Born in Bratislava, Katarína Morháčová is an actress, screenwriter and producer living in Los Angeles and NYC. Before filming the new feature film, the beauty, whose charms resemble the Italian icon Sophia Loren, visited the festival in Karlovy Vary, where she was interviewed by the eXtra.cz editors. Among other things, Katarína told us about her journey behind a big puddle, about a new project for Netflix and about nudity and love.
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Let’s talk about your life in America. You have lived there for 15 years. When was the decision made to take such a radical step and move out behind a big puddle?
It wasn’t all at once, but gradually. I met a professor from MXAT (Moscow School of Theater Arts)who told me about the combined study program between the school in Moscow and Cambridge v Massachusetts. Then I studied something about that school, applied and got into it. After six months in Moscow, I left for the USA. Then I’m due love decided to stay in the States.
And how did it turn out with her, does it continue for 15 years?
No, love comes and goes. And this one has already left.
But you stayed.
Yes. (laughs) Then I got my first theater offers, offers from independent films and various series. But it wasn’t overnight, it took a very long time. I was up once and down once. During that time, I built up a background there. I have an agency there, a manager, the directors of casting agencies know me… Basically, I’m already satisfied.
Do you have any advice for those who want to break through in America?
Good question, but I don’t think there is just one universal way to do it. Everyone has to find their own way. It was really a lot of hard and ambitious work for me. I was very disciplined and had to learn very good English and also get rid of my accent to open up my options and not only play Eastern European women. I gradually started playing in French, Italian and Russian. I would say that it was my appearance and ability to act in different languages that set me apart from other actresses.
What is the competition like? Is there a big rivalry between the actresses?
Not even a rivalry. I have many friends among the actors, we know how hard this job is.
What was your first role?
I acted in the theater show Girls War, in which I portrayed an Armenian model who returns from New York back to Armenia and because Azerbaijani-Armenian he stays there during the conflict and falls in love with an Azerbaijani. It was a chore, I was on stage all the time, even naked, so it was quite a challenge.
You probably have to disassociate yourself a lot when you undress in front of the whole hall.
We were in swimsuits at the rehearsals, until the last one they said – let’s do it. When you do that, it’s quite liberating. You stand there as nature created you and simply “There you have it”.
So you have no problem with nudity.
If it’s relevant to the role or to the story, then I don’t mind. It can’t be cheap.
Is revealing in theater different than on camera?
Yes. When we shoot sexy scenes on camera, firstly, there are few people around to make it more intimate, and secondly, it’s terribly technical – hand here, hand there, setting the angle.
So it’s a bit of exercise.
Yes exactly. (laughter)
Speaking of intimate scenes – cwhen you play with someone with whom you do not feel the necessary chemistry?
So you just have to play it. You have to find something about that person that you like, like they have pretty eyes, they’re funny, or they have nice shoes.
What is closer to you – theater or film acting?
I think it’s cinematic now. On the other hand, the contact with the audience is irreplaceable. If only it paid a little better, so that you could make a living from it.
You recently filmed the Ambrosio trilogy for Netflix. What will it be about?
The story follows a Hollywood director and his work. It’s about a movie that’s being shot at the famous Cinecittà studio in Rome, and I have a double role here. I play a big Italian star and something bad happens to me. But I won’t reveal that.
Your new venture was directed by an award winner BAFTA Sam Barlow. How was working with him for you?
Cool. Barlow is a very creative director. Plus, we had fantastic production money, so the costumes are seriously gorgeous.
You talked about Canada at the beginning. What will you shoot there?
It will be a feature film for Amazon Studios. I play an Italian girl who gets divorced and decides to go to America for vacation and ends up on some farm where she falls in love with a local farmer.
Looks like Italian women are your domain.
I took advantage of the fact that I look like that. Moreover, I speak Italian well. I lived in Rome for six months, during which I worked on a play written by the Italian playwright Rappa. He also directed it, but he didn’t know English at all, so I learned Italian through him. Also thanks to my ex-husband who is Sicilian.
What do you do besides acting?
Now I started to devote myself more to scriptwriting and production. I also have my own company. This is also one of the reasons why I am in Vary, because next year I am preparing a project that will be filmed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In the future, I would like to focus my production activities on women and girls. Support and inspire them. Not everything can work out, but it’s important to try. I would like to be one of the women who will change Hollywood.
Are you at the festival in Karlovy Vary for the first time?
I was already in the city, but on I’m at the festival for the first time. It is very nicely organized here. It is of a really high standard and I will be happy to come back here.
Are you planning to watch a movie?
I hope it works out for me. At the very least, I would like to watch the film with my friend Hanka Vagnerováwhich is called Limits of love.
Who did you get this beautiful dress from and how many did you take with you?
I have a dress from the Ukrainian couture brand J’amemme, with which I borrowed jewelry from ALO diamonds. And as for my suitcase, I can pack very well and quickly. I’m used to it, and since I’m currently traveling through Europe and Canada for eight weeks, I had to pack as efficiently as possible. I have my own dresses for everyday wear. I like more artistic brands, I love the Israeli brand for example Sabina Musayev and pieces from designers who use recycled materials.
Eben recalls the stars he’s met over the years at the festival: What impressed him was Redford or Banderas?
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