Chilean actress Mariana di Girólamo has reached a defining milestone in her international career by making her English-language film debut in writer-director Martin McDonagh's upcoming historical feature, "Wild Horse Nine." The transition marked a substantial artistic and linguistic leap for the performer, who found herself immersing so thoroughly into the production that she began dreaming in English while refining her delivery for the American project.
Mastering Language and Dialogue for Martin McDonagh
Transitioning into American filmmaking required meticulous preparation for di Girólamo, a native Spanish speaker from Chile. McDonagh's screenplays are renowned for their distinctive, exacting cadence, prompting the actress to closely analyze every sentence alongside her acting coach and the director himself.
Di Girólamo acknowledged that mastering the specific rhythms of the dialogue felt like reviewing "every comma." The intensive process paid off, cementing her comfort with the language to the point where she began having vivid dreams in English. She noted that expanding into American cinema had long stood as an ambition, adding that certain expressions have now become more natural for her to deliver in English than before.
From Santiago Roots to International Recognition
Di Girólamo, 35, grew up immersed in the arts in Santiago. Born to artist parents, she is also the niece of Claudia di Girólamo, one of Chile’s most celebrated theatrical and television figures. Despite her family background, she initially chose a completely different career path, enrolling in a university midwifery program.
Her trajectory shifted permanently after taking an elective theater course, where she discovered an affinity for stage craft, memorization, and live performance. She subsequently enrolled at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile to study drama. After building experience across local stage productions and television series, she earned widespread attention in Pablo Larraín’s acclaimed feature "Ema," starring opposite Gael García Bernal. That film eventually served as McDonagh's introduction to her work following conversations with Larraín.
Joining the Ensemble on 'Wild Horse Nine'
The concept for "Wild Horse Nine" originated from McDonagh’s prior travels to Rapa Nui, a remote Chilean island whose landscape inspired him to craft a narrative set there. The story centers on two CIA agents deployed to the island just before the 1973 U.S.-backed coup in Chile. John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell lead the cast as the intelligence operatives, with Parker Posey portraying Rockwell’s spouse.
Seeking authentic casting, McDonagh selected di Girólamo to portray a leftist student who catches the eye of Malkovich's character. Di Girólamo traveled directly from South Africa—where she had been working on the Mexican series "Nadie Nos Vio Partir"—to New York City for a week of table readings at The Public Theater. She described working alongside Rockwell, who embodied his role with vintage attire, and noted Malkovich’s extensive familiarity with Chilean cinema and culture during their time collaborating.
Festival Acclaim and Future Prospects
Ahead of its commercial release, "Wild Horse Nine" screened across the autumn festival circuit with presentations at the Venice, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals. Di Girólamo observed enthusiastic audience reactions during its Venice premiere, where mid-screening applause broke out among attendees.
With new project proposals emerging as visibility around the feature grows, di Girólamo indicated she is taking a measured approach to her upcoming professional decisions. "Wild Horse Nine" is scheduled to debut in movie theaters on November 6.
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Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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