William Levy: "They tell a thousand lies about me, but it would be a mistake to listen to some idiots who are throwing shit at me to destroy my life."

William Levy 's (Cojímar, 1980) new film has a title fitting of the Cuban actor's last year: 'Under a Volcano' . A contentious divorce and a night of drinking that ended with him in jail placed the actor turned universal sex symbol in an unpleasant situation, from which he found an unexpected refuge: Mount Teide. "We filmed there and it was special. It was the first time in my life I saw the Milky Way. The first night, when it got dark and I looked up at the sky, I couldn't believe it. It's incredible, brother, I felt like a child. I want to go back now," he recalls in his luxurious Madrid hotel.

Despite all the success you've had on TV, you've only worked sparingly in film. Is it difficult for the industry to see you outside of soap operas?

I've been making films since 2007, but it's true that, especially at the beginning, it's a little difficult. It's not just a fan thing, but the industry, which sometimes rejects you because they think you're only good for TV series. I love making films, but television is stronger and will continue to grow, so I'm not worried about it either. Thank God, things have gone very well for me, and I think that rejection is disappearing. I started very young in television, at 20, but I studied film in Los Angeles before starting out as an actor. I love cinema.

Will you ever be offered a role other than a heartthrob?

Well, you just have to let time pass, because being handsome doesn't last forever [laughs]. Being seen as a heartthrob is great, but at the same time, it puts a limit on your career because the years go by and you can't spend your whole life going out shirtless and getting the girl. Everyone can decide how they see me because of my body, but the important thing is that I don't trust that and keep doing what I have to do: preparing myself and constantly searching for something new and growing as an artist, as an actor, and as a professional.

Where do you want to go with that growth?

My main goal is to enjoy this because I love it, honestly. I'm not looking for fame, money, or awards, even though we all enjoy them. The day I stop loving acting, I'll quit because I'll be unhappy. For now, I love it, but I've been getting more involved in production, writing projects, and eventually, I'll start directing as well. You don't want to get stuck in a cycle where everything stays the same forever. I'd like to try new things.

'Coffee with the Aroma of a Woman' sparked a tremendous fan following in 2021. I thought it would have died down, but there are people outside the hotel waiting for you.

For me, it's a blessing. God has given me wonderful moments with people, and I continue to enjoy them and I'm very grateful for it. It's important to know that one has to be grateful for everything they give you in life, and I continue to thank the public for their way of showing affection and being by my side. I enjoy it to the fullest, and it doesn't overwhelm me at all. On the contrary, it gives me great joy to be able to share with them that my career is going well, in part because of their support.

That fame also brought a lot of attention to your divorce last year, after more than 20 years of relationship. Have you handled that well too?

I don't pay much attention to it. I know they've said a lot of things about me and what happened that aren't true. They've made up a thousand stories and defamed me. That's what happens when things are going well for you, and another group of people don't want things to go well for you and try to harm you with lies and slander. In a situation like that, you have to move forward and you can't let it affect you. It doesn't affect me or keep me awake at night; I just keep going because I believe everything is covered up and silenced by your work.

What was said was that the cause was infidelity and that your two children weren't speaking to you.

Yes, involving children in these stories is a line I can't cross. Besides, it's a lie; my relationship with my children is wonderful. Everything in life can't be about money, and for me, spending time with them is much more valuable because it flies by. Now I work six months a year, and the other six months I don't do anything so I can spend time with them. My son is 19 and my daughter is 15. I have to take advantage of the fact that they still want to spend time with me. I can work more later, if that's what I want. Right now, my happiness lies in being with them six months a year, and I'm not off work all year because I can't. Otherwise... You have to be there for them; otherwise, why do you have children?

And when you see those things published, how do you react?

So many lies have been told that I don't know... A tree that gets stoned is because it bears fruit. I'm doing well, and they attack me, but my children know what I'm like. My relationship with my children is very, very nice. I know they say a lot of things about me, but I try not to listen to it because I live what I have and I know my children know what I'm like as a father. I'm not constantly trying to prove to them that I'm good because it's not necessary: ​​I'm a good father. People can say whatever they want because if I gave importance to some idiots who throw shit at me, trying to destroy my life because they have nothing better to do, I'd be wrong. The people who criticize are the ones who don't do things, and I prefer to be on the side of those who do things that matter.

You spent a night in jail in Florida for disorderly conduct and drunk driving. Was that also a lie?

Exaggeration. It was an incident where I was having a drink with a friend, like everyone else, and my companion thought the bill was a bit high. It was bad luck because I didn't realize they'd brought it; otherwise, I would have paid it without looking. But he saw it and complained that we were being charged for something we weren't supposed to. He started arguing with a man at the bar. I got in the middle, tried to prevent the situation from escalating, and ended up being the one the police took to jail, but nothing serious happened.

Man, it is something.

A new and different experience. It might help me prepare for a future role as a criminal, because I've already experienced it [laughs]. Seriously, it's a bit of a difficult situation, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I left there wanting to take a shower and get rid of the prison stench.

The situation in the United States is not right for being Latino and having problems with the law.

No, honestly, and it hurts me especially because I've experienced what it's like to be an immigrant. We left Cuba when we were 15, and the United States gave us a better life. It's always complicated being an immigrant, but what's happening now... I find what's happening right now very difficult, seeing how they're deporting children, workers who are going to prepare, strive, and study to contribute something to the United States. These people should be cared for and protected, not mistreated. If the Trump administration has time to look for people who deserve to be kicked out, great, let them do it, but that's not what's happening. It's very easy to go looking for people who are working and trying to raise their children; those are easy to find. No, man, do your job well and don't be such a jerk as to go arrest and deport someone who hasn't committed any crime. Go after the people who are stealing or murdering, but that's not so easy. What we're seeing is horrifying.