# Yasiel Céspedes: From Modeling to Acting

**Date:** 04/11/2022

Being an actor was never part of Yasiel Céspedes' plans. It didn't cross his mind five years ago. Much less did he imagine seeing himself in a soap opera at this moment. He assures that it was something life gave him, a dream that was born when doors opened for him.

"I owe it first and foremost to God. For me it has symbolized one of the strongest pillars. It has sustained me to move forward in this difficult career, with so much dedication, rigor in study and preparation".

His first steps in art came through modeling, in an advertisement that was filmed in Cuba for a foreign chocolate brand. Subsequently, music videos with national and international artists came his way. Laritza Bacallao, Haila and Pancho Amat gave him the opportunity to link himself to that universe. With his first film, the desire to be an actor grew, to practice and materialize what he had dreamed.

He who these days arrives in our homes as Daniel, in the soap opera TÚ, comes from a small family from Cárdenas. He is the great-nephew of the beloved Aurora Basnuevo, and is grateful to be surrounded by the people he loves and who always keep an eye on him.

You started out in art as a model...

_I started my modeling career very late, at 26 years old, and I began practicing it at 29. During that time I got into art, always with the fear of being too old, time was slipping away easily.

How do you discover your calling for acting? Was it the music video that awakened that curiosity in you?

_In a music video. A group of young models and I were extras in a Yandel video. We intended to participate, to appear on camera. The producer noticed this and asked me if I wanted to participate in a scene of the video, but I had to act. I responded: "Perfect, let's do it". I was afraid because I had never done anything of that magnitude, and even less with so many people around. There were producers, cameras, extras, artists. The shoot began, and when we finished everyone applauded. I felt very happy.

"The casting director, Libia Batista, told me that she really liked what I had done, and suggested I study acting. She guaranteed that I had many possibilities and from that moment on I began as an amateur with Humberto Rodríguez at the Casa de la Cultura.

"Of course it was the music video that gave me the "bug" to act, because as a model I was always just an extra. It was nice, it was the stage of being the handsome guy, the heartthrob, who appears in music videos; but I was interested in transmitting something more, living something more real and showing it to the public. I prepared myself, I understood what acting truly meant. That's how it all came about".

Do you arrive at television with the soap opera TÚ?

_ Before that I did small things, including a character in Rompiendo el Silencio, until I arrived at TÚ, the great opportunity to make my debut with a big character like Daniel, who we are all currently enjoying.

Daniel is already getting into mischief in the soap opera, what can you tell us or reveal about this character?

_From the fifth chapter they are appreciating Daniel. It has represented a joy for me. I didn't think the character would reach people's homes in such a positive way, even though it's a negative character in its beginnings, because here we will see a Daniel in all his facets. Initially they characterized him as the typical villain, who questioned doctor Yoan Luis' love by forming that love triangle. But all that changed, the character took a turn and has lived through very strong things, in which we have been able to see a much more tender Daniel.

"Life was in charge of showing him that everything we do – like negative actions – comes back to us, with the objective of learning. That is what's most important. I hope they continue enjoying Daniel, as much as I do".

What has it meant for you to debut on the small screen under Lester Hamlet's direction?

_For me it has been a school. There were months, and then those months turned into years alongside Lester. Despite the fact that the production lasted three years, we stayed in contact, studying and extracting what was beneficial from the character. I thank him very much for choosing me and believing in me. He gave me the opportunity to be part of a masterful cast, to be surrounded by first-rate actors, with so much national and international recognition. I think "grateful" is the word. I am very happy to have been part of this magnificent work, because I know how special it is for Lester, and it is also for me.

How do you assess the reception that TÚ has had and especially your character? Do you think that in some way this soap opera is being misunderstood?

_Daniel caught the attention of the public and also the media. Many have asked me about the character, others dislike me. People on social networks have expressed themselves in full splendor. But I'm happy, because that was the intention: to create emotion with Daniel's conflicts. The criticism has been good overall. They had seen me, but they didn't know how I worked. For me it was a gratifying surprise. Even though the character still has much to grow, people know who Daniel is, they distinguish him among the many characters that abound in that soap opera.

"As for the opinions about the soap opera initially, I think it is a new proposal, out of the ordinary. Lester, in many of his interviews, expressed that he had never done television. He is dedicated to film. And this is something like a long movie, perhaps a series. They found it strange because the different is always strange. From chapters five or six onwards, viewership of the soap opera increased.

"It's not a matter of being misunderstood or not, but of knowing how to understand it. And people have already connected with TÚ; that was what we so hoped for. It has been a privilege, because it is an interesting, atypical work, where there are no secondary characters. Everyone is used to the soap opera with a suffering protagonist and a villain eager to cause suffering, and there is a common thread. Here we are all the common thread, that's why at first they didn't understand, they wanted to classify the protagonist, the villain... These are everyday people, therefore, we are all protagonists."

What is the best and worst thing you take from this first television experience?

_The worst: the amount of opinions and diverse criteria that it can produce. That terrifies you, because when you debut on television, and your life or work becomes public, everyone has the right to have an opinion. So people sometimes forget that all actors and artists in general are human beings, that we have feelings and fears. That has hurt me. Daniel is a very mischievous character, he has done very bad things. People start to question and say they can't stand him. They have said horrible things to me. They think that is really how you are.

"The positive thing I take with me is the reception from the public, the daily messages, the followers that have increased. That satisfies me. Knowing that my first television work is pleasing fills me with passion and desire to continue working for the public."

We have seen on social networks some photographs of you during the filming of a telefilm by Mariela López and dressed in the uniform of the Industriales baseball players in the new soap opera by Ernesto Fiallo. What can you tell us in advance about these projects?

_Exactly. I am already in new projects. It makes me happy that other directors have taken notice of me. This has been the case with Fiallo and Mariela López.

"With Mariela López I had a small character in a telefilm that will come out soon. It has meant a beautiful opportunity to live other lives and work with other actors like Giselle Sobrino and Claudia Monteagudo.

"With respect to Fiallo, I just finished filming the soap opera Los hijos de Pandora, where I play a children's trainer. It is also a small character, but very interesting. You will enjoy it throughout the entire soap opera. It is very far from what I had done so far. Working with children stole my heart, it is one of the most beautiful things I have experienced in life."

How do you project your future?

_I have dreams of continuing to work and achieving everything within my reach, being able to grow as an actor and do more soap operas, films... I would love to do theater too. Everything that comes and captivates me.

If you had to define yourself in one sentence...

_Perseverance... It is the word that comes to my mind. I am persevering, because it is what has allowed me to achieve these dreams. And when I have faltered, I want God to give me the strength necessary to do it again and to stay focused on myself and my career, which is what I truly love... being better each day.