By: Jamie Steinberg
Q) This is an incredible role for you, and I’m curious how was Paz originally described to you?
A) This is crazy because the first information I have for Paz was two scenes for the audition, and these scenes were ones that is already in episode two – the first time that Elena (Greta Fernández) and Paz meets in Solaz del Mar. And the other scene is a scene that’s gonna happen on Episode Six with Daryl (Norman Reedus). And so with that information, I think it wasn’t a lot, but it just gave me like the whole arc of the character. Because I can understand that this character means – it’s kind of tough. She’s a warrior or something, because it’s with Daryl, but I didn’t know that, like, for sure, but then I knew there was a love story, and I was like, “Oh my god, this is Caramello” – like we say here in Spain, like it’s a sweet character because it has everything. So, I was really, really excited and really, really nervous for the addition.
Q) Her connection with Elena is so powerful, and they seem to maybe have known each other in another life. What kind of backstory were you told about their romantic connection or friendship?
A) They knew each other for 10 or 12 years. They were their first love. They knew each other because they were from the same town near Barcelona. So, both of them are Catalans, and Paz like she saw Elena for the first time, and she fell in love, and she never expected that she would feel the same for her. But then something happened. And it really happened. The thing was “la caida” (what we call in Spain, when the walkers appear) – on the time of la caida, and they could spend the time together, and that’s when they developed this relationship. And it was really, really beautiful. They were so young. They’re really, really young, like 20s, like Justina (Candela Saitta) and Roberto (Hugo Arbues) probably. So, yeah, they were their first love.
Q) I find it interesting that Paz wasn’t a part of La Ofrenda. As a woman in the village. She should have been considered. However, is it because she’s kind of a warrior that makes her off limits for the town?
A) No, I think Elena was caught like 10 years ago. So, it’s when we were still young, you know? So, I think they offer young woman or teenage women for this crazy Ofrenda.
Q) So, you think you sort of aged out of La Ofrenda?
A) Yes, that’s different. They prefer young women.
Q) Paz was a bit unnerved that Daryl left without her sort of it felt like to go for Jusstina. Was it because she was hoping to give him to go with him in order to save Elena at the same time?
A) At the same time, talking as Paz, I was struggling with, with the decision of going with Daryl, because at some point Justina wasn’t the first woman in town was caught from El Alcazar. Yes, the difference here probably is because she has more relationship with Roberto. She knew about their relationship, but at the same time it wasn’t for her, like the first time that someone took a girl from the town. So, for her, like the great motivation for her was to go with Daryl, help him with Justina, but at the same time, go and rescue Elena. The thing is, does Elena want me to rescue her? It’s like she wasn’t really sure about that information, because, yes, we spend time, a little time together, but then they really didn’t have a conversation. She doesn’t know what is Elena’s life. Maybe she lives like really a queen, and I’m gonna go there for nothing, and so I think there was these two things, like, I want to help Justina, of course, but the huge importance here for her was Elena. So, at the end, she chooses to help, even though she does know what she is gonna find out.
Q) We’ve seen you on horseback. You’ve been fighting walkers. What scenes were the most difficult for you to film?
A) In the fireball scene that was probably with the wig. It was hard, because there was a lot of people around, and I didn’t want to hurt anybody. So, it was really complicated, because Norman was really, really close. The zombies are closed, and that was a real wig. So, I needed to be careful. No, for me, I think the most difficult thing was the marks as a horse rider, because they were really, really close to the camera. So, if I needed to stop the horse on that mark, I should make it right because if not I could probably drop machine that’s more expensive than a whole house. [laughs] But, yeah, it was I think, to ride with the horse because I prepared my riding with the horse for this show, for this character. So, yeah, I was quite nervous. And there’s like in the second episode that I was walking besides Daryl and Carol (Melissa McBride) at the entrance when they get to Solaz del Mar. I was riding the horse and the camera was really, really close. And I have to maintain this line with the with the horse, with the look with Norman. I think that was the most difficult for me because I mean, it’s something alive. It’s not a machine.
Q) What has it meant to you to be a part of the iconic world of “The Walking Dead?”
A) It’s crazy – I just can’t find words for that because when I received the audition, at first, I wasn’t actually giving a lot of importance, because I thought, this will never happen. It’s impossible that “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” that I’m going to be part of it. And then when I got the part, and I was on set, and I was seeing everyone, everything, I thought I was dreaming because this is kind of like the best playground for an actor and an actress. It has everything. And as the production is huge, it’s amazing. And then understanding the importance of what the show meaning means for the world and for all of us is just crazy! It’s crazy. The pressure is amazing, you know. But just thinking that I’m part of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” is like a dream that I’ve never had the chance to dream of, because I never thought that would be an option. it’s crazy. It’s really crazy.