Martha Higareda – Altered Carbon

By starrymag | March 16, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) So, I was doing promotion for “Altered Carbon.” I have a production company in Mexico so I’m producing a movie that is a sequel to another movie I did before. It’s called No Manches Frida Dos. So, I’m going to be doing that in April and May.

Q) Please tell us the premise for “Altered Carbon” and how your character Kristin Ortega was originally described to you.

A) I was told that it was a dystopian future and was based on a book. So, the first thing they told me was to read the book. [laughs] I read the book. Actually, I read it twice. I was blown away when I showed up on set and saw what they had built. We didn’t do much blue or green screens. We mainly used what was on set and it was brilliantly done by the production designers. Laeta Kalogridis, the showrunner, was all the time in on all the conversation we had. She wanted to make sure that every one of the female characters really shined in a very unique way. Also, something we discussed a lot with how to create Ortega was…Because this whole story happens in a week and it is a story of we shot and created in eight months, we always had to keep in mind that this whole thing happened in a week in the story. So, we wanted to show the changes in Ortega. So, in the beginning first few days she is very upset about what is going on. With her coming into this world, how that effects her and how close she is with her family, we wanted to show that toughness and smarts. At the same time, when it comes to her family she is vulnerable and she can break down to pieces and then put herself back together and be even tougher. So, it’s a very complex character in many ways. Again, this whole story happens in a week and everything that is happening clashes with everything the way things were for her before.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the series?

A) I’m speaking from a Latina’s perspective, we are not all these voluptuous type of women. We’re not all the time the typical Latina that looks like a tomboy and is very masculine. We wanted to do a character that is more well rounded in emotions. As Latinas (and this is really exciting for me to hear), people have been saying, “Hey, thank you for representing Latinas that can be tough, but is closer to reality and smiles.” All of these things imply that it is a little more grounded. As a Latinas, we put our hearts first and sometimes our hearts sabotage. Your feelings can sabotage yourself. So, it’s being tough, but also putting your feelings first. All of those things were discussed with Laeta and for me personally what was amazing was that I got to do all of those action sequences and being a badass. At times I would think, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t know I had this tiny muscle in my back that is hurting so much.” I would still continue to train and it was exciting! It was super fun.

Q) Was there anything you added to Ortega that wasn’t in her initial breakdown?

A) It’s interesting because in the book we don’t see any part of her family. All of that aspect on the TV show was created by Laeta. Something we discussed together was how was it really as a Latin family. She knows a lot of it. We had a lot of conversations about that and we both said that the mother figure is so important. All of the family gatherings and how we have this beautiful respect for the elderly and Dia de los Muertos. All of the these things that weren’t in the original book are in the show and all the stuff that has to do with her family – which is so important to her. Also, the religious aspect. We see into the family dynamic.

Q) What are your ideas or thoughts on Kristin’s relationship with Ryker versus Kovacs.

A) Oof. That was a tough one because when Joel, Reed and I were talking about it – Kristen had a relationship with Ryker and in many ways Ryker got so into trying to find out who killed Mary Lou (Lisa Chandler). And so into that that he completely (in a way) that he forgot about his life, Ortega and all that stuff. Then, Kovacs shows up. Of course, Ortega loves Ryker, but Joel and I talked about it and we felt that when Kovacs shows up into her world that he has lived so many lives and he has a code of honor and respect. At the beginning they have this beautiful code of friendship and loyalty and all these deep beautiful values so what was interesting was that we felt towards the end of the story that Ortega was probably way more in love with this guy Kovacs than she would feel for Ryker. So, she is torn between two people. What was interesting was to have these two people being played by the same actor. [laughs] So, it was so complex having Kovacs inside of Ryker’s body – it would be very confusing for Ortega because it’s physically the man she loves, but inside is this other person that you learn throughout the week in the story how he is so amazing and has such a dark past and is such a beautiful soul. It’s very bittersweet how it is happening and how the show ends because we are left not knowing when Ortega gets Ryker back what would happen. Would she want to follow Kovacs? We don’t know. We toy with many different paths.

Q) What was heartbreaking was to see what happened with Ortega and her family. How will she be able to go forward with that kind of a scar?

A) Those are very, very interesting questions. We don’t know what is going to happen. Me, personally, if something that crazy was to happen to my family I would try to find out what else is going on. Again, it’s hard to tell. I think she is left with a lot of scars, but now she has Ryker back and that’s at least a little bit of hope.

Q) Ryker seemed to feel betrayed though since she doubted his innocence. Will they try to make it work?

A) The answer is of course she does, but then again I don’t know what would happen later. It’s up to Laeta and Richard [Morgan]…I don’t even know if I’m going to be in the second season. All of these questions I’ve asked myself, but I don’t have any answers. What I can tell you is what we know in the story. I wish I knew more!

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film for “Altered Carbon?”

A) I have so many favorite scenes! I particularly liked a scene in episode eight that I do with Dichen [Lachman]. It was just amazing. When I’m fighting with all of her clones, that was one of the most challenging yet fun scenes to shoot because we had eight or nine beautiful ladies on set doing all of these martial arts. Dichen, who is like a queen to me, was giving all of herself to the scene. And me too, of course! We were just living this very bizarre dream in a way. I was thinking, “Wow! Am I really shooting this?! Is this really happening?!” And it was just beautiful directed by Uta [Briesewitz]. It was one of my favorite scenes. There was also a great scene that I had with Joel where we’re both in a choreography as a couple fighting as a couple against all of these guys. He tries to protect me and then I try to protect him. It was just amazing, too. I think those are my two favorites. Well, the elevator fight was also really cool!

Q) Is there someone you didn’t get to have scenes with on “Altered Carbon” that you’d like to have one with come Season Two?

A) Well, again, I don’t know what is going to happen in Season Two. While shooting season one I thought it would be great to do more scenes with Renee [Elise Goldsberry]. I don’t have any scenes with her. Why would I? [laughs] She’s fantastic and I would have liked to do some scenes with her.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the fan feedback you have received to the series?

A) Yes! I like it! I think people are responding very amazingly. Again, I’m reading comments of women feeling very empowered and Latinas represented in the show. I just really like it.

Q) You are an actress, writer, producer, etc. Is there anything else you would like to try your hand at in the entertainment industry?

A) One day, sometime in the future, I would love to direct. But it’s something I’m not able to do right now. I love studying and I’m a little bit of a geek. So, if I would do that I would want to go to school and really work at it and then go and direct something. For now, I’m very happy with being an actress and writing and producing when I get the chance.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I would like to say thank you so much. For a woman like me…Honestly, I was met with many, many challenges. I came to this country for an opportunity as many people do. At the time, my English was not even that good. There were a lot of things that were very challenging for me. But I had big dreams and I continue to have them. To me, it’s amazing. Coming from Tabasco, Mexico – a tiny little town – to be here doing this massive show proves to me and everybody else that if you really work at it, really wish it with all of your heart and are really committed to it that magical things can happen.

 

 

Additional Photo Credit:

Stylist: Bruno Lima

Hair: Lauren McKeever

Makeup: Anton Khachaturian