For over a decade, Cristina Rosato has been delighting audiences with her dynamic performances across television and film. Rosato can be seen in the Canadian-Argentinian indie drama, “Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires”, now available on all major VOD platforms. We had the pleasure to speak with her about the movie, her career, and more!
Cristina, thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. For readers unfamiliar with you and your background, what drew you to a career in film and TV?
Thanks for inviting me here. I basically decided I wanted to be an actress around 6 years old. I don’t think I knew what that really meant. Up until then, I had dreamed of being so many things, a race car driver, an astronaut, Madonna, an archeologist… And I remember watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and thinking how cool it was that a person (an actor) could get to play so many different roles and essentially have different jobs. I think curiosity was the main factor for me. As I continued to pursue acting, taking classes, and doing school theatre, it really developed into a true passion for performing and pushing my own boundaries.
I began taking Meisner classes in Montreal with the late Jacqueline McClintock. She became a very important person in my life, a mentor.
When I was 21, I moved to California and studied theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. It was such an incredible time. I felt so fortunate to be able to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the craft. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents, I was very fortunate.
Who were your early influences and how did they impact your career?
My late acting coach Jacqueline McClintock had a huge impact on me when I started out. She taught me so much about acting, and was such a loving and supportive person. Many of the people I met in her classes are still dear friends to this day. In terms of guidance, I would have to say my agent, and dear friend, Sandy Martinez. We met when I was about 16 or 17 during a photoshoot. We really hit it off and kept in touch over the years until we finally decided to work together, after I graduated from acting school. Sandy has always been such a positive force in my life and in my career. I feel very lucky to have an agent whom I trust wholeheartedly. We’ve been there for many of each other’s big life moments, and I am so grateful.
What would you say are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of acting?
The lack of security. Financially, it is challenging not having a steady income or steady work. Morally, it takes a lot of willpower and thick skin to be able to plow ahead positively through all the rejection. But, the things that make acting the most challenging can also make it so rewarding. It is very rewarding to work hard on a role, from the first audition to finding the character’s layers with your co-stars and director, to seeing it all the way to the finish line.
What attracts you to a role and are there any roles you’d find particularly interesting to play?
It can be so many aspects that attract me to a role. Sometimes it’s the script, sometimes the director, and often it’s the journey my character will go on, what she’ll go through from beginning to end of the story.
Your impressive resume includes Showtimes’s “City on a Hill” and ABC’s “The Good Doctor”. You’ve also worked alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, in ‘Mother!’ and “Bad Santa 2” with Billy Bob Thornton. Of your many accomplishments, what are you most proud of and why?
Honestly, this may sound cheesy, but my biggest accomplishment is that I’m still doing it! The ups and downs and all the less fun parts of the business can be really challenging. Not throwing in the towel is a huge accomplishment.
You star in the upcoming indie drama, Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires. Please tell us more about the drama, your role, and what audiences can expect.
Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires is the story of a brother and sister who go back to visit the country they left as small children, Argentina. During their visit, they discover the passionate world of the Argentine Tango, as well as learn about Argentina’s history. Through this, they uncover dark family secrets and the real reason for their parents’ emigration to Canada.
Please tell us more about working on the set of Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires
Working on this film began as a total dream come true. I was taking daily Tango classes in Buenos Aires for weeks before we started filming. Alison Murray, our director, has a family home in Buenos Aires and we would often go over to rehearse parts of the script, while her husband Carlos would prepare the most incredible Asado (Argentinian barbeque) for us to enjoy. They showed us around Buenos Aires and brought us to so many Milongas (Tango meets).
The crew was top-notch. Everyone from the first AD, to the hair and makeup team, the cinematographer, art department… truly I could name them all, were unbelievable. Not only talented in their fields, but also so absolutely kind and interesting and a joy to work with. It was a very relaxed and social set.
Then… the pandemic. We were halfway through filming when we got word that we would be shutting down until further notice.
We only got back to finishing the movie a whole year and a half later. And for various reasons, we could not finish the film in Argentina, we were going to Uruguay. We were able to keep some of the crew but many were new. That second part of the filming journey went really well, all things considered
What other projects are you working on?
Right now, I am not working on anything seeing as most of the industry is on strike. I’m very grateful that I am able to promote this project.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
My IG is @rosato.
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