Ylenia Baglietto – Acacias 38

By starrymag | April 9, 2020

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) No villain sees themselves as a villain, they see it as doing it for a greater good. Would you consider the town’s people as villains for always being involved and in Camino’s affairs and trying to keep Maitino apart or is it just Felicia as a meddling mother?

 

A) I believe it has to do with the traditionalism that existed in a society of an era like that. People considered homosexuality as a disease and they used to think that people that was like that had to be locked up because they were actually sick and didn’t do any good to the other citizens. In “Acacia’s” case, it has a lot to do with the time. Felicia (Susan Soleto) is a woman that goes according to her time and that’s why she doesn’t accept that her daughter can love another woman. And the town, it is like it is, and most of them have the same mindset, too. It has to do with everything. It has to do with the whole environment around an age like that.

 

Q) What’s been the most remarkable and rewarding part of Maitino’s bittersweet love story?

 

A) In regards Maitino’s love, I believe that every moment they live can be remarkable from the very beginning. Going from how special was falling in love, from the very first kiss, from that “shut up,” from that feeling of having a secret relationship to being discovered and suddenly having to be separated since Maite went to prison and how later they have to find a solution to stop Camino (Aria Bedmar) from being locked up in a convent as a nun. So, I think that every single moment that Maitino goes through is very special and can be highlighted.

 

Q) What does Maite admire most about Camino, and what continues to draw their chemistry and connection in even further?

 

A) The first thing that draws Maite’s attention about Camino is that she is a pure woman, especially that she has a mind open to new things within the traditional society she lives in. She needs to discover and learn new things, and the fact that she is someone interested in everything is what makes Maite fall for her and that is why they have that chemistry between them. I think there is something about having a forbidden love that also has a lot to do with them loving each other forever even if they are apart.

 

Q) Despite her circumstances of being imprisoned, Maite never wavered and became resigned to her detention. She always kept up spirit and hope for her release. To what do you attribute her steadfast resolve that she would be set free?

 

A) Maite decides to be released like this because that’s the only way she won’t cause any more trouble for Camino and believes that way she will prevent Felicia from doing whatever she wants with her and eventually make her go to a convent. Despite the pain, she thinks that right now this is the best for Camino since she doesn’t want to make her suffer even more. And even though this is a short-term suffering, she knows that eventually it will be the best for her.

 

Q) Quite often in soap operas powerful and influential women often end up being painted like they take advantage of the younger person, as being manipulative and predatory. What did it mean to you having Maite go against that trope and negative portrayal?

 

A) I don’t consider that Maite Zaldua has taken advantage or manipulated Camino. On the contrary, I guess she is the only person that has allowed her to be free and to express her true feelings. That society sees her as manipulative? I understand it because in the end we believe that by being older you have more knowledge and the younger person doesn’t have as much information. So, she gets carried away by the adult. But I think in Maite’s case it is the opposite of that; she allows Camino to be free. She lets her paint what she wants to paint and to live the way she wants to live and the rest of the world doesn’t understand her.

 

Q) Seeing Camino being able to let her guard down and be so open with Maite was such a beautiful, heartwarming watch. They truly had an unparalleled connection. How did the ties that ultimately bind them together, end up being more of their undoing rather than their unifier?

 

A) I think is actually fear what makes the bond between Maite and Camino to break apart. The fear that society might be all over them, that Camino may end up in prison as well, fear of not being able to love each other with freedom. That is why I believe that all that love they have built comes to an end. As I mentioned earlier, all because of the time they are living.

 

Q) Besides love, what’s something Maite has really imparted on Camino?

 

A) I think what Maite really imparts to Camino is a new way of looking at life, artistically and personally. Until then, Camino was living caught up in a jail, wrapped up by the traditionalism of that time that it didn’t appear to suit her way of being and living and Maite has opened other doors, paths and ways of looking for her. At the beginning, she does it through art but then, she realizes that it also affects her emotionally. She teaches her to feel free in every aspect of her life.

 

Q) As Maite turns to leave she offers one last glance at a distraught Camino, what do you think were her final thoughts looking back at her?

 

A) When Maite looks at Camino for one last time, she feels an endless sadness for leaving her there but at the same time she knows that what she is doing is the best for her.

 

Q) Maite has been Camino’s great love, and she has told her mother she cannot love anyone else. With Maite gone, what does she believe Camino’s intentions going forward would be? Would Maite want Camino to stay true to herself and keep standing up to her family, or would she want her to be open to other relationships but not fall back on old obligations?  

 

A) I guess what Maite truly wants for Camino is for her to be free of living the relationships she wants. If she wants to be with Maite, it will be great that she would wait for her and if not, that at least she could live her love freely with whoever she wants and choose and not with whom her family choose for her.

 

Q) We loved seeing such an intense chemistry that you shared with Aria which was palpable. What do you think it is about your dynamics as actresses that really helped to translate so well on screen?

 

A) For me and Aria, what helped us the most is listening to each other. Aria and I always try to make every scene have a very truthful interpretation so it can reach the viewers. And that’s what makes us to have a very special connection.

 

Q) With the increasing LGBT visibility on Spanish TV with couples such as Juliantina and Luimelia, what do you believe makes Maite and Camino’s epic romance different and sets them apart? 

 

A) What makes Maite and Camino’s love special is that no stereotypes have been searched, just love – regardless if it is between two women or between a man and a woman. We have just looked for a real and natural way for these characters to love each other.

 

Q) Going forward what’s next for you and what do you hope that fans have taken away from watching this beautiful and blistering relationship?

 

A) I hope that because of the story of Maite and Camino (Maitino), female homosexuality becomes more visible since we have realized it is still very much needed.