An interview of champions

I am Andy Trias, this year I turned 46 and I have Down syndrome. I work at CosmoCaixa and I am also an editor for Exit 21 magazine and president of the Montserrat Trueta Human Rights Assembly of the Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation. For me, being able to interview actress Gloria Ramos is the highest level of my life. It is a great achievement that an actress with Down syndrome has filmed a movie with the impact of Campeones.

I have also written my memoirs, titled Ignorando el SD (Ignoring DS), because for me having Down syndrome is not that relevant. I consider myself a person like any other: I work, I have back pain, I live with my partner…

I would like this interview to help people stop labeling people like us. Because Down syndrome is nothing more than an extra chromosome, and Gloria or I myself are an example among many of what is needed in our society: more people and professionals with Down syndrome who demonstrate that we are capable of this and much more.

Gloria, the character you play in Campeones, Collantes, is a thug. What is Gloria Ramos like in real life? Collantes is just the character I got in the movie. In real life, I am a person who has worked very hard and studied at university. Now I am going to be an aunt for the first time and what I want most is for my nephew Rodrigo to be born already.

Were you surprised by the success of Campeones? I was very surprised by the success of the movie. I worked with a team of very nice colleagues, especially the coach. I want to thank him, especially. During filming, we did many takes. We were on our feet for up to twelve hours. Even at night! Now we are all separated but we do interviews and events, and we don't stop.

How does it feel to be nominated for the Goyas? Being nominated for the Goyas has been a gift. I really liked the experience. They gave us a diploma because we won three Goyas: for best film, best music, and best actor.

How are you handling fame? I really like fame. I love it when people ask me for photos and autographs. That's what the world of cinema is like! At work, some tell me to see if fame is going to go to my head. But I want to keep making more movies and events. I don't want this experience to ever end.

What do you do for a living in your daily life? I work at the Adidas store on Gran Vía. And I really like my job. My co-workers are like my siblings and they call me "the lively one."

And what does working bring you? When you work, you can earn money and get paid so that in the future you can pay for your things and if one day you want to invite someone to your leisure, you can. People with disabilities can work in different types of jobs and they must be able to work in many more places. Everyone works at the level they can.

What have you studied? I graduated from EducaDEMOS at Comillas Pontifical University to work in nurseries and schools.

Where did your vocation as an actress come from? Being an actress has always been a goal, because I really like to act. Even as a child I said: "When I grow up I want to be an actress." And my mother signed me up for theater. I've been doing it for a very long time and it's what I'm passionate about.

And you ended up in Campeones! Yes, for that I did have to study…

Learning your roles requires a lot of memory, doesn't it? Yes, and I want to continue studying to be an actress in other movies and plays. I want to get a theater degree.

Who is your favorite actress or actor? I want to be a professional actor, like Javi Gutiérrez. Javi is amazing, he's my hero. My favorite actress is Dove Cameron, in Descendants. And I also really like Pirates of the Caribbean. I love action movies. In my room I have a huge pirate flag hanging and I also have a pirate costume, because when I was little my sisters used to dress me up. When I grow up, besides being an actress, I want to be a real pirate.

What is Down syndrome to you? It means that there are things that are harder for you than for others and things that are easier for you. You learn different things.

Would you like to live independently? Yes, to be able to live with my partner.

I always say that overprotection is our biggest enemy. Have you been overprotected? My parents and my siblings protect me because they want to help me. Because they love me. Sometimes they are very attentive; out of fear, too…

But, after all, we are people and we also have the right to make mistakes, don't we? Of course.

Some of my colleagues have been denied entry to a bar. Have you ever been discriminated against? Having Down syndrome is not a problem. The problem is that there are nightclubs or concerts where they don't let you in. When you have Down syndrome, you have your rights. Nobody can tell you what to do.

You are right, it should be like that. Speaking of rights, in the next elections on April 28, all people with intellectual disabilities will be able to vote. What do you think? I believe we all have the right to vote.

Apart from cinema, what hobbies do you have? I loved going to see the musical Billy Elliot. I also read at night. Now I'm reading a novel. And I go to dance classes with a teacher named Alba. I really like music. I don't stop dancing. And sometimes, with the people from Down Madrid we go to museums and do a lot of activities. Oh, and I really like basketball. I'm from Estudiantes. But in football, I'm from Real Madrid. Look, I'm wearing a Real Madrid pin on my shirt.

Ah… Well, I'm from Barça! And how do you see yourself in the future, Gloria? I want to study, study and study theater, because theater is good for everything. In the future, I'm going to take theater classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Thursdays, until now, I used to swim, but I've dropped out because I want to do theater both days, since doing it only on Tuesdays lasted very little.

Great. Thank you very much, Gloria. It has been a pleasure for me to interview an actress nominated for the Goya Awards. You're welcome. Thank you!

Photography: Bárbara Lanzat

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