Examiner.com got to to chat with Academy Award Nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Official New York Oscar Night celebration. The star-studded cocktail reception took place at GILT Restaurant at the New York Palace Hotel. Catalina plays Maria in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," which will be in theaters on June 30th, 2010.
Catalina was nominated for Best Actress in 2004 for her performance in "Maria Full of Grace." Since her big screen debut, she has starred in "Fast Food Nation," "Love In the Time of Cholera," and "Che: Part I" and "Che: Part II."
Q: How did the Academy Award nomination change your life?
Catalina: Well, it gave me confidence to go out and audition. Before I was a little bit not very sure about what's going on, but now after I got nominated I was like I might be good, I might be a little good, so I should go out and audition for all these people and for all the movies that I love. And I did, and that's why I keep working because I got a boost of energy, and a boost of confidence. That's always really good to have.
Q: You are one of the few actresses to be nominated based on their debut performance.
Catalina: I know! It's crazy. I would never even in my wildest dreams thought of being nominated for an Oscar for the first movie. I thought it was going to be on cable, not on the movies, not in the theaters...you know it's just insanse
Q: How did you get discovered?
Catalina: It was such a long time ago...I was studying acting in Colombia and this American guy was searching for this colombian girl to be the lead for this movie and he found me, you know I was going to classes and he told me to audition for him and I did.
Q: I wouldn't be a good reporter unless I asked about your huge role in Eclipse.
Catalina: It's not huge though, It's very very little, very very very small, but it's a huge movie, and it's fun and it was great, and the people that I met they were lovely. I didn't meet everybody, but the people that I met they were just fantastic, so I'm very exicted to be apart of that. It's huge.
Q: In the books, Maria is very prominent. She's the evil vampire.
Catalina: I know. I love that she was evil, I love that she had to do something evil. You know If I was going to be a vampire, I would rather be an evil vampire that does crazy stuff than a nice vampire. So yeah, she was so much fun though, she was great.
Q: Were you a fan of the books before you were cast?
Catalina: No, I saw the movies. I was a fan of the films. Chris Weitz is amazing and I loved the first and second "Twilight," so hopefully this one will be amazing too. It's going to be great. So I'm really excited they are releasing it very soon. I know it's crazy they move so fast.
Q: Are you getting ready for all the junkets?
Catalina: I don't think so...but if I go to the junket I'll be very excited to be there and helping the movie because it's a good franchise.
Catalina didn't hang out with Robert Pattinson or Kristen Stewart on set! Sorry Twi-Fans! As for the Oscars, "I'm very excited and I just can't wait to see whose going to win tonight," Catalina said.
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