| Introducing NATHALIA RAMOS of 'HOUSE OF ANUBIS'... |
| Written by Sacha Young | |||
| Wednesday, 09 February 2011 09:31 | |||
Who is a Vietnamese studying, pig lovin', half-Australian, half-Spanish eighteen-year-old who landed her first role in a much anticipated Nickelodeon show? If you guessed NATHALIA RAMOS (ding, ding, ding), you guessed correct!
Dutch phenomenon 'Het Huis Anubis' made waves around the world, so much so, that they translated and re-made the series in English, resulting in the new TV show 'HOUSE OF ANUBIS'. Coup De Main caught up with leading lady Nathalia Ramos on the phone, for an exclusive interview...
CDM: How were you cast for the role?
NATHALIA RAMOS: Well, it was a series of auditions. I had to read a scene and then I had to sing. The whole process lasted over several months, I was actually in Australia when I found out I had a call-back, I was going to fly back from Australia (I was out there visiting my family), fortunately they arranged for me to do it later, but it was kind of funny how it all worked out. The whole process took a few months. CDM: It's pretty amazing how well the original Dutch series has been received in European countries - what were your first thoughts when you found out you were reproducing an existing series? NATHALIA: I was so excited to be apart of it, not only because when I first read it, it was such an exciting script - it was so fun and interesting and wasn't anything that I'd ever seen before. But also, it already did have such a huge following and the fans are so passionate about this show in the Netherlands. They were all excited it was going to be translated, but they were also very wary in hoping that we would do it justice, which was a pressure on us to live up to their expectations and the feedback that we've gotten. Overall people are pretty pleased, which is exciting for us. CDM: The House Of Anubis series seems like a mixture of pop culture successes, for example 'Harry Potter' and 'Gossip Girl' - why do you think these mystery stories have risen to such popularity? NATHALIA: I think it's really exciting because people always want to be entertained. In this world we have so many distractions, there are so many things going on, it takes a lot for us to be drawn into something and really intrigued, so having a show like 'House of Anubis' [which] every episode ends with a cliff-hanger - you're always wondering what's next. Also, being involved in the mystery, coming up with your own outcome and what you think is going to happen. I think it makes the whole experience more exciting. CDM: What was it like filming in Liverpool? NATHALIA: It was such an incredible experience. It was my first time away from home - just like Nina - living on my own in a foreign country, I got to meet all these new people. It was really nerve-wracking and challenging because I missed home a lot. It was also really cool to be independent and I made such good friends with the cast, they made my time away from home much easier, I had an amazing experience getting to know everyone and being in a new place. CDM: How similar are you to your character Nina? NATHALIA: Like I just mentioned, we were going through some of the same emotions at the same time, it was really interesting to play that out and play a character that I could really, really relate to. I think in some circumstances I think Nina is - I wouldn't say nicer than me - I would like to consider myself a nice person, but she's more quiet, not as outspoken until she's more comfortable I guess, which when I meet someone I'm a bit of the opposite. Her nerves made her quiet, when I'm [with] a new person my nerves make me talk more and over-compensate, so we have different personalities in that aspect. CDM: Who out of the cast lives up to their so called 'stereotype' the most? NATHALIA: It's really funny because some of us are really not like our characters. Anna plays the dumb blonde, but she's actually one of the most intelligent people I know, and she's completely the opposite to her character which I think is really funny. I would say probably Alex and Eugene who play Alfie and Jerome. Eugene is no way near as cynical as Jerome, but that whole playful aspect, Alfie's always making jokes, like a class clown and then Eugene's aura and presence is very similar to Jerome, but he's not evil like Jerome is. Everyone was really kind, we all got along really well. CDM: In your school yearbook, what would you have had captioned next to your name? NATHALIA: We didn't have that in my school yearbook, but I would have wanted 'most successful' - I know that doesn't sound very admirable, but that's probably what I would have wanted! CDM: Just like Victor has Corbierre, his stuffed black bird... if you had to have a stuffed animal what would it be and what would you name it? NATHALIA: Gosh, well, I wouldn't say I want to stuff it because they are my favourite animals and I love them... [but] I would love to have a Pig. I love Pigs and little piglets... I would name my pet pig 'Quang' and I've already had this planned out, it means 'Prince' in Vietnamese and I would love a little Asian pig! CDM: What is it like being Spanish/Australian, growing up in Miami, and now living in Los Angeles? NATHALIA: I was a very confused child. It was honestly amazing, all those places are home to me. I go back to Australia and I've been really fortunate to go back at least once a year. So even though I haven't lived there since I was young, there's still a part of my culture and my love, my family and a huge portion of my life, is still there. I love it, at the dinner table at my house we switch between Spanish and English all the time, we are constantly speaking both languages at the same time, we have Spanish food and Australian food, I've kind of grown [up] in this mixed culture and I love it. CDM: Has your Father especially inspired you in the career field that you've chosen? NATHALIA: Absolutely. Both of my parents are in the music industry, so growing up with my Dad who is a musician and then my Mum who is a promoter is on the business side. I've kind of grown up in that environment, so while my Dad has really inspired me creatively, my Mum keeps me down to earth and also shows me the reality of how it works. It's all fun, but it's not a walk in the park. Both of those influences have really inspired me, I've been making music with my Dad since I was a little kid. That has a huge aspect of why I do, what I do. CDM: Do you think you'll pursue a music career? NATHALIA: [I'd] Absolutely love to, music is my first love. I've got a whole bunch of songs that I've written, and produced with my Dad, I would love to, one day, release them or focus on a music career. It's definitely something I would love to do in the future. Right now, I'm focusing on my acting and school, but I always have it in the back of my head. CDM: How has your life changed since playing Yasmin in the 'Bratz' movie? NATHALIA: Since 'Bratz', I realised this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I made that commitment, I moved up to Los Angeles. I'm really lucky I've been able to have the best of both worlds, so while I wouldn't say my life changed drastically where I never got to live a normal life, that's not true - I went to high school and I'm in college now and I have amazing friends that aren't in this industry at all, but at the same time I've been working since I was twelve-years-old. There have been certain times where I miss events because I had to go to work, or I had to go to an audition, so it's definitely a commitment that I made at a young age and something I've been working hard for, for the last several years. I'm really fortunate that I haven't missed out on a lot and I consider myself to have had a normal childhood and still a pretty normal life. CDM: Just before this interview I had the privilege to style your outfit on an online 'Cartoon Doll Maker' game. How does it feel to know your role in 'Bratz' branched off to other applications? NATHALIA: I think that is so cool, it's definitely cool to know! It's kind of funny there is an Anubis game on nick.com right now, you can see me, and move me around, the characters are so life-like - they look so much like us! It's really funny, I like that. CDM: It's so wonderful to acknowledge your success at such a young age, what advice do you have for others in pursuing their dreams? NATHALIA: I would definitely say [that] perseverance is one of the most important things to have, obviously there are times you're not going to get every audition, you're not going to get most of them, it can get you down, it's hard - [but] if it's what you love you have to keep going. But also be prepared to work hard, and if your going to do something, whatever it may be whether it's acting or any other passion, just commit to it and be prepared to make those sacrifices and to really work hard in order to be really great at something because nothing worth having comes easily. CDM: What are you looking forward to in 2011? NATHALIA: In 2011, well, I came back to school, I go to U.S.C. - I had to take last semester off to film 'House Of Anubis', so being back in school is really exciting, I'm loving it. I also hope to do some travelling, I plan to go to Vietnam, I'm studying Vietnamese politics and that would be really cool if I get to do that. Also kind of seeing professionally where this road takes me, where 'House Of Anubis' goes, if we go back for a season two, and what new things will come out of this. I really don't know what to expect, but I'm really excited! CDM: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? NATHALIA: It's kind of the same one I had last year, which was to exercise and eat healthier, this year I want to continue that, I want to raise it up a notch and maybe to a five kilometer run or some sort of fitness goal I want to reach. I'm going to stick to my New Year's resolution! CDM: We are really excited to have 'House Of Anubis' starting here in New Zealand, what can you say to people anticipating the new series? NATHALIA: I would definitely say, expect the unexpected. Don't miss an episode! You're going to be left with a cliff-hanger every time, hopefully everyone will be on the edge of their seats and asking themselves the question: "What happened to Joy?"... Hopefully we'll find that out soon!
For show times and details head to www.nicknz.co.nz
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