C: Tell me about Octavio, the character you play in Amores Perros.

GGB: He was an amazing character to play, because he’s got many sides to him. He’s not a bad guy or a good guy; he does what he does instinctively, because he loves his brother’s wife. He can’t think about things coolly. Once you’re on that instinctive level of loving someone, you become an animal, you just react in the moment.

C: How was it working with all the dogs in the film? Was there just one animal who played your dog?

GGB: No, there were 3 dogs for the part! One was a complete assassin – a police dog, manufactured to kill, trained to do it. So he was untouchable. Another was fairly touchable, and the third one was lovely, a huge rotweiler.

C: You like dogs?

GGB: I love them. And after this film, I love them even more. I think that’s one of the qualities Amores Perros has – you end up loving dogs more after seeing it.

C: Would you ever fight a dog, like your character does?

GGB: By no means, ever, ever.

C: This is your first feature; I understand you studied acting in England?

GGB: For 2 years. I originally intended just to travel around the world and get away from Mexico; but I ended up getting really bored with travelling, so I decided to study something. Acting was the best thing I could do. My parents are both actors.

C: Why did you choose England and not America? Was it easier to get in?

GGB: No, it’s actually much harder than the US. But I would never think of living in the US. It doesn’t attract me at all. I don’t like the culture, the way minorities are relegated; I just don’t like the way of life.

C: What have you done since Amores Perros?

GGB: I’ve done 2 other features, one in the Dominican Republic with Harvey Keitel, about pre-revolutionary Cuba. It’s in English, which is a shame, because that story should be told in Spanish, the original language. All the actors were from different parts of Latin America; the only one who didn’t speak Spanish was Harvey Keitel.

C: And what’s next?

GGB: I’m about to start rehearsals in Mexico for the story of Fidel Castro. I play Che Guevara. It’s for American and British TV.

C: I could see you as an Almodovar actor one day.

GGB: I’d love to work with him. I think he’d like to as well – he’s said that he wants me to act in his next film.

Source: The Context