Itu Ninu

In the film Itu Ninu, Alejandra Herrera brings the character of Sofia to life with her exceptional talent. As a promising actress she has already garnered attention in the film industry, receiving a notable nomination for Best Actress in a foreign film at the esteemed Tribeca Film Festival in 2020. Additionally, she recently participated in a captivating short film that premiered at the renowned Sundance Film Festival, further establishing her reputation as a rising star.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Alejandra to uncover her approach to acting, her process in developing Sofia’s character, and her exciting future projects. 

When and how did you start acting? 

I was studying Communication Sciences at UNAM, but I felt that something was missing, so I started doing theater in 2012 and got into film in 2015.

What aspect of acting do you feel most passionate about, and why? 

I believe acting is based on the ability to understand and try to comprehend the diverse ways of being in the world and is based on people’s life stories. As a society, we are in a state of apathy, disinterest; we have gotten used to all the negative things happening in the world (crime, violence, murders, etc.). For me, the actor has the task of giving voice to those particular stories that awaken empathy in others.

How do you prepare to get into a character? 

First, I ask myself what I want to convey as an actress with this project, what I can contribute, to whom I am speaking, how will I express this, and why? Then, I conduct research and start preparing the character by making decisions based on these questions.

How did you get involved in Itu Ninu? 

In 2018 I participated in In Times of Rain, playing the character of Adela. Through this project I met Ita and Armando; we understood each other very well, our ideas aligned, and I loved the honesty and truthfulness of the project. In 2022, Ita reached out to me to discuss the possibility of working on a new project, and I immediately accepted. We initially planned to do it remotely, with Ita and Armando filming in Scotland, and I working with a cinematographer in Mexico. Some time later, I found out I had been selected to participate in a workshop with Master Yoshi Oida in Paris. Because I was travelling anyway, Ita suggested we could try to make the film in person in Edinburgh.

There was no script for Itu Ninu. How did you develop the character? 

My first film was Kokoloko by Gerardo Naranjo, which was also filmed without a script. Therefore I was already familiar with a similar approach. 

To prepare for Itu Ninu I started by asking questions to the character to understand Sofía as a human being and reach her “universal essence.” Then, I allowed the character to inhabit the different spaces and situations.

What was it like working on a project set in Edinburgh? 

It was a great adventure! I love to travel, but it was the first time I traveled to another continent for work. Arriving in a country where I had never been before, an island with a different climate and a unique vibe, and realizing that day and night happen at different times made me react in different ways. At first, I wasn’t fully aware of these circumstances, but later on, I used all those stimuli to enrich the character. For example, Sofia is a migrant in a future world where everything is different, and there I was, being in a completely foreign and beautiful country.

Was working on this project different from other projects? How so? 

Completely. Just the way it happened because I started the film immediately after learning and absorbing so much from Master Yoshi Oida. As an actress, Itu Ninu offered me an opportunity to translate all that information into actions and put it into practice. Being in such a different and incredible place like Edinburgh enriched Sofia, but it also enriched me. Immersing myself in another culture, getting to know their customs, ways of being, speaking, and looking, nourished me as an actress and as a person in a very different way.

What other projects are you working on? 

Right now, I’m about to re-stage Bauhaus Mx,a stage spectacle that emerged from the exploration of the German architectural movement Bauhaus, Kandinsky, and the idea of making the actor disappear. Also, the second season of the series Lotería del crimen, where I had the opportunity to participate as an unconventional cyber detective, will be released shortly. Additionally, the feature films Recursos Humanos by Jesús Magaña, Contraataque by Chava Cartas, and Un cuento de pescadores by Edgar Nito will be released.

Is there any specific type of role you would like to portray in the future, and why? 

I’ve been studying Korean, Kung fu, and traditional Korean dance. Through these activities, I have found other ways to articulate sensitivity, and I have come to the conclusion that I would like to play a heroine who, using sensitivity and physical skill equally, resolving various conflicts without the need for a male “hero” figure.

What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in acting? 

Know what type of actor you want to be, never lose sight of that certainty, and persevere with discipline.