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In theecstatically reviewedSundance coming-of-age dramaCoda,Eugenio Derbezplays a small but crucial supporting role.
Derbezs character is plucky but gruff, possessed of an irrepressible joie de vivre but zero tolerance for bullshit.
Which makes Derbezs measured performance in the film all the more surprising.
Youre so successful in Mexico.
You have your pick of TV and film projects.
But here you are in this little film.
I had a deal with Lionsgate, and they had this project there.
But I thought it was probably too dramatic for the jot down of movies I usually do.
So I decided not to do it.
But at the end, I didnt.
But I was always regretting it.
I was doubting always if I did the right thing.
Then when it finally came back to me by accident, I immediately said yes.
Then also I had to learn how to teach singing lessons.
It was really hard.
I really invested all my time.
That was my intention to make a music teacher that was mean because he was not playing around.
I was born and raised in Mexico City; I did my entire career in Mexico City.
I feel bad saying this, but I was very successful.
I had my own TV show.
Im going to China.
So thats what I did all of a sudden.
I was really successful.
I was at the top of my career, and everyone was like, What are you doing?
I mean, you have everything in Mexico.
You are the king in Mexico.
Your shows are the highest ratings.
Why are you going to another country to start all over again?
But it was really interesting to me to take this leap of faith and this challenge.
People would laugh the minute they see you.
So they didnt want to give me an opportunity.
But all of a sudden, in 2007, I did aplay on Broadway.
I was trying to start to cross over in the U.S.
They loved what I was doing there.
And they didnt know my background.
They didnt know I was a comedian!
For some reason, both movies ended up at Sundance.
And thenSangre de Mi Sangrewon the Jury Award.
After that, my entire life changed.
In Mexico, they started giving me opportunities.
At what point did you decide,Im going to move to the United States?
I got an opportunity with Adam Sandler withJack and Jill.
In my role in that movie, I ended up marrying Adam Sandler.
Well, the female version of Adam Sandler.
But [Jack and Jill] didnt go well, so I thought that was my big opportunity.
Then I did a show on television with Rob Schneider calledRobon CBS that aired just afterThe Big Bang Theory.
I thought, Now, this.
Finally, Im going to make it.
AfterRobin 2012, I said, Okay, no more.
I did already television.
I did movies with Adam Sandler.
I entered Sundance Film Festival with movies.
This is not going to happen.
Im happy, but Im going back to Mexico to do my TV shows.
Im going to quit the American dream.
And in January 2012, I quit.
I go back to Mexico.
My life changed again.
The agents called me, and they were like, Its now or never.
That was the point where I really shut down my office, my production.
I quit the company I was working for.
I said bye-bye to everything in Mexico and started a new life in the U.S. in 2014.
And here I am.
But they werent quite the smash success ofInstructions Not Included.
Now, I would like to go and do more movies likeCoda, honestly.
I want a little more of drama, movies with more story depth, meaningful stories.
So Im trying to find this balance.
I think Im getting there.
Also nowadays, and for the last 20 years, my shows have been rerun on Univision.
I didnt know that I had an already big audience in the U.S.
There are millions and millions.
You have a production company called 3Pas.3Pasin Spanish means guts.
When you make a decision, its with your guts.
Thats why our logo is intestines.
Right now we are producing an Apple TV+ show in English.
Well, its 70 percent English and 30 percent Spanish.
Its going to be released in October, I think Acapulco.
Right now, Im in Mexico City doing two seasons ofLOL.
Its a franchise that Amazon is doing all around the world.
We also shot a film calledThe Valetthat were producing with Hulu in the United States.
The other Apple show is withthe Tannenbaums, the producers ofTwo and a Half Men.
We have another project with the Tannenbaums, too, and with Netflix, calledLoteria.
Have you watchedMoney Heistfrom Spain orLupinfrom France?
Were happy because, back two, three years ago, English was the language that was ruling.
To bring it back toCoda, you got such nice reviews out of the festival.
I was like, I dont know but probably in February, March.
Then in March, Well, probably April, June, somewhere around here.
Im also nervous, honestly.
People, especially my audiences, are going to watch me in a different way.
So Im glad theyre waiting.
Yeah, theres expectation, a lot of expectation.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
