 | | | Eduardo Verástegui and Sophie Nyweide in "Bella" (Photos courtesy of Metanoia Films) | |
A closer look at Eduardo Verástegui
Do you have a dream role?
“St. Francis. I named our company Metanoia because of a book I read on the life of St. Francis. The second chapter was called ‘The Metanoia of St. Francis.’”
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your family?
“My faith. Even though I didn’t know it very well, the seeds were planted there in my heart.”
What’s your favorite thing to do with your family?
“Eating together. It’s a whole ritual: coming together, praying before the meal, eating, talking, long conversations after dinner in the living room until
very late.”
A few of Eduardo's favorites
Books: the Bible, books on the lives of the saints, Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn
Movies: “The Passion of the Christ,” “Cinderella Man,” “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Food: sushi, Mexican (his favorite dish is chiles en nogada)
Music: classical (Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin) the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours
Heroes: Jesus, Mary, his business partners, Catholic priests, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Pope Benedict XVI |
At 28, Eduardo Verástegui seemed to have it all: fame, fortune, success. The hard work, talent, and good looks of this son of a Mexican sugarcane farmer had won him the life he’d dreamed of at 18 when he set out to become an actor. In just over a decade he had toured the world as a successful pop singer, starred in soap operas in Mexico, and won the leading role in the major motion picture “Chasing Papi.” His brooding profile and tousled black hair appeared on glossy magazine covers, in Calvin Klein clothing ads, and in a Jennifer Lopez music video.
But in 2002, “the Brad Pitt of Latin America” walked away from it all for the sake of his Catholic faith. Unhappy with perpetuating what he felt was a harmful stereotype of the Latin lover, and feeling that he was compromising himself for superficial goals, Verástegui turned down role after role in Hollywood, wondering if he would ever act again.
Today, at 33, Verástegui is the co-owner of Metanoia Films and was the leading male actor in the company’s first film, “Bella,” a story with a pro-life theme that won the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival and was released in theaters last fall. Verástegui recently spoke with
Catholic Digest about filmmaking, faith, and his transformation.
CD: You made “Bella” hoping it would save lives. But the film had an impact even before it was released in theaters, when you visited an abortion clinic to research the role.VERÁSTEGUI: I thought it was going to be very simple — just stop two or three young ladies and ask them a few questions. When I got there I was in such shock when I saw all these girls — 16-, 17-year-old girls — that I forgot about the film. And then I saw a group of people outside trying to convince them not to [have an abortion], and I told them, “I’m here to help.” Next thing you know, they tell me, “One of these couples is from Mexico, and they don’t speak English. Talk to them.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was nervous, I was shaking. But [the couple] recognized me from the soap operas I used to do in Mexico. We ended up talking for like 45 minutes about everything — life, faith, food, Mexico. They were about 24. I gave [the woman] a little miraculous medal — one for her and one for the baby. She didn’t go inside of the clinic.
[Then, a few months after we finished filming “Bella”], I received a call from the man who was with her that day, and he tells me, “Eduardo. I have great news, man. My boy, my baby was born yesterday, and I want to ask your permission to name him Eduardo.”
I couldn’t even talk. I put my phone down. I mean, I can’t describe with words that feeling. A few days later, little Eduardito is in my arms, and he’s looking at me, and I’m looking at him, and you know, it was just beautiful, amazing. It changed my life. I was only doing my homework as an actor; I never thought that, by the grace of God, I was going to be used as an instrument to save this baby. I really thought, E
ven if this film never comes out, even if “Bella” disappears, and nobody sees it again, I rejoice in the Lord for the life of Eduardo.
