COMO DICE EL DICHO MEANS TSURIA DIAZ IS A STAR

Actress Tsuria Diaz and her starring role in the hit Mexican TV show.

  Every country has their own serial dramas. These productions allow the actors and other professionals involved to mature into leading forces in the entertainment field. In the US, productions like; X Files, Twin Peaks, Hill Street Blues, and others have provided a vehicle for actors who would be recognized with Emmys and Oscars, not to mention major box office draws. In Mexico, one of the longest running and most successful TV shows of this type is Como dice el dicho. The story is set in Mexico City and revolves around the patrons of a coffee shop named “El Dicho.” The owner of the shop, Don Thomas, and his family deal with the problems in the lives of these patrons. A saying is written on the walls of the shop by Don, his family, or the customers and each episode deals with the story behind this writing. El Dicho provides a backdrop which presents the difficulties and experiences of the people in Mexico City. This allows many wide sweeping social issues to be discussed rather than a formulaic production based on one set of characters and issues. One of the most recognized and popular stars of Como dice el dicho in the past year was actress Tsuria Diaz. A major achievement for any actress is playing a wide age range of characters. Diaz appeared in three separate storylines as three different characters of different ages. Gaining major notoriety in her homeland of Mexico for these performances (among others), Diaz has decided to push her career to the next level and pursue the opportunities only found in Hollywood.

  Como dice el dicho has been on air since 2011. It can be seen on Las Estrellas in Mexico and Univision in the United States. The shows high ratings on Television often creates a stir on social media as fans of the show have embraced access to these celebrities off screen. Tsuria’s diverse character performances on this production appealed to the wide age range of viewers. As Diana, Kati, and Samantha, Diaz presented female characters dealing with challenges that applied to the specific seasons of their lives. Como dice el dicho director Emmanuel Duprez knew that there was something special about this actress right away. He declares, “She is like a chameleon. Everything is based on the way she projects, giving energy and meaning to the text. She understood everything I wanted no matter how complex the scene. She really knows how to listen to a director. When you see someone who truly loves their work the way Tsuria does, it is obvious that the talent and passion are going to get noticed.”  

  With multiple appearances on Como dice el dicho in different roles (such as the nice girl Diana or the superficial Katy who only achieves redemption after her boyfriend’s actions lands her in jail for years), it was her lead role as Samantha that struck a resonating chord with critics and the viewing audience. Samantha is a young lady whose mother has abandoned the family. When her father’s new girlfriend moves into their apartment, Samantha decides to move out and stay with her friend Paz. Samantha begins to spend a great deal of time with Alfredo (Paz’s father) at their home and develops feelings for the older man. Inhabiting this role allowed Diaz to play with many shades of what is personally and socially acceptable and understandable in an uncomfortable situation. In preparation for this role, Tsuria researched with a psychologist the emotional and mental state of young women like Samantha in order to find the “truth” of where this character’s motivations came from. She comments, “If you don't receive attention and love at home you must find it in another place, and where is better than the home of your best friend? She felt Alfredo really listened her and they spent happy times together. Even though he was not attracted to Samantha, he gave her the attention she needed. She felt appreciated and happy. She left problems aside when they were together, and she felt ‘protected.’ In the end she was mature enough from this experience that she moved back home and forgave her father, while still appreciating the friendship she has with Paz.” The long shoot days and small amount of time given for sleep, coupled with the intense crying scenes exhasberated Tsuria’s ability to emote on screen, resulting in the many heartwrenching perfromances which captured the attention of fans. While this was diffiucult at times, Diaz states, “A lot of actresses would love to be part of this project. I’m very thankful to have been a part of Como dice el dicho. It has some of the best ratings numbers in Television. The audience is so loyal; they follow the cast members on social media when they like the story. In my case, the exposure on social media and the positive response to my appearances on the show have given me the type of visiblity that one always dreams of getting, which of course leads to more offers.”

  Having conquered the medium of television and theater in Mexico with her invovlement in productions such as: Perras, Rosa Diamante, El Octavo Mandamiento, Me Mueves, and others (some of which are accessible to US viewers on networks like Telemundo), Tsuria hopes to bring her talent and list of achievments to Hollywood. Still seen as the entertainment capitol of the world, Hollywood grants even more global opportunities to actresses like Diaz who want to weave themselves into the film and TV tapestry that exists there. Discussing the alure of the US entertainment industry, Diaz proclaims, “There truly are a lot of opportunities in the US. There is great diversity. In America, talent counts. There are several film companies and great TV shows that support Latin talent. My ‘type’ works for agents and managers that want an ‘exotic’ look. I feel this is THE place for me to be to further my career and art. Just as important, there is not a ‘correct’ way of living like in Mexico. In America, people pursue a career creating art and it's more appreciated than living your life as an artist than in Mexico. Society loves and respects the entertainment industry in the US because they have earned it. The reason people want to come to America to pursue art is to test themselves to stand among the very best; I’m excited to take that test.”