For Armando Valdés, who gained fame as Chala, the movie "Conducta" was a pivotal moment that reshaped his life. At just 12 years old, Valdés had no previous acting experience. During a conversation on Yuliet Cruz's podcast—Cruz played his mother in the film—Armando revealed how this Cuban cinematic work profoundly impacted him. When his mother took him to audition for the movie, over 7,000 children had already tried out, and Valdés was unaware of the film's purpose or who Ernesto Daranas, the director, was.
Despite numerous challenges and against his team's initial doubts, Daranas chose Valdés for the role, even though he did not fit the typical image of Chala. Valdés came from a humble but well-educated background. Reflecting on how he managed to embody the character, Armando admitted, "I just went with the flow, I was playing all the time." The absence of formal acting training made the experience even more challenging.
Challenges on and off the Set
Yuliet Cruz recalled that the scenes with Chala were intensely difficult, often leaving her in tears. "I was constantly heartbroken," she shared. After the film's release, Valdés faced issues in his high school, prompting his parents to transfer him. "I, Armando, don't like being talked about, I don't enjoy being the center of attention," he confessed. The frenzy following the movie's 2014 debut overwhelmed him. "The fact that acting isn't my passion today stems from this saturation."
The Impact of Early Success
After "Conducta," Valdés attended the National School of Art, studying acting for four years. However, the acclaim he received as Chala, including winning a Coral award, caused friction in an environment where many, including professors, hadn't achieved similar accolades at such a young age. Despite receiving offers for various projects due to his newfound popularity, his school restricted his participation until his third year.
The disillusionment Valdés experienced in Cuba led him to lose interest in pursuing acting, a sentiment he maintains today. This disinterest isn't due to the challenges of building a career in the United States; rather, it's rooted in the complexities and pressures he faced following his early success.