Ingrid Lobaina and her acting journey aligned with her purposes

March 18, 2025

Actress Ingrid Lobaina shares her journey through television, cinema, and theater, a path she defines as an "acting journey aligned with her purposes."

For the young actress, acting is a fundamental part of her life, closely linked to a sense of security and vitality. It is a path that adjusts to her objectives and to the certainty that she is here for a reason.

Her foray into the performing arts began at age seven, through a workshop derived from the children's theater company La Colmenita. After the dissolution of this space and on the recommendation of its leader, Ingrid moved to Colmenita Central, where she met Carlos Alberto Cremata (Tin) and the rest of the team.

She remained in theater continuously until age 15, when she entered the National School of Art (ENA), where she continued deepening her knowledge of the performing arts. Upon graduation, she joined Teatro El Público for a time, under the direction of Carlos Díaz. Finally, she decided to enroll at the University of the Arts, in the Faculty of Art and Audiovisual Communication Media (Famca).

During the five years of her training at Famca, she stayed away from theater and only did some television work. One of them came thanks to Rolando "El Chino" Chiong, who, in her second year of studies, contacted her to play a transgender woman in the series Rompiendo el silencio.

Some time later, in her fifth year and in the midst of producing her thesis, "El Chino" Chiong called on her again to participate in the second season of the series, this time in a new character.

"The contributions of acting to my personal life are countless. One of the most important has been helping me overcome shyness when expressing myself in public," Ingrid confesses.

"In fact, before going on stage, I always go through small panic attacks, but I have learned to control them thanks to acting exercises and psychological work. They are therapeutic," concludes the actress.

—Many viewers admired your work in Calendario. How did you come to be part of this acclaimed series?

—I came to Calendario thanks to Magda González, the director of the series, who was my directing professor at Famca. It was very funny because many of my classmates at school didn't know about my connections to acting due to the time I had spent away from it. They would ask me: "Where did you come from?", while others said: "Look at the new girl!" or "The new actress!"

—What were your expectations when you arrived at the Calendario audition?

—Actually, I arrived without expectations because, sometimes, selection criteria are based on very specific aspects. Clinging too much to the result of an audition can be harmful and even demoralizing for any artist.

"That's why I presented myself without believing I would get the role, but happy for the opportunity to audition, to be seen and, finally, to have gotten the part."

—In El derecho de soñar you played a character completely different from the one in Calendario. How did you come to this novel?

—I didn't exactly come to El derecho de soñar by chance, because there are always key people who determine your entry into a project.

"I was called by Yailín Coppola, my acting professor at ENA, who explained the details of the novel to me and suggested I do an audition."

—How do you rate that experience?

—It was splendid. I had the opportunity to share scenes with actors of the caliber of Rubén Breña —who holds a very special place in my heart—, Jorge Martínez and Roberto Perdomo, among other greats of acting.

—You are very versatile in your roles. Do you use any pattern to move through different acting areas?

—Every actor, beyond their academic and theoretical training, gradually builds their own method.

"In my case, I don't dare mention a specific school as a guide. Sometimes, I feel that the most important thing when creating a character is flexibility and the ability to adapt to circumstances.

"Not all actors, directors, and projects are the same. Having preconceived ideas doesn't always work, because each production has its own dynamics. That's why my approach is to work from sincerity."

—I know that in the thriller Nora, about to enter post-production, you take on the lead role. Tell me about this new adventure.

—It's an action feature directed by Roly Peña, with a narrative discourse centered on the story of a woman infiltrated in an espionage network in the United States.

"The plot begins when several spies, like her, are captured while carrying out their missions. Despite the danger, Nora decides to move forward with her assignment."

—During the course of the film, your character faces various situations that, from an acting perspective, demanded a lot of preparation.

—Yes, I had to train for hand-to-hand combat scenes, firearm handling, and driving cars in chase situations. I also performed some dangerous scenes, even underwater, which led me to learn how to swim.

—Did the character only demand specific skills or did it also involve physical changes?

—There were also physical modifications. I followed an exercise routine and a diet to gain weight, in order to achieve the necessary appearance and endurance for the character.

"It was an experience that changed my life and the perception I had of myself. I broke down many limiting beliefs, I surprised myself doing things I never imagined.

"This project was a great challenge: it pushed me to exceed my limits. Although at times I felt a lot of pressure, it was also a rewarding experience, especially because I managed to make the film."

—Who accompanied you in this cinematographic experience?

—Héctor Noas, Aramís Delgado, Patricio Wood, Clara García, Reytel Oro, among others.

"The film is completely centered on my character and the obstacles she faces to complete her mission and return safely to her country. For this reason, I didn't have as many interactions with the rest of the cast, except in some specific scenes."

—The public always has the final say. What do you expect from this proposal?

—I hope they receive it with the same love with which I made it. For now, the wait generates curiosity and nerves in me, because I don't know how the public will react. Nora is a film that doesn't follow the usual patterns of Cuban cinema, which adds an element of uncertainty.

—What other projects have you worked on recently?

—Last year I worked with the theater company Teatro Aire Frío, directed by Eduardo Eimil. He translated and adapted the film Steel Magnolias to bring it to the stage as the work Magnolias, in co-direction with Yaite Ruiz.

"I also participated in the feature film Calle 232, by Rudy Mora, where I had the pleasure of meeting Jorge Alí."

—Working with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) is a wonderful experience. When did you become involved with this organization?

—My relationship with Unicef began some time ago, as a result of my participation in the series Rompiendo el silencio. From there, I collaborated on events for the Mídete campaign, dedicated to the prevention of violence among children and youth.

"Over time, I began to give talks and workshops on a voluntary basis, until finally they proposed that I take charge of the audiovisual part of these campaigns."

—Regarding these campaigns, what have you accomplished so far?

—I recently completed a campaign on childhood and we are about to finish another. We also created some beautiful spots on child immunization and we are about to premiere another dedicated to neonatology.

"In addition, I feel very sensitized to issues related to youth and adolescence."

—What does 2025 bring for Ingrid Lobaina?

—I like to let myself be guided by circumstances and providence. I always say that characters choose me.

"Sometimes I live somewhat oblivious to what's happening and I'm not always aware of auditions, but, fortunately, there's usually someone who mentions my name at the right moment and brings me to projects.

"For now, I'm at peace, waiting for something new to come along. I'm also dedicating time to personal plans linked to the world of photography and visual arts, two passions that are very important to me, although they're not as high-profile as acting."