Actor Irene Artal’s Poignant Performances Support LGTBIQ+ Rights in Spain and in America

Citing the buzz around Oscar-nominated movie, Emilia Perez, which celebrates the story of a fictional trans character, Irene Artal offers thoughts on her own role as the lesbian character Marta in the award-winning short, Por qué no llamas a Ernesto? (“Why don’t you call, Ernesto?”). Spanish-born Artal, who has her sights on Hollywood, explains, “As an artist, I feel a responsibility to contribute to projects that reflect the diversity of human experiences. Representation matters, and being part of stories that aren’t told as often, like those of LGBTQ+ characters, helps break stereotypes and create understanding.”

Artal, who has appeared in feature films like Coda 77 and El Patio de Jim, alongside short films such as Mucha Carne, La Invitada, and Coliving, loves exploring interesting and unique characters. In her film, Por qué no llamas a Ernesto?, which earned an award for Best Performance at the Ouigo Film Festival, Artal leaned on her own research and the experiences of her friends to infuse her character—Marta lives in the big city “where she meets her girlfriend and where she feels brave enough to live her true self…but in her hometown she’s afraid of being judged, so she keeps in the shadows.”

Irene Artal, who believes in the value and importance of “portraying authentic and meaningful representations of love and identity,” talks about how she played LGBTQ+ characters in two roles.

Preparing for the role

Barcelona-born Irene Artal suggests that the gay community in Spain has its own unique identity, influenced by the country’s culture and history. Spain is reportedly one of the most progressive countries when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, having legalized same-sex marriage in 2005. Indeed, she says there’s there’s a strong focus on community and celebrating together, seen in events like Madrid Pride, one of the biggest Pride festivals in the world. She offers:

“When it came to research for Por qué no llamas a Ernesto?, I relied on friends I have in the LGBTQ+ community, and their experiences were very helpful. I always try to approach roles with empathy and research, and listening to real stories helped me understand the character better. At the same time, I made sure to respect that every story is unique and not assume everyone’s experience is the same. The director’s challenge for me, on this project, was to show the inner conflict Marta feels. She lives freely in Madrid but is held back by the fear and shame of not being accepted by her family. Marta constantly struggles between two worlds: the freedom of her new life and the fear of being judged by those who know her from the past.”

Why does a Spain-based story resonate?

The story of Por qué no llamas a Ernesto? has resonated with audiences because it deals with themes of identity, fear, and the search for acceptance, which are universal and relevant to many. Artal has appreciated the “heat” generated by an award at the Ouigo Orgullo Short Film Festival, but revels in opportunities to tell important and textured storytelling, explaining:

“What I wanted to bring to the role of Marta was the mix of fear, shame, and the desire for freedom. I wanted to show that Marta isn’t just afraid; she feels trapped and really wants to open up. At the same time, Marta’s girlfriend, who hasn’t had the same family experience, is tired of being kept at a distance. She wants Marta to be more honest and stop holding back. This tension in their relationship is something I wanted to show, as it adds to Marta’s struggle to face her fears and truly be herself.”

Another filmed opportunity to reveal inner conflict

Another short film that Artal stars in is Grazie per la tua sincerità (“Thank You for Your Sincerity”), and it deals with two girls who meet while doing an Erasmus exchange program. Artal shines a light on this female love affair:

“My character is experiencing being with a woman for the first time, but she doesn’t see it as a serious relationship. However, the other girl is really into her and starts saying that she’s going to study her master’s in Spain to be with her. This leads my character to try to distance herself from that idea because she doesn’t want a serious relationship. Eventually, the other girl realizes what’s happening. The difference with my Marta role in Por que no llamas a Ernesto is that this character is more unsure and afraid of commitment, whereas Marta is dealing with deeper fears related to family and identity. Both roles involve internal conflict, but the nature of that conflict is different; one is more about emotional distance and the other about personal identity and acceptance.”

As for the success of Emilia Perez, Artal offers: “It’s so important to see more stories about trans characters, especially with trans actors playing those roles. It makes the story feel more real and authentic. Overall, projects like that, and the ones I humbly appeared in, are helping the industry become more inclusive, which is so exciting.”

Drop in on Irene Artal’s website, and her IMDb and Instagram pages. Also, on YouTube, check out the award-winning short, Por qué no llamas a Ernesto?