Telenovela Star Kate Del Castillo Talks About Her 'Reina' Role [Exclusive Video]
If you're a fan of soap operas, than you'll love telenovelas -- starting with "La Reina del Sur" (or "The Queen of the South"). This hugely successful Spanish-language series, about a woman who falls in love with the wrong man and becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain, is returning on mun2 with English subtitles to capture new fans.
[Related: Telenovelas get hot as soaps fizzle out]
The bicultural cable network is re-airing "Reina" so audiences can get to know Teresa Mendoza (played by Mexican superstar Kate del Castillo). "Teresa's life is a shocking, tantalizing, and vivid one, and audiences responded to it in record numbers last year. We know that with our English-language subtitles, we will engage not only the 'Reina' devotees but also those who want to watch one of the most captivating series on television," says Diana Mogollon, general manager of mun2.
We sat down with the show's star, Kate del Castillo, to discuss the re-release of the series, what new audiences can expect, and why she feels traditional soap operas are "very boring."
With its finale last year, Telemundo's "Reina" brought in 4.8 million viewers, topping English-language networks and demographics and finishing second only to ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition." This prompted the Spanish-language network to enter the Primetime Emmy race for the first time. With numbers like that, it's no surprise Fox has jumped on the chance to adapt the show for their audience. Deadline reported that Fox is developing an English-language version of the novela based on the bestselling book of the same name by Arturo Perez-Reverte. According to the report, Fox TV Studios president David Madden describes the adaptation as a darker, more violent version of the original series. "I want to do it," says del Castillo. "Teresa Mendoza will always be Mexican."
"La Reina de Sur" airs Monday through Thursday at 10 PM on mun2.
