Ivan Labanda: "I would like drinking wine to be a more deliberate act, not a social reflex."

Despite being one of Catalonia's most recognizable faces, actor and voice actor Ivan Labanda (Barcelona, ​​1980) doesn't dwell on fame. Having worked since a very young age, with a schedule that often begins at six in the morning and ends in the early hours, he feels part of a family of hardworking, discreet, and artistic people. Since mid-October, in addition to his usual recordings of Poland, is playing Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels, protagonist (or protagonists) of Tootsie, the musical sitcom, at the Apolo Theatre in Barcelona.

What's the most unusual wine you've ever tasted?

— A wine from Lanzarote. It had a very good, very distinctive flavor. The grapes were grown in the volcanic soil in a very particular way. Later, I looked for it to buy it again and saw that it's incredibly expensive: it's almost cheaper to travel to Lanzarote and buy it there.

Is wine part of your daily life?

— I drink quite a bit of wine. I don't know much about it, but I really enjoy it. However, I wish I didn't enjoy it so much, because I often associate it with social life: dinners, get-togethers, conversations with friends, or moments with my partner. I like to drink, but it bothers me to feel swept along by the inertia of "Go on, have a glass." I wish drinking wine were more of a deliberate act and not a social reflex: drinking because you genuinely want to, not because it's expected.

What type of wine do you prefer?

— I love Txakoli. I prefer very dry white wine, and for red, I like Montsant. It's not about being patriotic, but there is a sense of pride, of saying, "This is from here."

Is wine for you a way of contributing to the country?

— Not necessarily, but there's something there. When I say "Montsant" instead of "Rioja" or "Ribera," there's a kind of reflection. It's like a connection to the land, a way of identifying with it.

And the cava?

— I didn't used to like it much. I'd always had a certain aversion to bubbles, but lately I've started drinking cava more often, not just for celebrations, but as an everyday drink.

Have you done any tastings?

— Yes. In fact, I think they make fantastic gifts. Wine and cheese tastings, for example. I've done them the last few times at Amovino, a Catalan wine shop on Aribau Street, where they organize paired tastings. I remember one tasting with a red wine and a German blue cheese: the combination was amazing.

If you could have a drink anywhere in the world, where would it be?

— On a cliff in Formentera, watching the sunset over the Barbaria headland. Every time I see the sunset, I think: this wonder repeats itself every day, and we miss it.

And what song is playing in the background?

— It depends on the moment. Maybe something by Jamie Cullum.

What memory do you associate with wine?

— I remember that wine from Lanzarote, because it was a surprise. Also, a dinner with the team fromOperation Triumph which ended terribly: Mamen Márquez had to help me get to bed… Luckily, I was perfectly fine the next day. But sometimes I also like to open a bottle at home, as a kind of ritual. For example, if I put on a long movie, like Wells of ambition either 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In a scene from Tootsie, the musical sitcom, which you are performing at the Apollo Theatre, There's a moment of connection between the characters with a bottle of wine on the table. Do you associate wine with intimacy?

— Wine is an accompaniment. It's not just about drinking: it's about the context, the conversation, the shared moment. That's why I say I'd like to take away some of the social weight and keep only the essence of the ritual.

How are you experiencing the musical?

— The reviews have been fantastic, and the audience leaves thrilled. It's a show that's well worth seeing: it's very well written, well presented, and works incredibly well. People are captivated from the first minute and it feels too short.

Your character is dual: Michael and Dorothy. What's it like working on that duality?

— It's a wonderful journey. Michael Dorsey is a very good actor, but unbearable. So methodical and passionate that it's impossible to work with him. Desperate, he disguises himself as a woman and lands a role that he plays to great acclaim. It's beautiful to see how someone so egocentric and vain, when he does this, ends up discovering essential things about life and people. He builds a shell to deconstruct himself. It's so well-written that it's a pleasure to play him.

Do you think this character accurately portrays the acting profession? Someone who grows while playing another character?

— That's one of the great virtues of this profession. If you're skillful and open-minded, each character teaches you something and helps you grow.

The musical is a genre…

— It's not a genre. A musical can be a comedy, a drama, or a tragedy. A musical is a way of telling stories. In a good musical, the music goes where words cannot. The songs should advance the story or reflect the characters' emotions. A musical where the music halts the action is a poorly made musical.

Here it is often considered a minor format.

— Yes, and it's a shame. It doesn't happen in London or on Broadway. There, all theatrical forms are treated with equal respect. Here, there's a certain elitism towards scripted theatre. It's a cultural issue: at the Institut del Teatre, for example, they never make you read musicals, and many of them are very well written.

Which role do you remember most fondly?

— To act as master of ceremonies of Cabaret It was spectacular. It's a musical with exceptional writing. No matter when you revisit it, it's always relevant.