope.

? From an Argentinean-Mexican in Madrid, I would like to ask Diego Luna if, with this meteoric career, how did feel going the direction of being the new great 'Diego' of America, after the blessing of envy (MTV Awards),? and the danger this title would presume, for good or for evil... (Diego endures!!)
Diego: I would never fill the shoes of the Great Diego [Maradona]. The only thing I hope, is not to end like him.

? Hello, I see your responses and you look like a very nice and sexy boy. Do you believe that being a well-known person has influenced your personality and how you are with others? Kisses.|
Diego: No, I have always been like this. It's nothing more than now there is someone on the other side of the computer. I like to take care of my friends very much, because they are always going to be there. So I brought them and I go promoting bars, plazas, and table dances. The big one cooks very well and Martín has nice writing.

? Hello Diego, what opinion do you have of the Chiapas situation? Is Marcos a fraud or not? Hereabouts a thing is said to us and in Mexico I found something very different. Regards.
Diego: The situation in Chiapas is terrible, because the saddest thing of all is that the people have already forgotten him and the solution is nowhere near. I have opposing feelings about Marcos, but no imposter takes the time to go withdraw in the forest. The fact is that the government of my country has no concern for indigenous culture and it might be said that it hinders them. I hope something happens soon.

? A dull question… How do you think about your future? How would you like to live at 50.
Diego: I hope to be in love, this is the only important thing.

? Do you get involved or not? What do you say to me about the 3 Azores, especially of Aznar?
Diego: What damage he did to the world. 11.000 civilians dead, bringing about ecological disasters and that attracts freedom? I believe that in this history there is more than one tyrant.

? As I imagined.  Besides a good actor you look like a nice guy. Oh mama, I fell in love with you!!!  Some recipe for platonic love?
Diego: For platonic love, there is not much you can do.  In Mexico they say: una chaquetita y a dormir ("a little masturbation and sleep").

? What are the steps to being Patrick Swayze or Benicio del Toro?
Diego: If you put it to me like that, Javier Bardem.

? I love to hear you talking, that accent… ufff! Shame that I can't hear you speaking! In the end, which is the best movie for you, that you're not already in.
Diego: My favorite movie changes at times. I recommend The 400 Blows or the first ones of the Cohen brothers.

? What does it seem to you is happening in Mexico, with the denunciations of growing lack of safety, the kidnappings and the manifestation of last Sunday? Greetings from NY.
Diego: I very much like that the people demonstrate and the only thing that I hope is that things do not get confused. It is not necessary to invest in more police or private security. What is necessary is to create employment and tackle inequality. Or, basically, that politicians start doing the work for which we pay to them.

? Do you suppose that the movie Y tu mamá también saved you? Is there one before and after this movie?
Diego: Completely. This movie announced me here and made me travel with my work. I gained a lot of confidence in myself as an actor and it has opened many doors for me. Besides, and the most important thing, I liked it a lot when I saw it.

? How is your relationship with Gael? Are you indeed good friends?
Diego: Very good friends since we were little boys. I see him little now, but we are always in contact.

Translated by Heather; source: http://www.el-mundo.es/encuentros/invitados/2004/06/1149/