Spanish Star Pablo Olewski’s Increasing Exposure to American Audiences

The natural path of an actor is not to star as the lead in their film. In fact, quite the opposite. Those who fall into the gravitational pull of the limelight are the ones who often appear beside the Marquee stars of the day and eventually assume this position. Spanish born Pablo Olewski certainly fits this definition. Not so long ago, Brad Pitt was the lean cowboy hat wearing J.D. in Thelma & Louise (1991); now present day finds Olewski acting with Pitt in the Paramount Pictures feature film Allied and opposite Viggo Mortensen in Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer. Compelling in both of these films, it’s no surprise that Olewski is the lead in the upcoming SciFi film The Mirror. The increasing international collaboration of the film community has offered Pablo as the latest actor to entice Hollywood with his talent, magnetism, and global appeal.

Based on the works of Spanish novelist Arturo Perez Reverte, Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer stars three-time Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen (in the title role) alongside a large cast of top rated Spanish actors. Winner of Best Film at the European Film Awards in 2007 and was nominated for fifteen Goya awards, it features Mortensen as soldier-turned-mercenary Captain Alatriste, a heroic figure from the country's 17th century imperial wars. Director Agustin Diaz Yanes was very specific about the cast he selected which included Elena Anaya (BAFTA nominee for Best Actress), Unax Ugalde (Award winning actor known for Steven Soderbergh’s CHE, Bon Appetit, La Buena Nueva), and Olewski. Augustin has previously worked with Pablo on the film Sin Noticias de Dios (2001) starring (Oscar-Winner) Penelope Cruz and (Oscar-Nominee) Demian Bichir, and felt he was ideal for the role of the trouble seeking rogue swordsman Pisaverde. Casting director Luis San Narciso and Yanes selected Pablo to embody this mischievous young man who could believably represent a challenge for Viggo Mortensen’s Diego Alatriste and his crew. Pisaverde’s mocking provokes Francisco de Quevedo, only to be squelched by Alatriste. Every great drama needs friction and conflict; supremely supplied in this case by Olewski as Pisaverde and energizing the action of the film’s heroes.

Canadian intelligence and the French resistance combatting Nazis in WWII era North Africa is the setting for Paramount Pictures Robert Zemeckis directed Allied. In this OSCAR and BAFTA nominated film, Olewski appears opposite Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard as they secretly undertake a plan to assassinate the German Ambassador in Morocco. In one of the most pivotal scenes of the film, Pitt and Cotillard blow up the embassy as attendees flee for their lives. The intense drama of the film was offset by a very practical work ethic and demeanour on set. Pablo relates, “I met Robert [Zemeckis] my first day on set. He was half way though blocking the whole sequence with Brad Pitt when they both came over to have a chat. Robert is polite with a very humble air about him; someone who doesn’t buy into Hollywood celebrity nonsense nor the big egomaniacal director cliché.” He continues, “I believe that work is its own reward, especially when you’re given the freedom to do what you love and be who you really are. I find most exceptional talents have this common thread. When I first met Viggo [Mortensen] in the makeup trailer, he greeted me in perfect Spanish. He had taken great pains to fall into the story and cast perfectly; I’m certain that this is because he cared so deeply about the work.” Though Pablo concedes that his youth often displayed an impetuous nature, his immersion in stage and film has channeled that energy into an avenue which works well for him and the productions in which he takes part. Perhaps this is the “fuel of life” which feeds authentic artistic expression. Olewski’s work in films alongside international recognized stars like Pitt and Mortensen points to his following their path to represent his generation of actors in the same manner.

Written by Patrick Wilson