At the 41st edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), the book *Luisa Huertas: Tómalo como quieras* was presented during a discussion between the Mexican-Salvadoran actress and filmmaker and producer Roberto Fiesco, the book’s author, at the Santander Performing Arts Complex.
The book brings together a careful and thoughtful selection of moments and images that bear witness to the evolution the actress underwent throughout each of her roles, as well as her vision of acting, which is grounded in a sense of responsibility. Its pages reveal how her career is marked by a capacity for constant reinvention, thanks to her enduring commitment and dedication.
Huertas views acting as a responsibility, endowing his characters with a depth that reflects their complexity. He discovered his calling at the age of eight, through play. From the very beginning, he had the support of his family, which would prove essential to the development of his career.
Her professional career, spanning more than 50 years, has been marked not only by her time in the spotlight but also by an academic education she enjoyed so much that it led her from learning to teaching—from honing her craft in places like the INBA’s children’s theater workshop to witnessing historic moments such as the founding of the University Theater Center (CUT).
Huertas recounted his time on the radio, where he learned to “read at first sight.” This experience would prove pivotal for another of his great passions: vocal work, which he described as an incredibly enriching experience. “Discovering that you have no other resource but your voice to make things happen in front of a microphone,” he added.
Fiesco spoke with Huertas about her transition from theater to film; for her, acting on both stages is the same process, although each has its own technical requirements. She noted that there are no set formulas in acting: it’s about giving yourself over to the role, communicating with the director, and becoming the character.
Her role in *El imperio de la fortuna* ( 1986), directed by Arturo Ripstein—with whom she would go on to collaborate on various projects—was pivotal to the course of her career. Her theater experience allowed her to navigate long takes with ease, handle complex dialogue, and portray characters full of intensity.
He emphasized that, as an actor, one must be a keen observer—a voyeur of others’ reactions—a tool that contributes to the coherent development of one’s characters. His political activism also served him well in this regard, giving him the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and contexts, as well as providing him with a social perspective that would broaden his view of the world and its events.
Her career has been marked by supporting roles that are “iconic,” the actress said. She explained that her choice of roles depends less on landing a leading role and more on the quality of the script and her desire to work with certain directors.
However, *No nos moverán* (2024) would mark a turning point in her career by landing her an iconic leading role. She said that her fascination with the script and her meeting with director Pierre Saint-Martin led her to join this Mexican film, without knowing the impact it would have on audiences.
Finally, Luisa Huertas emphasized that she has no regrets about having embraced her role as an actress with such dedication and commitment. She expressed her gratitude for the generosity of her family, who always understood and accepted everything her work entailed, including the sacrifices and her time away from home.
She fondly recalled the mutual inspiration she shared during the 25 years she spent with her husband, the late actor Miguel Córcega, with whom she shared the same passion, obsession, and dedication to acting.
The conversation served as an opportunity to affirm that the actress is currently in a period of fulfillment—the result of a life marked by conviction and resilience—and is establishing herself as a unique role model within her profession. It left us with the lesson that learning will always be part of being alive.