Russian talent in Peru. Ekaterina Konysheva shines more than ever on the local scene. In conversation with La República after the grand finale of ‘Dad in Trouble’, the Russian actress shared her experiences on and off national television. In addition, she responded to the criticism that came from social networks and questioned her about her participation in ‘The Great Chef: Celebrities’. From thoughts on her work as ‘La Gringa’ in Latina’s novel to insights into her personal life, this revealed the popular ‘Eka’.
This interview was conducted before Ekaterina Konysheva was eliminated from ‘The Big Chef: Celebrities’ in the Tuesday, May 14, edition.
—How did you receive the news that you would be Kate in ‘Dad in Trouble’?
—I didn’t expect it because I had only done one casting and normally there are several procedures. It is not so common that they choose a character only with a casting. I had already “given dirt” and when they told me out of the blue that I was in the project, I couldn’t assimilate it until the recordings began.
—Many fans of the novel consider that Matías and ‘La Gringa’ were the best couple, what do you think?
—There are couples for all audiences. By not trying (their relationship) because they couldn’t, the public, I imagine, wanted them to at least try. I liked them too.
—Would you like them to have a series?
—As an actress, I would love to continue playing the ‘The gringa’. As a viewer, I feel like there is so much to tell. It would be amazing.
—The premiere of ‘Pituca sin lucas’ narrowly surpassed the end of ‘Dad in distress’ in ratings, do you think they laid a foundation?
—I’m very sure that ‘Pituca sin Lucas’ will do much better, and apart from the story, which is very good, it’s because I feel that with ‘Dad in trouble’ people still weren’t used to Latina, which a long time ago I didn’t write novels. It has been half a year of gaining a particular audience. With ‘Pituca sin lucas’ it is the same audience and there may be a new one. I would like it to be like that, for ‘Pituca’ to surpass us.

—Regarding ‘The Great Chef’, how did you react when you found out you were on the program?
-In ‘The Great Chef: Celebrities’, because of his name, I said, “I don’t think he has the level of fame.” When the opportunity arose, she thought it would only last a week, but it went far.
—Before participating in ‘The Great Chef’, did you know how to cook?
—I haven’t touched the kitchen since I got pregnant four years ago. My husband cooks and I wash the dishes. When he’s not there, I order delivery. Before that, I was a vegetarian and I had to make my meals, but most of them were stews, salads. What he didn’t have was knowledge other than the knife and the kitchen; for example, types of cuts whose names he did not know, but he applied them. And when I was a child, my mother cooked and I helped her cut. That’s my knowledge, but let me cook and make you something delicious…
—There are malicious comments on networks about your participation; for example, that there was favoritism.
—There are many comments: “feigned”, “difficult”, “crying”. I think ‘The Great Chef’ is there for you to know the artist as he is. People are used to what I’m like as an actress, and no one knows what it’s like. EkaterinaIn fact. I think it is very strange to go from a character who speaks little, like ‘La Gringa’, to Ekaterina, who is very intense, energetic, and I am also a very perfectionist. That favoritism… of course, it can’t be that I, who haven’t cooked, being a foreigner, make good dishes, because since they don’t try them, they only see them. I came from recording to continuing cooking at home, since my husband, who cooks well, taught me. I study a lot, but for me cooking is very technical because I don’t handle the seasoning. Unfortunately, there is a limit to technical matters, because cooking is a lot of intuition and seasoning, so when I reach my limit, if we reach the final, I think they will realize that there is no favoritism, because if there were I calmly take the pot.

—Many viewers don’t like ‘chefcitos’, what do you think about their participation?
—When they put a camera on a person, you get very nervous. You don’t know until you live it. We are actors and it still gets complicated for us sometimes. But when you put a camera on a person who is not used to it and on national television, they can get nervous. Although not always, there were very good diners. People can misinterpret situations. Sometimes, when there are bad comments, it is because they do not experience it firsthand.
—You were Misha in ‘At the bottom there is room’, would you like to return to the series?
—I am open to any opportunity, especially to act, that is given to me in any place, country, language. If they call me from India now, I’ll go.
—Do you have plans in Mexico?
—Yes, I’m going and coming back. I think that if I were single I would go straight to living as a backpacker, but since I have a life here, leaving just like that is a lot of responsibility towards my family. For now it’s going back and forth, doing castings. If I get a project in Mexico, I’ll move. The industry there is very big.
—Would you settle there?
—If it is for a fixed character. I would love to settle there, build a house. My husband too, it is a very strong decision that we are willing to make as long as a great opportunity comes along.
—You recently talked about your life in Israel, what were your first years there like?
—You can see the war because they asked me what my first memory is. Israel has been at war for many years. I don’t like to talk about that much, but it has also been a very nice childhood in the sense that I remember that I was happy playing in the street. It had everything. I was bullied a lot at school, but it has been a mix. I have gone through bad things, like war, bullying and you could say poverty, but also many good things because my family, despite the economic lack, was very united. For me, the best days have been when I came home from school and was at home with my family, and played with my dog and my cat, and went to work with my mother.

Ekaterina Konysheva played ‘La Gringa’ in ‘Dad in Trouble’. Photo: Instagram/Ekaterina Konysheva
—Did you work when you were little?
—She worked and I accompanied her when I was little. I’m talking to you about when she was 5 or 6 years old, because I arrived in Peru when I was 10. There I started working as a babysitter. Maybe it was just going upstairs and taking care of my neighbor’s children. While she took care of them, I earned a little extra, and I stayed there all day so I could eat.
—What do you remember most about your first years in Peru?
—I think they are not very nice memories. She was a girl who was moved from a country to one she didn’t know with a language she didn’t know. I didn’t want to be separated from my friends. I arrived here and they stole all our documents and the money we saved. We didn’t have work. To top it all off, when I started school they bullied me very badly. But it’s funny because one of the girls changed her mind and she has become my best friend. She is now my daughter’s godmother. She is my best friend since I arrived in Peru 16 years ago and she is the human being I trust the most.

—How did you decide to be an actress?
When I was 5 years old I decided to do it, watching ‘Harry Potter’. I was scared by a spider scene, I started crying, and my mom said it was fiction. She explained to me what green screen was, a set, a script, and then, when she pressed play, I saw it with different eyes. When the movie ended, I said, “Mom, I want to be an actress. Especially science fiction.” That’s where the love for acting began, and it has never changed.
—Did your mother influence your career?
—Normally, when you tell your parents that you want to be an actor, they tell you no, that you should study careers that ensure a future. My mom never told me that. Since she wanted to be an actress, she supported me until the end of the world, she took me to castings, to record. I was an extra in many novels from Peru, when I was 11 years old. She took me and also acted as an extra for me to see the set. If she had told me not to do that career, since she had no other option and was very little, maybe she would have listened to her. But she continued there. That’s why I say: the most beautiful thing my mother has done for me has been to support me when I had no say. And when I wanted to quit, because I had been in the industry for many years and nothing was coming out. In fact, I quit. I stopped acting for 2 years and dedicated myself to dancing. She opened my eyes to realize that she was doing it just because she performed, not because it was what she wanted.
—Do you remember your first important opportunity as an artist in Peru?
I totally remember ‘Lalola’. She was a school friend of Ale Fuller, who was Gianella Neyra’s little daughter. She was an extra, but she recorded often. And until now I see Ale and we remember. I tell him: “Ale, do you remember when you were a girl?” I was 11, 12 years old. He didn’t speak Spanish, almost nothing.
—How are you doing on a sentimental level?
—I’m celebrating 5 years with my partner, we have a little daughter. I don’t know what I would do without my husband because the way he helps me, not just taking care of the baby. We both have the obligation to be with her, but he does more of her because sometimes I am recording her. He is not jealous with the kissing scenes, he watches them as another spectator. And he greatly separates work from family (…). I think it’s what has made us a solid family. And we always give ourselves time as a couple.
—One last question: what could you say to your fans?
—I am a faithful believer that our work is thanks to the public. If ‘Dad’ and ‘The Great Chef’ are where they are and there are fans who follow me, it is thanks to them. Thank you because I can move forward thanks to your support. If you see me, ask me for photos. I love it, don’t be afraid. I’m going to give you a hug and I’m going to receive you with a lot of love..