MÉXICO CITY -- To talk about Adela Noriega is to talk about success. There are at least 11 soap operas in which she has had the lead role and all have been a total success. But without a doubt her role as Maricruz in the soap opera 'Quinceañera' took her to the top of the moon in 1987 and she hasn't come down since then.
At this time, Noriega, 39, has the lead role in 'Fuego en la Sangre' (Fire in the Blood), a new version of the Colombian soap opera 'Las Aguas Mansas' (The Tame Waters) which was remade a few years ago with great success under the name of 'Pasión de Gavilanes' (Sparrows' Passion) by Telemundo.
This soap opera began airing Monday on the Univisión network in the main timeslot at 9 p.m.
After a long day of shooting on the sets of Televisa, Noriega agreed to give us an exclusive interview for Vida en el Valle and immediately told us how she felt after the great success she is enjoying at this moment.
"I am so content and very happy due to the response of the audience, as always. That is what makes me the happiest because I think that the love from the public is still there after so many years," said Noriega.
Just like she says, 'after so many years' is the right phrase since Noriega has been working in the entertainment business for more than 20 years right after losing her father at a young age and having to care for her siblings, Reyna and Alex.
We could say that she has gained the well-deserved title of 'queen of soap operas' by her own merit.
"It is a challenge, really. It gives me more desire to continue to work. I feel satisfied with what I have achieved to date even knowing that there are still many things to do," said the actress.
"But today, I feel as a privileged woman because the easy part is not reaching success, but maintaining it."
It sounds easy, but maintaining yourself in first place with so many new generations of actresses that come and go is a task that is hard to achieve. Noriega tells us how she has done it.
"I do things with sincerity, with the heart, with giving your all and I think that the audience realizes that and that is why they are with me."
Q: How do you decide which soap opera to do when you receive so many job offers?
A: "I like to be involved in everything. I check the story, read chapters ahead and when I become trapped by a story, there, that's where I'm at. But of course I check that the production is one in which I trust and also check who else is in the cast."
Q: What wouldn't you do in television?
A: "Something in which I didn't believe in, I wouldn't do it."
Q: 'Fuego en la Sangre' is your reunion with actor Eduardo Yáñez in Mexican soap operas, how has it been to work together once again?
A: "Great because since we recorded the first scene it was as if we had just seen each other the day before. I think the audience, just like we do, has enjoyed seeing us together again."
Yáñez and Noriega starred in 'Dulce Desafío' (Sweet Challenge) in 1989 and 'Guadalupe' in 1994.
Q: What gives Adela Noriega strength to be able to be so successful for so many years?
A: "I think it is the love of the people because I think that if I didn't have it, we definitely would not be here. And of course, the love of the people that are with me (her siblings)."
Q: What gets to you, what makes you vulnerable?
A: "There are a lot of things but I think that primarily injustice and poverty."
Q: What do the million of immigrants in the United States who have loyally followed your career mean to you?
A: "My beautiful fellow Mexicans, my heart is with them always. Through the soap operas is the way we're always with them, making them have a good time and forget about so many problems they face because of being away from México."
Without a doubt, Noriega, in addition to being beautiful, is a very smart woman. Her eloquence and discretion have characterized her through her solid artistic career. To end this pleasant conversation, we asked her a question she finally had to think about before giving us an answer.
Q: If you could close your eyes and ask for one wish in this moment, what would it be?
A: "That you cannot say because otherwise it won't become true, right?"
And she laughs.