"Queen of Swords" is a new weekly action-hour series featuring a sword-wielding
Spanish heroine.
Newcomer Tessie Santiago stars in this series set in 19th century California as
Tessa Alvarado, who masquerades as the avenging Queen of Swords. Tessa, a
beautiful young Spanish aristocrat, returns to her California birthplace after
the death of her father to find the country in the hands of a military governor
who abuses his power, taxing his subjects to the point of starvation. Tessa's
idealism is almost destroyed until her dreams reveal her destiny. She will take
up arms to avenge her father's death, to protect the weak and punish the
unjust - all behind the mask of the Queen of Swords.
Aided by her long-time servant and confidante, Marta, Tessa leads three separate
existences. She is Tessa, a young woman who longs for love and normalcy. She's
the Queen of Swords, a disguised warrior seeking justice in an unjust world. And
lastly, she's Maria Teresa Alvarado, a privileged aristocrat whose pettiness and
snobbery hide Tessa's identity as the masked crusader. Her prime enemy is the
deadly tryant Colonel Luis Montoya who is dedicated to his quest for wealth and
power, and his mercenary, Grisham.
Guest stars will include Bo Derek, Daisy Fuentes, and Cristian de la Fuente.
Tessie Santiago is a Miami-born Cuban-American who grew up in a tightly knit
family of artists, including a sculptor grandfather, musician father and painter
mother.
Santiago has immersed herself in creative endeavors from piano playing at age 7,
to performing in musicals, to studying Shakespeare in London. At the University
of Miami, she starred in the independent film, "Echo," and acted in many student
films. Her life literally changed with the casting as the Queen of Swords.
Santiago recently sat down to discuss her new life and her role as Tessa and the
Queen of Swords.*
Q: You've been praised up and down for your work on "Queen of Swords." Are you
feeling any pressure?
A: Yes, of course I am. It's a lot of pressure because this is new to me, but it's
also very exciting. My life changed from one day to the next. I had a very
simple life in Miami. I studied for four years at the University of Miami, and
it has always been my passion to act. But I didn't think it would happen this
fast. My life was turned around, but I'm still very normal. I go home to Miami
and have my 80-year-old grandparents that I have to answer to, and they keep me
humble. It's great. I'm just taking it one day at a time.
Q: This show makes use of the tiny mask to disguise your identity. Do you feel
differently once you've put that mask? Do you become that character?
A: Yes. It's amazing. There are many different levels to my character. I thought
it would be easiest to play Tessie - a real person. But it's easier for me to be
the Queen, to just throw on the mask. I'm so much more confident. Just play the
strong woman and fight and outwit all of these men. It's great fun.
Q: Do you have any prior experience with swords yourself? Any fencing experience?
A: Prior to this, I had no experience fencing or with the whip. I hadn't even
ridden a horse in my life. But I did go through some rigorous training in L.A.
for two months. I trained with Anthony DeLongis, a sword master. I also trained
with Billy Blanks who taught me how to fight. I was very prepared for this part.
Q: Are these swords specially designed? Are they a little lighter than they look?
A: They're going to be lighter very soon. [laughter] They are very heavy and after
two or three takes it is exhausting in the heat. Again, I was well trained for
this part, so I was ready to do this.
Q: Which one of those things that you were not used to before -- the dancing, the
whip or the horseback riding -- are you becoming comfortable with, and which
things would you like to tell the director, "Why don't you have my stunt double
do that?"
A: Actually, I'm strangely comfortable with everything. And I do dance a bit. I'm
Cuban, so I was born into this culture where I learned how to dance salsa when I
was six years old. Even fencing is like dancing. I think the hardest thing to
master was the whip just because one day you have it and the next day you don't,
and you have to be so patient. Everyday I learn more. The horse was also a
challenge for me because I found it was very intimidating. Now I'm really
comfortable on my horse. I love my horse.
Q: What is your horse's name?
A: Chico. He's strange. You give him an apple and he's happy. He follows me
everywhere I go. He's great.
Q: Had you ever been outside of Florida before filming in Spain?
A: Yes I studied Shakespeare in London, and I also studied film in Prague. I also
backpacked through Europe.
Q: What do you feel about being a role model for Latinas?
A: I'm really proud of this part I'm playing. I never thought that this would
happen so quickly for me, and I certainly never thought that I would land a part
like this. I'm playing not only a strong woman, a strong, intelligent woman, but
a strong Latina intelligent woman. That's really important to me because the
stereotypes are out there. I can't deny it. I always thought that being a woman
and being Latin were two things that were going against me in this business, and
they actually worked for me this time. I'm really proud of that, and I'm
especially proud when I see these little girls on set who look up to me and want
to learn how to fence. It brings me a lot of joy.
Q: What about roles to play, or roles that you admired?
A: I think Xena's pretty cool. I like her. Anything that involves just being a
strong woman and just getting away from the stereotypes. Anything like this role
[Queen of Swords]. I'm really proud of this role.
Q: You listed your favorite authors as Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin. What is it that
appeals to you about them? That's a sensual group.
A: It is a sensual group. They write freely, there's no society in their life. It's
beautiful. I'm just attracted to the way they write just because, they're not
afraid to say how they feel. They say what's going on in here [points to her
heart].
Q: Lastly, "Zorro" leaves a "Z" behind. What do you leave?
A: What do I leave? I leave a tarot card. The Queen of Swords card.
"QUEEN OF SWORDS" premieres the week of October 2. Check your local listings for
time and channel.
*This interview is courtesy of the Synditel 2000 Summer Press Tour, conducted in
connection with the Television Critics Association.
from http://www.paramount.com/community/tessiesantiago.html
Q&A: Tessie Santiago
