'Of Course My Spanish Is Not the Same As That of a Native Speaker,' Says Wagner Moura About 'Narcos' Series

09/08/2015 - 10h18

Advertising

GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA

FROM SÃO PAULO

Last week's discussion speaks Spanish. Since the series "Narcos" was first aired on Netflix, on August 28, Brazilian actor Wagner Moura's performance as Pablo Escobar, the famous Colombian drug boss, has been caught in the crossfire: praises versus criticisms to Moura's accent - who pressed the SAP button to play the character in a foreign language.

With no previous knowledge of Spanish, Moura moved to the character's hometown, Medellin, Colombia, months before the beginning of the shooting to learn Spanish.

His performance was praised in the U.S. - The New York Times said it is "prize-worthy", while The Hollywood Reporter magazine said it is "far from the clichés" connected to Pablo Escobar.

But others said that Moura's artificiality when speaking Spanish was a downside. In Colombia, Arcadia magazine classified the series as "disappointing," a "linguistic palimpsest" of the continent.

Folha contacted Moura, who said he does not feel comfortable to comment on something which, according to him, does not need to be debated. He says he understands that his Spanish is not as good as that of a native speaker.

"I'm sorry but there isn't much to say. I think that there is no reason for me to try to justify the criticism I've received. That is the work, there are people who like it and people who don't - that is how this business works. Of course my Spanish is not the same as that spoken by a paisa [residents of the region] of Medellin. Nor is it as good as that of anyone who speaks Spanish since he was born. I guarantee, however, that I gave my best."

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

Read the article in the original language