Getting to know Silvana Arias

Since "Passions" debuted in 1999, Paloma, the youngest Lopez-Fitzgerald sibling, has been talked about but never seen. But that's recently changed, now that we've met Paloma, who is living with an aunt in Mexico. Paloma is a complicated character-both resentful of her family and eager for their love at the same time. Silvana Arias, the actress who plays Paloma, enjoys Paloma's multi-faceted persona. Read on to find out how Silvana got the part, how she felt about moving to Los Angeles, and what she thinks about having a Latino family on "Passions."

How did you get the part on "Passions"?
I was on the Internet and I saw there was a casting call in Miami for "Passions" for guys. I told my boyfriend and a couple of friends about it. My boyfriend called his agent and she told me I could go to see if they had any parts for me. I told them I had been working for Telemundo and they said they'd been looking for Paloma. I wound up reading at the casting call and then the next week I flew to Los Angeles to test for the camera. I tested with Lindsay (Hartley, Theresa). She helped me a lot and was so nice. I hurt my knee the day before I came here--I was so nervous and I couldn't walk! Everyone was so nice though.

Were you done with "Amor Descarado" on Telemundo when "Passions" came up?
We finished in February and then the next week was the audition. It was all very fast. I finished "Amor Descarado," did the casting and got the part. In a month, I was moving to Los Angeles.

What was it like to uproot your whole life like that?
It was very hard. I miss my family, but when I think about them I know I have to follow my dreams. Also, this is a city I don't know and it's a whole different language. In Miami you don't have to speak English. I had ten years without speaking English so I forgot all the words!

What do you think of Los Angeles?
It's a really big city so it's scary, but I like it a lot. There are so many different places to go. I thought people would be hostile but everyone has been so nice. I want to get to the beach-I haven't been there yet. I need to explore some more.

What did they tell you about Paloma when you first got the part?
They said she was going to bring a lot of trouble to Harmony and to her family. It's cool because I've always played the good girl. Paloma's not bad but she needs love from her family, like everyone does. She thinks they don't love her, which is very sad for her. She doesn't want to show that she's worried about her family. She puts up a wall. It's a very interesting part because you have to show both sides to her-the side that feels alone and dreams of her family and the other side that says she doesn't want them or need them.

What kind of character did you play on "Amor Descarado"?
Connie was very independent. She had her mother in her life but didn't get along with her. That's very different from Paloma because I think if Paloma did see her mother, she would love her. Connie was always complaining about her mother.

You used to have long hair. Did you cut it for the role of Paloma?
I cut it for "Amor Descarado." Connie went to Spain and when she came back, she had short hair and red highlights. I'm used to having it long my whole life, but now that it's short everyone says they like it. I like changes. I was always dying my hair different colors but I never cut it. It's so easy now-I can wash it and go.

What was your first day like at "Passions"?
I was nervous but also very excited. I felt a little strange because I was the new one and they are all like a family. But everyone was so nice. Sometimes I don't understand some words in English so they speak slower to me. And the stage managers have been trying to learn some Spanish!

The telenovellas have short story arcs and then they end. How do you feel about the fact that American soap operas have no end?
I like it because you don't know what will happen. Maybe I will turn out to be crazy or the bad one. You can be Paloma but play all different sides to her. That's how people are-you can know someone and not see them for a few years and then they may have totally changed.

Has it been hard to learn the lines?
I have to read the script three or four times. But Maria, the acting coach here, is great. I run lines with her. At home, I am always running the lines. I have to keep my accent but I want to speak more fluently. Now I know so many new words. Normally all you'd have to say is, "My name is Silvana. Nice to meet you." But I have to say so much more!

Are you happy about the fact that Paloma is speaking Spanish on the show?
I love it because we used to mix Spanish and English all the time. My friend's family would speak Spanish and English at the same time. They changed back and forth. It's realistic. Also, I love acting in Spanish so I love getting to do that on the show.

How do you feel about the fact that Passions has a core Latino family?
Sometimes people have stereotypes of Latinos so it's good to show that we are normal people-we have bad people and good people. We laugh and we cry. I'm very excited about that.