SPOTLIGHT: Fernanda Urrejola

Earrings: VIANNA BRASIL Pants: MOLLY BRACKEN / Top: KELLY SHIN / Shoes: JEWEL BY BADGLEY MISCHKA Rings: LES NEREIDES PARIS Clutch: CHARLES AND RON

SPOTLIGHT ON

Fernanda Urrejola

HAS BUILT HER CAREER PLAYING STRONG, COURAGEOUS WOMEN. SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM SANTIAGO, CHILE WHERE SHE WAS AN INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER BEFORE SHE BECAME AN ACTRESS. IT HAS BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO CHAT WITH FERNANDA ABOUT HER SHOW ON NETFLIX AND OTHER UPCOMING PROJECTS.

You were a professional swimmer before you became an actress, tell us what brought about this change in career. Were you always interested in being an actress while you were swimming?

YES, I always wanted to act. I like to think I was born to be an actress. I practiced synchronized swimming from 8 to 21. I was very devoted. I traveled around the world training and competing, and I learned a lot about discipline and perseverance. But there was a point where I knew I didn’t want to pursue that path, so I went to acting school after high school, and my life changed completely… I just wanted to act. I left my parents’ house when I was 19, and because I had a scholarship I was doing both for a while (studying and sports). Before I finished school I booked my first job in TV and I was able to say goodbye to that important period of my life, it was time to move on and be devoted to my real dream now.

You currently live between Los Angeles, and Chile, what city do you prefer to live in and why? Anything any city is missing that should be introduced by the other two?

I live in LA permanently now, and I travel a lot for work, but also because I love to do it. I try to go to Chile to visit friends and family when I can, and I’m open to go back for an interesting project or role. I decided to move to LA because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and grow as an artist, and I’m really happy here. I love the Los Angeles light. It’s a very specific kind of luminosity, and the wide sky makes it feel infinite. It sometimes gives me the feeling of being on an island. It makes sense that it's where a big part of mainstream cinema comes from. But what I like the most is the diversity that exists here, all the different human expressions I get to observe every day. We don’t have that back in Santiago –– yet. People there are more scared of difference. I use to enjoy living in Santiago, I love to walk and ride my bike, I had a beautiful house in neighborhood where I had all I needed walking distance. Now I found a place in LA where I can

do that too. What I miss the most are my beloved ones,mountains and wine.

Top: AMAIO Bottoms: LEVIS / Jacket: LTH JACKET Shoes: CHARLES DAVID / Clutch: ZOOBEETLE Earrings: LES NEREIDES PARIS / Rings: LES NEREIDES PARIS Bracelet: IRIS TRENDS

What is your biggest goal as an actress?

To keep growing and developing my craft. I would like be working around the globe with directors I admire, and have the opportunity to embodying complex roles in profound and uplifting stories.

2018 is coming to an end, what do you wish for the year 2019? 2018 was an intense year. A lot of ugly things happened all over the world. The humanitarian and environmental crisis seem to be increasing, but I like to stay positive. I think it's the best we can do. I’m not blind or naive, but I like to remind myself that everything happens for a reason, and that this contrast is necessary to keep waking up, and understanding what we really want and need for humankind and the planet. There are a lot of beautiful things going on for us to focus on too.

I wish that families never have to be separated again. And that the leaders of the world change their ways towards the protection of human rights.

I wish for my country to heal its wounds. To wash away the old ways of oppression, and that justice is made. I hope that Chile finally honors the Mapuches, and all our indigenous communities. I hope we give them back what’s theirs, that we respect and protect their culture (which is also part of ours) and that we learn to integrate their cosmological vision of the world, which is the same healing path that ancient cultures from around the world have spoken about.

I wish for more people to wake up and love themselves, and for me to never forget that the most powerful way to help the world be a better place is to keep ourselves happy, do whatever helps to maintain our vibration high, and become a light to others.

Top: ELISABETTA FRANCHI Shoes: CHARLES DAVID Bottoms: KELLY SHIN Earrings: IRIS TRENDS Ring: IRIS TRENDS /

Photography ARTHUR GALVAO / Creative Direction ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC / Styling TERESITA MADRIGAL / Makeup TINA BEAUPRE / Hair ALEX THAO