As she geared up for her major English-language acting debut in Paddington in Peru, Carla Tous told us how she wants to be remembered.
PHOTOS: Annie Noble
TALENT: Carla Tous
VIDEOGRAPHY: Dominic Patrick Clarke
STYLING: Frederica Lovell-Pank
SET DESIGN: Po Tsun Lin
MAKEUP: Sara Hill at The Wall Group
HAIR: Chad Maxwell
Nails: CHISATO YAMAMOTO at Caren using Essie
WORDS & POLAROIDS: Jasmine Perrier
LIGHTING TECH: ARTHUR MILLIER RADNALL
DIGI OP: Guy Gunstone
RETOUCHER: Katy Sims
STYLIST ASSISTANT: Anna Stapleton
LOCATION: Katana London Studio
SPECIAL THANKS: Public Eye Communications
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Tous en scène
MADRID, November 27, 2024 (4:00PM)
We catch up with Tous a month after meeting her in London. Paddington in Peru broke records in its opening weekend in the UK, while the rest of the world still has to wait for its turn to go on a new adventure with Britain’s (and everyone’s) most beloved bear. Meanwhile, Tous is back in Madrid where she moved a year ago. “I have been [back] here in Spain for two weeks and I feel like I haven’t had the chance to really digest everything that went through, or realized the impact of this project on my career,” she says, exuding a genuine unpretentiousness over Zoom. “I’m noticing that people are starting to reach out and are interested, so it will be exciting to see where this goes and what happens. I’m just taking it all, grateful, and still working on making it justice.”
The Paddington newcomer originally hails from Barcelona, which explains why she has this Mediterranean warmth to her. “I would have a hard time living [in London] because I would miss my sun in Spain,” she confesses, laughing. Even though Tous is the only actor in her family, she grew up in a cinema-oriented household. “My dad owns a streaming platform here in Spain [Filmin, a VOD platform dedicated to independent cinema]. So, I grew up watching all these niche movies, going to the cinema, and learning about theater plays,” she says. “But it’s funny because my dad didn’t want me to be an actress — because he knows how difficult it is.”
Trained in musical theater, we understand why Tous was such a confident mover and took direction effectively on set with us. “I first started dancing and then incorporated the acting. It’s great to have been a dancer because you get more knowledge and you get to understand chow your body works. I would advise taking dance classes to any actor or actress.” Her dance background no doubt served her as she continued her artistic journey. According to her, it all started because of Michael Jackson. “When I was four, five, I was just dancing and [pretending] to be him, so I would say he was my first-ever inspiration. Then I get inspiration from a lot of things in life — like going to an acting class and looking at what my partners and colleagues do, listening to music, or having a great chat with my mom.”
Our conversation drifts to the “really quick” audition process and the excitement of being part of Paddington Bear’s legacy. “I didn’t even go to London [to audition],” she says. “There was a lot of news in a really short period. Like, I didn’t even know ‘Paddington 3’ existed; the day after, I was auditioning; two weeks later, I knew I was in the movie. A producer called me, she didn’t even call my agent, and she was like, ‘It’s yours.’ The first time I ever met them was actually during the rehearsals.” She adds with a contented smile, “I don’t know what they saw, but it’s good to remind myself that self-tapes do work.”
Taking over the role of Gina Cabot was Tous’ ‘‘best kept secret till date,’’ as she said in a personal post following her casting announcement last year. “When the news came out, I was like, ‘I’m calm, the movie is done, no one can say anything.’ So, I was just excited to be able to share it with the world. But my closest friends, my family, my agents — they all knew. And they were so conscious about the fact that it was an insane thing for me to do, that they really took care of me. I wouldn’t have done this without them, for sure.”
The third installment of the Paddington franchise introduces additional changes. “It’s not the same [film] as the first or the second one,” Tous affirms. “There are not only new characters. There is also a new director [Dougal Wilson] and a new mom [Emily Mortimer, who replaces Sally Hawkins]. I hope the fans enjoy the newcomers, have fun, cry, and everything you’re supposed to do with Paddington.” Tous recalls a starstruck moment from her meeting with Olivia Colman. “She was so chill, welcoming, and funny,” she says, then segues into her experience of acting opposite fellow Spanish actor, Antonio Banderas, and playing his on-screen daughter. “I felt like I already knew him. I admired him as an actor, but now I admire him as a human. It’s not only about the way he acts, he is the nicest human being — more than I thought he could be.”
Leaving home to work on a foreign big-scale production came with its challenges. “I was alone in an apartment in Camden, in the middle of London without knowing anyone, for three months. This is a really lonely work and it was a lot to take in,” Tous says. “The most challenging thing for me was the English — not only saying my lines and acting in English, but also getting direction and trying to build relationships in a language that’s not mine.” However, she remains thankful that she was allowed to return to Spain when she had time off. “It was amazing to be able to recharge, otherwise I don’t know how I would have made it.” She adds with a laugh, “I miss my kitchen, my home food, and vegetables whenever I’m in the UK.”
Tous notes that working with a dialect coach stood her in good stead when she had to navigate cultural differences and adjust to an unfamiliar work environment. “The best advice that I got from her was, ‘Look at Hugh [Bonneville] and you will understand British comedy.’ So, I just started to pay close attention to whatever Hugh was saying or doing — his timings, the way he raised his voice, everything — and I understood. It’s not only a different language, it’s a different way of speaking, a different musicality, and even a different humor. I feel [Spanish humor] is more about small, clever phrases that you understand or not. [British humor] is more about facial expressions and body language.”
Upon her return to Spain, Tous found she was already someone else. “It was a turning point in the sense of, ‘I’m not a kid anymore, I’m a woman now.” Reflecting on her journey as an actress and the growth that she has experienced over the years, she says, “I [still] do it because I love it and I have fun doing it, but the approach has evolved. Now with the movies, the plays, or the shows that I do, I want to make an impact on people’s lives and make sure there’s a message that they can understand — [Paddington] is a good reminder of the values that everyone should have.”
More importantly for Tous, she doesn’t want to be defined by just her work. “I hate to say: ‘I’m Carla and I’m an actress.’ No — I’m Carla Tous and I act, but I’m plenty of things: I’m also a friend, a daughter, a cook, a dancer… If I need to be remembered for something, it’s because of the way I am [which is why] I try to be respectful and kind.” To wrap up, we talk about what’s inside her dreams. “I’ve never worked with a female director, so I would aim for that. And I also wish to be able to work with my friends on some type of work or art — I have like 10 friends that are wonderful actors and actresses.” But for now, Tous embraces her Paddington era to the fullest and it makes her eager for more. “I love working in Spain, I love the Spanish culture and the art that we do here, but I hope it’s not the last time I get to experience something like this. I don’t know if a year is realistic, but let’s maybe do another project outside Spain five years from now. [In the meantime], I will just keep working, doing the things that I love, and spending quality time with my loved ones.”
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