Many people, of course, have already suffered from the stories of the three Marias performed by Thalía. After all, Maria la del Barrio was shown seven times on (Brazilan) television, Marimar, five times, and María Mercedes, three times. Despite the constant reruns, the star has been distant from Mexican telenovelas since Rosalinda in 1999, and has been dedicated to embodying other women only through her music. In her most recent album, Valiente, she sings about a woman who drinks too much and does not remember if she betrayed her boyfriend, about another who wants to have fun without compromise and also talks about the lack of romanticism in the current relationship. In real life, Thalía has a wedding worthy of the happy ending of a soap opera with Tommy Mottola, with whom she have Sabrina and Matthew.
Cold hands, heart racing, and a pain in the stomach. These were the symptoms I found upon being informed that I had gotten an interview with Thalía and that she would be on the phone a few hours later for just 15 minutes. I confess that the Mexican telenovelas aired by SBT have entertained me since childhood, many of them.
I followed the adventures of her Beatrice in the teenage Quinceañera plot, I was thrilled by the rise of Maria Mercedes, who sold lottery tickets at the traffic lights, and I was thrilled by the romance between garbage collector Maria la del Barrio and playboy Luís Fernando (Fernando Colunga). Can you understand my nervousness? The tension was only on the Brazilian side. From the United States, the Mexican star answered my trembling, curt compliment in Spanish, "Hello, Thalía. How are you? ", with an enthusiastic and entertaining voice that she always imprinted on her characters.
Taking time to talk to her was not easy. Thalía's agenda of commitments, who is also a businesswoman and has a fashion line, has become even tighter in recent months thanks to the success of her latest album, Valiente. Released in November this year (2018), it earned over 964 million in streaming and number one on the list of Latin pop albums of Billboard's renowned ranking. "All the songs I wrote are like a little soap opera. I try to embody characters, sing about different stories and different universes," she says.
The joyful and sensual songs in the reggaeton rhythm took more than a year to be finalized and were recorded at her home in Connecticut, United States. "It was great fun working from home because everyone really felt like home. Everyone was free, at ease and having fun. There was always food, music, jokes and lots of laughter. It's a very, very positive album. It's about having fun and having a positive attitude," she explains. She has also collaborated with artists of different nationalities such as Lali from Argentina, Natti Natasha from the Dominican Republic, Fonseca from Colombia, Ana Mena from Spain and El Micha of Cuba.
This relaxed and multicultural atmosphere is what Thalía also finds in her intimacy with her husband, American and musical executive Tommy Mottola, with whom has been married for 18 years and has 11-year-old Sabrina and 7-year-old Matthew. She says that she usually combines local culture with her Mexican roots and the Italian origins of her beloved husband in the family activities.
"At home, I speak Spanish with my children, who are fluent in the language. But we live in New York/Conntecticut and everything here is in English, of course. Their father is an American of Italian origin, so we speak some Italian too. We are a multicultural family living in the United States. We keep so many traditions in our house! We have mass, Mexican food, Italian songs and mariachi music, we celebrate Día de los Muertos and also Halloween. We had a lot of fun. It's like an eternal party here. Always with lots of music and food," she says.
In the midst of so many parties, she would rush and the temptations of dishes made by Mottola, who is a great cook as well, Thalía manages to maintain good shape and thin waistline - which she denies being the fruit of ribs removal - with a balanced diet, many exercises and a life without excesses and without drugs.
"It's a lifestyle. I do not drink, I do not smoke, I do not use drugs. Just like healthy things, lots of protein, salad, vegetables and fruits. I drink gallons of water too. Of course I have two days a week that I give myself the right to eat everything I want. I'm always moving the body too. Moving the body is something that makes us feel strong and happy. I'm always dancing, doing yoga, pilates, stretching... and I also believe in the power of the mind. Energy is projected from the inside out," she says at the age of 47.
Positivity is the secret of Thalía to maintain her joviality and beauty. "Long ago, I decided to enjoy life to the fullest and stopped living in fear and worried about the bad things that can happen and things that I could not change. I make a point of looking at life in a positive, happy and grateful way. My biggest dream is to be healthy and strong to continue to dream and reach my goals."
SENSUAL BALLADS
"Since I recorded my first solo album, my songs have sexual content, fun, romantic, realistic and with a touch of fantasy. When writing or playing songs, they should represent how I see the life and emotions I feel at that moment. That's the reason each album reflects a wide variety of feelings. I can sing about love and lost love, but also about freedom and happiness."
EMPOWERED WOMAN
"It's important to sing about my perspective on life and about how I became this woman, what made me believe and do the things I do. It is important to share this with my followers. I do this every day through my social networks, my music, and as a business woman - I have a collection of clothes, shoes, accessories. This album is another opportunity to show my perspective on life. I think that in everything we do, we have to try to show who we really are. Everything has to be a reflection of what I think, of what I am. I feel very free and happy with myself. I feel like a complete woman now."
MULTICULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS
"I'm very curious like a detective. I love to investigate everything that is happening in the music market. I'm into everything that's playing in different countries, I know which are the new talents, which artists are progressing with their songs... So, I study their musical proposals and sounds. But the most important thing before choosing a partnership is to imagine how the chemistry will be between them and me. If you have strong chemical potential, great! For example, I just made a clip with Lali, and I was not wrong about our chemistry, we are explosive together! I always had a good eye for it."
ENCOUNTER WITH ANITTA
"I started to exchange messages on Instagram with Anitta. We exchanged lots of fun messages and met in Los Angeles at the Grammys. It was a great connection. We have fun and we laugh a lot, but we also say we have to do something together. We're letting it happen, but let's surprise you one of these days."
BRAZILIAN FANS
"I would love to take my show to Brazil. I miss Brazilians so much. They have a very special place in my heart. Brazil was one of the first countries that opened its doors and heart to me. Every memory I have of Brazil is spectacular. I always review videos that some of my Brazilian fans send me from when I've been around. I'm so nostalgic that I only plan to return as soon as possible. Besides, I love your culture, the cuisine, the feijoada and all the rest!"
RETURN TO TELENOVELAS
"The Marias I made were great achievements in my career. I love acting and being an actress is a good part of me and my creativity. My characters in soap operas have opened so many doors around the world. They are still very popular in some countries that always reprise the novelas. I love it and would definitely love to go back to acting, but it has to be something fun and special. I always receive invitations to make soap operas, movies or serials, but it has to be 'the role' for me to return to acting. You have to challenge me. I can not wait for this."
A LITTLE STAR
"I started working so young! I was really a very small girl, but my mother (Yolanda Miranda Mange, died in 2011) was by my side all the time. At first, it all seemed like a joke because I really enjoyed singing, choreographing my friends, neighbors and relatives. Out of nowhere, this has become a job. Little by little I learned that it was no longer a joke, but it was a profession. I had to have a lot of commitment and make a lot of sacrifices. I learned very early on that sometimes the 'nos' have nothing to do with you, that you can not bring to the staff. If they did not call you for that cast, it's not because they do not like you, but because they're looking for something different. Seeing from that perspective the 'nos' makes you stronger and makes you look for other strategies to be more incisive and not stop going after your dreams. If they tell you, 'You'll never get it, it's impossible,' that should make you stronger and do not get discouraged."
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
"My mother always taught me that even in the most difficult situations there is a solution, it was never a moment to feel sad, it was always an opportunity to improve. She was a very positive woman, who gave me this positivity. Perhaps the only time I felt heartbroken was during the release of my first solo album. I came with a very aggressive proposal for that society and for my country at that moment. My mother would say: 'the next one will be better'. I started to have another attitude and in the end, that same album, had a great success. It's all about attitude in life. I always teach this to my children when their projects are unsuccessful. Everything happens to make you stronger in life and more determined. I always tell them: 'Try again that what you have in mind can come true.' I tell them the importance of thoughts. Whatever you think and dream and put your energy into can become a reality. You have to get the whole idea of sorrow first, and I can not do it to think more clearly."
BE COURAGEOUS
"We are all brave and have the heart of a warrior and superhero. But sometimes we forget about it and get shaken by the problems of everyday life. We must find this within ourselves, find that courage, and face life with courage. You have to understand who you are and love yourself. And do the things that make you happy and not the ones that make others happy. You have to think about your satisfaction. We have to be happy first. If you're happy, everyone will see it."
SUCCESS MARRIAGE
"It's so easy to have a relationship these days. You download an application, find someone and that's it, practical. But where is the romantic, the serenade? I even made a song about it, which is Vamos Órale (from Valiente album), in which I speak of this old-fashioned universe, which looks like a black and white movie. It's one of my favorite songs. I wrote thinking about where these romantic men are today. It's a romantic song, but I did not do it thinking about Tommy. Our marriage is based on complicity. He and I love each other as we are. We do not pretend to be people we are not. He loves me just as I am, in my bad days and in my good days. He accepts my extreme way of looking at life, my hyperactivity, my dyslexia, my tendencies to OCD, and everything! It's true love. The key to a successful relationship is honesty, and both need to feel that their heart is safe, in the right place."
MOTHER OF TEEN
"Sabrina is 11 years old. I'm finding it fantastic! It's amazing to be able to relive my childhood through her eyes, which is my clone! So often, when Sabrina's growing pre-adolescent hormones are enraged, I take a deep breath and think about when I was her age, in the things I used to do back then. When I react to my daughter's actions and ideas, I also react to the girl I have in me."
KIDS SIMILAR TO PARENTS
"They carry the artistic vein of us their parents, but in different perspectives. For example, my daughter likes to make videos, directs her friends to the scenes she wants to shoot, edit, and add soundtrack. My son likes writing scripts using his old typewriter and his computer. Both like to read a lot. Matthew is writing a book that, in his mind, will become an animation, just like those created by Pixar. I believe that in the future they will be more involved behind the scenes than in front of the cameras."
MORE A KIDS?
"Nooooooo. I'm happy with two! They keep me busy at all times! And if I add to my equation my work as a singer, businesswoman, writer, stylist and the management of all new projects that will be launched in the United States, Mexico and South America, time is limited. Children and work require dedication and effort. Therefore, my daughter and my son are the best gifts that life has given me!"
