Andreea Grămoșteanu might still be an unknown name for many cinephiles. After many years of working as an actress in television and on stage, she has finally made her debut on the big screen last year, playing Alina in #dogpoopgirl – a debut for the director Andrei Huțuleac, too. For Andreea this is a dream she didn’t believe it might come true anymore.

Born in Constanța in a big family, Andreea tells me she’s always wanted to be an actress. She studied acting for three years in her hometown, until she dropped out and came to study in Bucharest, where she started her studies all over again. She played a lot on stage, starred in TV shows Mondenii and Atletico Textila, but had no luck in the film industry – castings were impossible to pass and during her years in university she heard a lot of times that her face is not ”camera material”. After a while she got used with it and when she got over it completely, all stars alligned in her favour. Now she stars in two launched feature films – #dogpoopgirl, for which she won last year an Acting Award at the Moscow International Film Festival and Perfect Strangers (D: Octavian Strunilă) for which she’s been nominated at this year’s GOPO Awards for Best Actress.

I’ve seen #dogpoopgirl at TIFF last year and I enjoyed it a lot. I like all of Andrei Huțuleac’s work. I believe he’s a very talented young director that follows his instinct and not the trends, having a particular style that is different and brings diversity. However, Andreea was a revelation. She embodies her character so naturally and liberated that it makes it impossible for you to separate the fictional story from reality. She’s 100% involved in her character and it feels like all that absurd situation actually happens to her.

In real life Andreea is as natural and liberated. Even though her moment of glory is here, so is her modesty. She’s well aware her moment could abruptly end in any second. She’s an actress after all and she depends on others to call her for castings or invite her to read a new script. I was very impressed by her acceptance of life and the gratitude she has for every moment that brought her right here, in this very moment. We met on a sunny Saturday at our stylist’s apartment and we talked for over an hour about her roles and the obstacles she encountered along the way, about social media and how we raise our kids in this crazy world dominated by technology, about fears and everything coming next in her career.

You are four sisters that grew up together. I read in an interview that there was always noise in your house, like in an Italian family. How did you get along with your sisters when you were little?

I’m the oldest and I always wanted at least one more sibling. I used to tell my mom I want a “piece of a sister”. When my sister Corina was born, it was my idea to name her like that – I was a big fan of Corina Chiriac. It’s quite odd but I don’t have any memories from before she was born, when I was already 5. However, I do remember that day very well – where I was, what I was doing and wearing. Everything. When the two little ones appeared in our life, I was already 7 and I used to help my mom a lot around the house. It was total madness, we were living in a 3-room apartment and when we had birthdays or festivities, being such a big family, the house was packed. It felt like we were on a camp. In the beginning I was like a “teacher” for my little sisters but then, when I reached adolescence, things changed, I was already quite big. Corina was closer to my age, she was in secondary school and I remember every time I wanted to go out, she came in the hallway and sit in a corner with her big eyes, without telling a word. My mom would let me go out only if I took her with me, so I was always telling her to shut up and think twice if she wants to say anything in front of my friends. By the end of the night, she was the star of the group, she was a doll.

When I moved in Bucharest, my sisters followed me one year later – Corina first, and then Miki. Alina lives in Tulcea with her husband.

When did you realize you want to become an actress?

I don’t remember ever wanting to be something else.  Only a bread seller for a short period of time, I don’t understand how this came about. I remember bread was sold under the counter and I wanted to sell bread equally to everyone. But I have always wanted to be an actress, I used to throw shows with my friends at home. I always felt the need to express myself without feeling judged. To unleash my interior world.

I know that during your university years a lot of your colleagues used to tell you you’re face is not “camera material”. What kind of thoughts or feelings did this unleash? And has it influenced your journey in any way?

I wanted to come to Bucharest badly, I felt this is where things happen and I wanted to be part of them. I was very determined to get here. After long debates with my dad, I applied at the University in Constanta, where I studied for three years before dropping out and coming to Bucharest, where I started all over again.

It’s true there were some colleagues who said that, but they were young and I used to be too serious. I don’t know if it influenced my journey, but it definitely made it harder. However, if it wasn’t like it was, I wouldn’t have been here today, as I am now – and not as who I am today, but exactly as I am.

All the fears and frustrations I had became the engine that fueled me. Now when I see an obstacle, I don’t avoid it. I attack it in order to overtake it.

But did you have a desire to try film during your university years?

I had a desire to do anything, I didn’t know what to choose. I started doing comedy by chance, the first time I didn’t even understand why people were laughing. I was playing in Constanța in Stele în lumina dimineții and I had a monologue where I had to sit on a hospital bed. When I started acting, the bed started creaking and people laughing. It was horrific, I couldn’t tell why they are laughing, it was a dramatic scene. I tried to find a place on that bed where it did not creak, but people were laughing even harder. And that’s when I realized that even in a very dramatic situation you could find something funny. That these two could combine. And I discovered it’s something I like and would love to explore.

You mean this tragicomedy where both films you starred in fit – #dogpoopgirl and Perfect Strangers.

Excatly. Because it is human. You can easily wake up in a tragic situation where absurd things happen, funny things. Or the other way around – a humorous situation that can turn into a tragedy all of a sudden. That’s life, in the end.

#dogpoopgirl is a debut for both you and for Andrei Huțuleac, the director of the film. How did you two get along and what was your favorite part of your work process?

Exactly the whole process. It was great. We knew each other from other stage projects we worked on. When he came with the proposal, he called me. Told me he has this script he would like me to read and pick a character I would enjoy playing. I read it, had a lot of fun, really enjoyed it. Very well written, had only some minor things so I made some suggestions. I never thought of the main role, so when I called him and asked who plays it, he said it’s me.

He also said he plans shooting in two months and I should lose weight so we can make her as vulnerable as possible. We talked about it and then started working. I had two tough months – gym every day, a very strict alimentation, rehearsals and then 18 days of shooting. It was just brilliant, everything.

Of course there were some tough days. I remember we had to shoot a difficult scene in the third day of filming, which in the movie happens much later. A very emotionally intense one. And I panicked, I thought this is where it ends and where I ruin the film. I called my husband crying and panicking and as usual, he was very calm and helped me a lot. Right after, I came up with the idea to run until I feel at least close to my character’s state of mind and body – Alina (n. her character) was getting into the scene after a long run with her dog so I couldn’t just walk in there, flower power. That was a very complicated day. In television you have one, two or maximum three takes. If they’re not good, it’s my fault. Here we shot and shot and I didn’t have enough experience to understand it’s not my fault we’re doing it over and over again. There’s also the light, the set design, the focus puller – everything has to come in the right place in the same time so to say it’s done and we can move on. In the end I trusted Andrei and he trusted me, so it went well.

Did he ever tell you how he chose you? Or if he wrote the script with you in mind?

He didn’t, there were a series of circumstances that made him re-write the script. I was the second option. He had a notebook in which he wrote everything and I rehearsed with it once. It opened exactly at the page about me where Andrei had written down PRO’s and CON’s.

In the beginning, my character had a different age – around 35 whereas I’m 40+ years old. There were two different directions in which this film could have gone. In the end Andrei thought it was cringier to have a 40+ year old lady with a boyfriend of 20.

You always had roles on stage and in television, but filmmaking avoided you until recently. Have you always believed this moment will come one day?

Not at all, I gave up this idea a long time ago. I wanted this for so long, used to be a control freak which made me feel quite bad, so I gave up. My husband believed in this dream, my sister Corina as well – they now tell me “I told you so”, but I didn’t. When I made my debut in Andrei’s feature film, my theatre and TV colleagues said “finally, Andreea!” (laughs)

I grew up with the fear of failure since high school. Of missing my moment. I lived a while a parallel life out of fear.

Now I wonder what does this failure mean? To make game of what you receive? To not work hard enough to play the roles you were given? That’s what I believe now, and since Amza (n. her kid) came into my life, I learned to enjoy the present moment more. Stop living so much in my own mind. Everything happens in the present now and I take each day as it comes.

The story from #dogpoopgirl has a lot of dark humor. You feel like laughing and five minutes later you start crying. What feelings has the first screening – at Moscow IFF tickled for you?

You can imagine how subjective this answer will be. I felt it took a load off my mind. Until then I had no idea if my acting shows what I was feeling, thinking of, what I was building inside of me.

The fear of failure striked again.

Exactly. But the film expressed exactly what I was hoping for, so this fear was eliminated forever. I realize it has to disappear. I loved the film. And speaking of tragicomedy – it is exactly there. And the ending was such a surprise. The whole film is exactly as Andrei wanted it to be and I’m so glad we made it through.

You won two awards at Moscow IFF last year. Best Actress and Best Film.

I have no idea how that happened. I just freeze in this kind of moments. I was feeding my child when I received a text message from Corina Moise –”congratulations. I didn’t understand a thing, started crying, Amza didn’t understand why mommy was crying (laughs). And a few minutes later it was announced the film won the Best Film award. We weren’t expecting any of this because the festival is not a fan of this genre.

When you graduated university, you starred in a short film that brought you an acting award at Cinemaiubit. A few years later you won an Acting award at Moscow IFF for your feature film debut and now you are nominated for a GOPO award for your main role in Perfect Strangers. It seems to me that every role you have on the big screen is marked by a nomination or an award.

Isn’t this funny? I never thought of it, until now.

I remember that short film. Someone from the university called me saying a female director, Stanca Radu, would like to speak with me about her short film. She came to visit me one evening when the stream was off and I had no lights. She shared the story of her script at candlelight – that script, too, was adapted by a true story.

Anyway, I have never imagined what’s happening to me now. I went through so many frustrations when it comes to filmmaking. I used to go to castings I wouldn’t win, no one called me to offer me jobs because I was working in television. Marin always told me to be patient, but I didn’t believe in this dream anymore. One day I just said enough. If the moment will come, fine. If it won’t, that’s fine, too. I had roles to play anyway and I kept telling myself I should mind my own business. Which I still do, anyway.

I would love to talk to you a bit about Perfect Strangers, the comedy directed by Octavian Strunilă, another debutant. Were you over with filming for #dogpoopgirl, when this proposal came?

Yes, I was. We finished shooting in 2019 and Octavian’s proposal came during the pandemic. He called me to invite me over for a coffee and I wanted to meet him for a long time. I saw a pilot he wrote and directed, which was very good but wasn’t produced. He told me about this new script he has and who else is starring in it. I loved everything so I got in.

It was quite complicated at the beginning because we were many and due to our other commitments, we didn’t meet too often at rehearsals. Alexandru Potocean got Covid one day before shooting, he was acting in the first scene, from the first day. Octavian called Alex Conovaru that night and he replaced Potocean. But we were all panicked thinking we also got Covid.  We didn’t expect what happened during shooting. After the first two days we all connected in a very powerful way and a friendship started outside the set. It was quite amazing.

Would you be up for a challenge like the one in the film in real life?

No fucking way, never. And not because I have some dark secrets, but I’m not an exhibitionist at all. So, for sure not and I don’t know who would from the cast (laughs)

In both films you play women who go through moments of crisis. Women who contain their pain and anger so well, dosing them, treating every moment with a lot of patience until they both get to a point where they explode. Alina and Dora have a similar journey and for both life changes drastically because of technology – because of smartphones that seem to destroy lives quite easily.

It doesn’t just seem to be like that, it actually is.

I believe that when you start discovering a character, if you want to step inside his mind and soul, you should discover his raw spots. It all starts from what I – Andreea, I’m interested in in that moment in time. The things I want to talk about. I always try to find a connection between what I personally want and what the character gives me. Especially in filmmaking, where you don’t have a construction. It’s just me and it’s important for me to be curious about that character. When you start treating your roles in a very personal way everything becomes interesting and doubts start to disappear. It’s real and that’s where everything else starts.

I believe every character is portrayed in 2D in a script, but when you take it and portray it, it becomes a human being. And you try to catch a little part of his life in your performance.

And when I offer credit to someone and I decide to move forward with a role I’m given, I never back down. However difficult it might be, whether it takes me out of my comfort zone, I trust the director.

What do you and Alina have in common?

This kind of paralysis in the face of absurdity. I am completely shocked when something I find totally absurd happens and I keep wondering how is this possible?! And that’s something both me and Andrei have in common with Alina, my character.

What does social media mean to you? This whole virtual space that took our lives by storm in the last 10 years and changed our habits and the human interactions.

Happily it doesn’t mean much and sadly it means a bit more than I would like to. No matter how much I deny it, there is an addiction – it steals your attention; fine, you read the news in the morning but then, during the rest of my day, whenever I catch a break, I check my phone out of reflex. I do that more than I would want to but I’m not active on social media, nor involved. I don’t like throwing myself in discussions, especially in those emotional ones devoid by arguments; and there seem to be quite a lot of them in the virtual space. Sometimes I receive judgy comments like why haven’t I like a post or whatever, I never get into it, there’s no point. I love real life and I’m afraid of what we seem to be heading towards.

Amza surely knows how a telephone looks like and what “magic” it can do, even if he’s quite little. Do you have any rules when it comes to social media and virtual activities, in general?

We’re eccentric parents. We haven’t had a TV in our house since Amza was born and until a few months ago, he wasn’t allowed any screen time. We compensated with lots of books, going out with friends, activities and of course our nerves are stretched to the maximum, but I think it’s worth the effort. Now he gets maximum 20 minutes of screen time, two times per week. If we visit some friends and the other children are playing on their phones, of course we let him play, too. He never went crazy because of these rules and we never felt he is deprived from anything. He’s got a climbing wall at home and he loves it, he even fought his fear of heights and now jumps from 2m altitude. What I want the most is to be able to have a real dialogue with him, when he’ll be older. And I work a lot for it.

Your next film project to be launched is Florin Șerban’s movie – Hamlet, in which you play alongside Cosmina Stratan.

Man, when you list all the movies like that, I cannot believe it. How good is God, you know. I’m amazed.

What can you tell me about this movie?

It was a crazy experience. Florin made a puzzle and gave each of us t a few pieces, but none of us knew what we have to do with them. The script was even re-written, at some point, while we were shooting. It’s a psychological thriller with a cast of only women. Probably the first Romanian film of its kind. I’m very curious how it will be received by the public.

If I’m not mistaken you are directing a play at Teatrul Mic, where you work as an actress since 2008. How did this happened?

Gelu Colceag started a project during the pandemic, called Theatre by actors, with actors – we have some colleagues that studied Theatre Directing, too so we started brainstorming shows. Some of my colleagues proposed I should act and direct one, but I chose only directing. We started some readings during the pandemic and it seems we’re doing it, I think it comes out in May. It’s nice to discover a new and very different perspective.

 Are you interested in film directing, too?

Not at all.

#dogpoopgirl hits Romanian cinemas on the 15th of April.

Laura Mușat

Film producer and founder of ADFR, she dreamed since she was little of having a magazine one day. Alongside her job as editor-in-chief, she writes the interview of the month. She loves animals, jazz music and films festivals.