INTERVIEW Actress Irina Rădulescu, Dem’s daughter: “I and my father had two children, my mother had to impose orders and discipline “

Irina Radulescu: After I was born, my mother spent a year on the couch, and after that her grandparents said, “Leave it to us so I can resume your work.” So I did kindergarten there, and mine did the shuttle. My grandparents were body and soul to me. I had a beautiful and loving childhood. And yes, it was also an international childhood with Turkish friends. And now I have friends from all nations.

At 6 years old you went on stage at the Little Theater. What were you doing there

At the Little Theater, that’s it. They played the mother in a show and they needed a baby that age. It was a show about the Trojan War, directed by Vlad Mugur (no. – “The End of Troy”, by Walter Jens). Of course, as soon as I heard, I wanted to do it. But I didn’t play much because I was growing fast and from one season to the next they needed an equally young child. For me it was a drama, that is, to replace me with another artist? (Laughs) Any experience related to theater fascinates me.

The best boy

Were you rehearsing with your parents?

Yes, but weirder, because rehearsals are periods of friction, so to speak, with nerves, with work. Many things are happening. I used to go to shows more, when I was on the stand or behind the scenes. While the rehearsals lasted, I stayed with my grandparents. But when there was no other possibility, mine even took me to the sets. They told me: “Hard, you will get bored”. He was a very good boy, but not so much because they told me to be a boy, not to get me out of there. Everyone asked, “Hey, but doesn’t this kid care?” In fact, I didn’t want to be taken out of there (Laugh).

With me, my dad was an older boy. The mother, who was from Transylvania, also brought a small empire to the home.

How were Dem Rădulescu and Adriana Şchiopu doing before the shows?

They had a state of concentration that I now find myself with. I mean, before I have an important job, I really don’t like to talk much. In general, I feel the need to focus my energies, to stay with my thoughts. If someone asks me something, they give monosyllabic answers. So did mine, but I perceived these things as normal. There was a lot of relaxation in our family, each respecting the other’s space. Even they respected me, and I was just a girl. There was a lot of talk with me. They didn’t tell me, “Let’s make this point.” No, he explains: “We do this because …”. Children have a fantastic ability to understand profound things. We think they are small, but sometimes they understand the essential that we miss, because we fight against our senses with life.

You said, at one point, that your father gave you a Latin-Balkan education. What exactly does this mean?

In the sense that he was warm, humorous, and playful. I would not like to say that Mateiu Caragiale – slightly – That is in a pejorative sense, but I mean it in a good way, that is, with some relaxation. With me, my dad was an older boy. The mother, who was from Transylvania, also brought a small empire to the home. Since we were two children when we were together, my mother had to impose order and discipline.

“The tree is done, my father can go”

What rituals did you have with your father?

The actor’s show is quite chaotic. It is very difficult for an actor to say, “Dom’le, we go on a picnic every Sunday.” Chances are it won’t stay that way because the actors work more on the weekend. And since my dad had a radio in the morning, he went to college the day and he could have a show at night … When we caught a window, we both went for a walk. Other times, if you can believe it, I draw from side to side. When he saw our mother, he couldn’t help but laugh, especially when he saw dad with colored pencils in hand or modeling clay. As a ritual, let’s say you had the fir ornament. That was nailed. Since my father was often gone even before Christmas, I adorned him with Saint Nicholas: “The tree is done, the father can go” (Laugh). We have adapted to the program. And in that sense it was a Latin-Balkan education: we were flexible and we didn’t nail things. Because that implies acting as an actor.

So without promises in the Radulescu family?

This deal with promises is very relative. We always, if we set out to do something, knew that we would do it. The fact that the timing varied was no longer relevant. We as a structure are extremely serious people. Dad, I’m talking about him, because he was chaotic, he was serious and disciplined.

Dem’s serious explanations to his daughter

Was she bringing her work with him, repeating her texts at home?

Dad was a man who spoke to me very, very seriously, this is the secret with children. I don’t support when I talk to a child like a brat. The child needs to talk to them as a partner. And then my dad explained, “Look, this is the job.” Sometimes he would read my texts to prepare. Sometimes he asked: “But what is this?”, Because he did not understand the concepts that he had there. Sure, I didn’t get into things that were beyond me, but I never got answers like, “Well, it’s not your job.” And not only did it as a parenting strategy, but I really liked explaining it to me.

Of course, you were his face, the only child.

Yes, the first and only son, the girl made in the second young man. That is why I say that my mother was an iron hand, that what I told her was a letter of law! If my mother had left my hand … (Laugh).

I think the reason why mom and dad have been such a strong couple for so long, and the reason why dad is still our umbrella, is that if you give man the freedom to be him, then you have him forever .

The freedom to be

What kind of dynamics did you have in the family?

I was also fortunate to have my mother’s grandparents, who, after my stay in Constanta, came to Bucharest to help mine. In this chaotic program, grandparents were the stable component, especially since they had so many ways to go. In addition to school, he used to play piano and foreign languages, and then grandparents played an essential role in these ways. There was harmony between me at all levels: as husband and wife, as colleagues, as partners, they trusted each other. They respected each other. Maybe in a couple of other professions it’s hard to imagine: “He’s going on tour, what’s he doing there?” Especially since when you shoot, you leave and you never know when you will return. Of course, it is now 12 hours after the day of the shooting, which was established by law. But at the time, it was the “you go and you don’t know when you come” rule. And then, if there was no agreement, you could end up shaking your head. But it was easy for them from that point of view. I think the reason why they have been such a strong couple for so long and the reason that our father continues to be our umbrella and never ceased to exist is that if you give man the freedom to be him, then you have him to forever.

That is why Dem Radulescu was so loved by everyone.

Yes, my mother too. That is why they have been together for 30 years. Otherwise, problems start when you’re stiff.

“My girl becomes an artist”

Photo: Miss Camille L ‘Espanaye, in the show “Nevermore”, on the stage of the Little Theater; Source: Nicolae Ilfoveanu

What did your parents want to do? Did they give you any suggestions?

They gave me a multilateral education. I did a lot of foreign languages, which now helps me a lot. I realize how well things have gone. I don’t think a father with his feet on the ground says to you, “Become an actor, it’s okay.” No, especially because they knew what this world meant. And then, sure they didn’t come in, but they offered me small cards. When I said I would like to, my mother did not object either. I say mom, because when I went to college, I just had it. Dad often joked, “My daughter is an artist.” But he was saying more jokingly. I am sure you would have been happy to accept this job. I knew I was going to want an actress, especially from our games. In the child’s game you realize what you can. You must have seen something there.

Still, do you play in init scripts?

Not sketches, but he was creating stories. I had certain characters that I had invented for me, and day by day those characters were doing something else. I had a kind of series of stories (Laugh). When he caught it, he quickly asked another character, “And what did he do, what did he do?” Dad had an absolutely overflowing imagination. He made up a story on the spot and played my characters. And I had the show at my house. They were simple but satisfying things.

Dem Rădulescu’s humor and sensibility

The standard image of Dem Rădulescu was an eternal and happy man. Was he so jovial and so homey or did he retire?

Having this explosive humor and being great in comedy, Dad was used that way. But I saw it in dramas and it was absolutely fantastic. Because he, as a structure, was a very serious man, very responsible. Although he had the joy of humor, jokes, he also had a special sensitivity. For example, if you were watching a life story on television, you would be immediately excited. So I think he was a very good father, that he felt very quickly in my condition and that he was immediately molding it.

You were only 13 years old when he died. How did you handle it?

Basically my mother took everything. In those moments, everyone thinks of the child and less of the caregiver. At the moment, it’s shock and you don’t realize much. We people say that someone we love has died, but in fact, we can barely perceive this. We perceive an absence, after which everything is very relative to each other. For me and my mother, for example, he continued to exist, although not physically. But it wasn’t a strategy, it was just organic, and then maybe it was easier. Of course, there is not a time when I say, “Done, there is something forgotten.” It is not such a moment, all the experiences we live in life take them to the end. They shape us, but we learn to relate to them.

Do you remember what you said last time when you saw yourself?

It was absolutely amazing. I was about to tell my mother that I would love to be an artist, but it was something in the wind. I think she had to tell her father, although he might not tell her, that it was not a serious discussion between us. He felt the need to talk to me and tell me that it’s really nice if I want that. Then he said, “Always look for simplicity and truth. Mom will help you.” I was wondering why you are saying this to me, and it seemed strange to me, which means, “Won’t you help me?” But it seems that the man feels. I’ve heard stories like this: that when man nears the end, somewhere, he feels. Dad told me this and in a few days it happened. I think we know very little about what life is like and when things like this happen, you have a lot more problems than we know.

Sharing the scene with my mother, in “… Escu”, directed by Doru Ana PHOTO Mihaela Tulea

A childhood model: altering the egos of Mrs. Olga Tudorache

You came to join UNATC. How was the exam?

In the first essay, where I had to recite two poems, I had some emotions … In fact, I was shaking. As I left the room, I asked myself, “Did I hear that?” I know I saw Mr. Ivaşcu on commission, and I knew he had been my father’s assistant. When I saw his figure from afar, I calmed down. Then I thought, “Hello, what will this man say?” God, this girl has no voice. (Laughs) But after the first test I calmed down, got a certain rhythm and had a good admission.

Did you feel any pressure because you were the daughter of Dem Rădulescu?

No, I didn’t feel any pressure. And after going to university, it was late among my colleagues that she was the daughter of Dem Rădulescu.

What mobilized her at the university

They did not make the connection.

No, they did not make Radulescu a common name. And I’m not the man to start talking about it. When I meet someone I just say: “I am Irina”. Of course, university professors generally knew they couldn’t. But the fact that I had them as parents, who were respected in the guild, was something that mobilized me. Not for me, as an individual, that at 18, what impression should I make? But I was thinking, “Be decent to them.” (Laughs)

A man who could not have an impact was the lady Olga Tudorache (right photo), the mother’s teacher, who was herself a character. He went from incredible strength to gentleness and sensitivity … Yes, the best actors around us passed and what I noticed: they were extraordinarily simple and modest people. Today I see younger people with much certainty. Well those people i saw still had doubts (Laugh).

Like an American phenomenon

One certainty is that his father could not easily walk down the street.

Unfortunately for me, my father walked at night. Because the day was very hard on the street, the world around him immediately. And he was interacting with everyone: he was a boy, he was an old man, everyone wanted to exchange at least two words with him if they had no autograph paper for them. They were so happy to see him! And he was happy that he loved his people, he was aware that the public is the one who puts his crown on his head. He never said no, always changing a few words with each one. It was that phenomenon that we see now in American actors. Of course, they didn’t put together that slapstick like the American actors, because they generally know where they will be.

What did it look like when people got closer? Did you want to arrive this way?

I was more fascinated by the real work on stage, but the fact that the world knew him also had an echo in me, that people asked: “And who is the girl? How old are you? But no, I didn’t think I wanted that. I was fascinated by the part of the stage, when it was in the light of the spotlights, so more the work itself, not its effect.

For me it is a blessing that I am the daughter of Dem Rădulescu. Although it has not been since 2000, and today, when its name is heard, the world lights up.

“After 20 years, I marvel at so much love”

Is it an advantage or a disadvantage that you are the daughter of Dem Rădulescu?

For me it is a blessing that, even though it hasn’t been since 2000, and today, when your name is heard, the world really lights up. We are also talking about 40-year-old people, relatively young, who did not take all their years, who had a lot of work before the Revolution. Everything lights up and I realize what it means to touch a human soul. It is a joy that you practically continue to live. After 20 years, I love this love very much. After all, he is a man who has accomplished his mission. I have heard people say, not necessarily to me: “Children of great personalities are not risen.” Yes, this is possible, everything is possible. In general, when a man has an opinion, I respect it, even if he disagrees with my views. Because that means freedom of opinion. We all want freedom of opinion, but if we can, we all have the same points of view.

Why do you think people didn’t like him because of the dramas he played?

It is true that he did not do much, but there is something more. The man has an urgent need to laugh. In those days, the more they needed it. I think Fellini said that a man who can make others laugh should be considered a benefactor. Because, of any epoch of which we speak, the man needs to laugh. And I think that people do not forget those who brought them out of danger.

Debut in the cinema, with double character.

The first show you played was “Storm” at the Little Theater, where you are today, after 12 years. How did you get to get the role?

Yes, “The Storm”, directed by Mrs. Cătălina Buzoianu. I was in my second year of college and went with my mother to a guild event. We met with Mrs. Buzoianu, whom my mother debuted with many years ago. He saw me for a long time and said, “You have developed wonderfully.” After a while we found out that he will put “The Storm” in Little Theater, and he proposed to play Miranda. It came totally unexpected.

I believe in things that came unexpectedly. And there are these beautiful coincidences in life: the period in which the show was played overlapped with the moment when ten young actors participated in the competition. It was already distributed and the theater director at the time, Florin Călinescu, told me: “If you are still debuting, then come to the competition, we need young actors.” Basically, from the second year of university I am employed. Now I realize that a few years have passed …

Boguţă’s intuition

In 2019, he also debuted in the cinema, in “Urma”, directed by actor Dorian Boguţă, also a debut, but in that of the director. He told you from the beginning that he needed someone like you. Do you know what he meant?

Thinking back, I don’t think I understood what he wanted then. Many times, in this profession, things are beyond words, words. At some point, someone may inspire you with something you can’t even explain, but you feel that person is right. It must have been Dorian’s intuition. Maybe it was in the middle of my appearance, something more fragile, in contradiction to the interior that is quite … in positions, which I don’t like to say strong. So is my character, Ana: apparently, you would not say that I would do some things, but at the end of the film you realize that it has contributed a lot to its development.

Ana is the object of an obsession, of her brother.

Yes, exactly. At the same time, their love is beyond the limits of normal, not in the sense that it goes to incest, but they love each other so much that they think they are responsible for the happiness of the other. When you take on a mission that is divine, there are drama and other events that drive you crazy.

It is your first movie. What do you think was the most difficult thing on set?

From the first meeting, when Dorian said that he would basically want someone like me, things went very well. Many people say to me, “The first movie came quite late.” “Maybe not exactly,” I say. Maybe it took me a while to do this natural course of things. That is why I cannot say that they were unusual weights, they were the normal weights of the profession.

Marin Grigore and Irina, in “Urma”, directed by Dorian Boguţă PHOTO Alex Damian

A bit unnatural scene

Many people have asked you about the nude scene you have in the movie. What’s up with that?

It is a nude scene, but there is nothing very obvious. Dorian asked me from the first meeting if I would do something like that. And he explained that he did not introduce it in the film for the sake of nudity, but because it is necessary in the evolution of this love between the brothers, a love with nuances of sacrifice. There is a need for this scene where he cares for her, a scene that can be a bit unusual, especially since my character is a woman of all nature, married. When I understood the importance of that moment, which is also poetic, and its artistic purpose, then I accepted. And anyway, she had great confidence in Dorian, because she knew he wouldn’t want to do something like that, just for the sake of doing it. But since the moment of the story was important, I understood it and treated it as such. Sometimes you have to be cold-blooded when you do something you don’t feel comfortable with. And Dorian helped me, who took care of the man who knows how to be an actor. He was the man who created my inner comfort. If things have an artistic purpose, otherwise you mean them. If you go to my Instagram or Facebook, don’t see photos of me in a swimsuit. Not that I have anything against it, but it’s not necessarily my type.

Employed before graduation

Name: Irina Radulescu

Date and place of birth:
October 14, 1986, Bucharest

Studies and career:

• He graduated from the National University of Theater and Cinematographic Art “Ion Luca Caragiale” in 2010.

• In 2008, he got engaged to Little Theater, after debuting in the role of Miranda in the show “The Storm”, after William Shakespeare, directed by Cătălina Buzoianu.

• At the Little Theater, she starred in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” after Shakespeare, directed by Gelu Colceag (2011); “Volpone”, after Ben Jonson, directed by Vlad Cristache (2013); “… ESCU” by Tudor Muşatescu, directed by Doru Ana (2018); “Never Again”, directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu (2019).

• In 2019, she made her feature film debut in the feature film “Urma”, directed by Dorian Boguţă, where she plays Ana, the sister of the main character, pianist Anton (Marin Grigore). The film premiered at the International Francophone Film Festival (FIFF) in Namur, Belgium in September 2019.

He lives in: Bucharest