Tell Me Softly - Dímelo Bajito, Lilliana Cabal interview

Can you tell us about your role in Tell Me Softly ?

In  Tell Me Softly, I play a teacher at the high school where much of the story unfolds. My character becomes an emotional reference point for the students as they navigate friendship, love, and complicated family dynamics.

It was a pleasure working with such a talented young cast and helping bring this story to life.

What is Tell Me Softly about, and what can fans expect?

It’s an Amazon Prime original based on Dímelo Bajito, the first book in the Dímelo trilogy by Mercedes Ron. The story follows Kami, whose life is turned upside down when the Di Bianco brothers return—Thiago, her first love, and Taylor, who has always been her protector. Old emotions resurface, unresolved tensions return, and a love triangle unfolds as they reconnect after years apart.

Much of the story takes place in their American-style high school, where I play one of the teachers as I mentioned before, so I get to witness all the emotional chaos from an adult perspective.

The books have a huge fan base, and it’s been really nice to see how happy fans are that the film stays true to the characters and the spirit of the story. And honestly, the young cast brings so much truth and energy to their roles that it’s very easy to get pulled into their world.

If you could describe yourself through one of your roles, which would you choose?

It’s hard to pick just one role. I’m often very different from the characters I play, but I always find something in them that I can relate to.

I’ve played a vampire in She Lives by Night, enjoying both the predatory and vulnerable sides of the character; a serial killer in Don’t Speak, who was protecting something precious to her; a dominatrix in Love Hotel, who believed she was helping deeply wounded people heal; a headmistress in Vampire Academy, setting standards for young vampires; a Persian princess in Eva & Nicole, an outcast trying to find her place again; an ambitious Latina businesswoman in Un Paso Adelante Next who knew exactly how she wanted to conduct business and not get fooled; a royal assistant in Hotel Barcelona, fiercely protective of the princess; and news anchors or reporters in several productions, focused on sharing important information with the public.

These roles allow me to explore parts of myself I don’t normally access to these extremes in everyday life. My job is to understand why characters do what they do, not to judge them. The emotional exploration and freedom are a big part of why I love acting.

What is Lazarus Taxon about, and why did you choose to make it a short film?

Lazarus Taxon began as a script by Denis Rovira, who specializes in horror. After reading his first draft, he shared it with me, and I ended up reworking much of the storyline and the ending.

It’s an apocalyptic story about a father searching for refuge in a destroyed world while carrying his recently deceased daughter. He arrives at a community of survivors and becomes desperate to find a way to bring her back. They offer him an unimaginable solution… but I don’t want to spoil the ending.

Short films allow you to stay creatively active and experiment with stories without waiting for the funding and long timelines required for feature films or television projects. This was a complex story to tell, but we made it happen using every resource we had: our team, actors, and locations.

Who are you in everyday life, away from the spotlight?

In everyday life, I try to keep a sense of playfulness. Dancing is something I had left aside for a while and have recently rediscovered. I really enjoy Barcelona’s tardeos, where you can go out dancing earlier in the evening, whether it’s hip hop, electronic music, or spontaneous salsa gatherings. I’d also love to get back into swing dancing, which I used to do a lot in Los Angeles.

I also have a 16-year-old son who is the love of my life, and we do many things together, from going to football matches, soccer was a big part of my life growing up in the U.S., to attending concerts.

Spending time with my girlfriends is also essential, as they are a core part of my life. I travel a lot and try to visit family and friends in the U.S., Colombia, and the Dominican Republic whenever possible. And I love discovering new places, Laos and Mongolia are still high on my list.

Alongside acting, I coach executives and United Nations professionals on leadership presence and public speaking. I love seeing people connect with their own voice and realize how powerful effective communication can be.

What do you remember about working on Sergente Rex?

That production was special to me because I really enjoyed working with director Gabriela Cowperthwaite. She gives very clear direction but also trusts actors to explore and find their own truth in a scene.

I haven’t worked with many female directors, but each time it has been a wonderful experience, and I’d love to do more of it. It’s not that working with male directors hasn’t been good, but we still need more balance in storytelling, because both male and female perspectives shape how stories are told and how society sees itself.

I also loved working with Kate Mara. She’s incredibly talented, professional, and very easy to work with, and it’s been great to see her career continue to flourish.

What does the future hold for you professionally?

As I write this, I’m on a plane returning from the Sundance Film Festival, where I first learned about acting for the screen. I worked there from 1989 to 2000, so it holds a very special place in my heart. This was also the festival’s last year in Park City after 40 years, so I wanted to go say goodbye, reconnect with old colleagues, and catch up with new filmmakers.

Being there again reminded me how important independent storytelling is—seeing first-time filmmakers arrive with their films as lifelong dreams fulfilled, attending panels, and hearing how much perseverance it takes to bring projects to life.

I have a personal story I’d like to tell, which I see as a television series, and I’d love to develop and produce it in Barcelona, where I’m now based. Sundance reminded me of the importance of creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for them. For me, it feels like the right moment to create my own projects.