The prominent Cuban actor Alberto Pujol shared unknown details about his life in Cuba and Miami, where he has been living for over 15 years.
In an interview with the youtuber Adrián Fernández, he confessed that in his early days in the United States, things did not go well for him, to the point where he almost had to live on the streets.
"I went through a time when I had no money at all and couldn't afford a place to live," he admitted, adding that a cousin took him in at her home for over a year.
Albertico said that he was having trouble finding work in Miami partly because many people held prejudices against him due to his role as El Tavo, the central character in the police series "Su propia guerra," which made him very popular but also created an image of him as a snitch and collaborator with the regime.
"I may have done El Tavo 10 times, I knew I shouldn't be involved with a guy who goes after another because he's selling cheese or hamburgers," he emphasized.
From that period, he recalled how challenging it was to work on a program funded by the Ministry of the Interior, because it is an entity that does not want to tell the truth.
He also debunked some false beliefs about the lives of artists in Cuba, asserting that they struggle just like everyone else, and recalled that he, despite being very famous, had to push his car to get to his daughter's school.
"Because you have no gas, because you don’t earn money to have gas," he questioned.
Albertico recounted that in 2000 he returned to Havana from Colombia, where he had lived for several years, and when he went to look for a job at the ICRT, he was told no because he had "left" the country.
In response, he clarified to that official: "I didn't leave; you stayed. Because if you had the chance to leave, you would have left too."
He finally managed to return to work and do important things, until he decided to leave for good. He currently cannot return to his homeland; he is not allowed to enter due to his statements against the dictatorship.
In Miami, Pujol had several jobs unrelated to acting. One was as a chef, which he enjoyed because he has always liked cooking, and another was as a security agent in a clinic. According to him, people would see him in uniform and think he was filming something.
Despite having achieved success in the United States, he asserts that Cuba lives within him and that this happens to all his colleagues who have emigrated.
However, he deeply regrets the anthropological damage that Cuban society has endured after six decades of dictatorship, noting that it will take many years to change.
"It is a damage that has changed our values, education, the way we express ourselves, everything," he detailed.
The actor wonders how long the small group in charge of Cuba can continue to degrade the dignity of the people, trying to crush and humiliate them, and asserted that the problem must be resolved by the Cubans themselves.
"Every time I see a piece of Havana crumble and a new hotel rise beside it, every time that happens, I realize it’s going to be worse," she expressed with pain.
Frequently Asked Questions about Albertico Pujol and His Life in Cuba and Miami
What was Albertico Pujol's experience upon arriving in the United States?
Albertico Pujol confessed that upon arriving in the United States, he faced many financial difficulties. He had no money and almost had to live on the streets. For over a year, a cousin took him in while he sought to get back on his feet.
Why did Albertico Pujol have trouble finding work in Miami?
Albertico Pujol faced prejudice due to his role as El Tavo in the series "Su propia guerra," which associated him with an image of an informer and collaborator with the Cuban regime. This made it difficult for him to find work in his field in Miami.
How does Albertico Pujol describe his life in Cuba before emigrating?
Albertico Pujol recalled that, despite being famous in Cuba, he struggled like the rest of the Cubans. He mentioned, for instance, that he had to push his car due to lack of gasoline and that working for the Ministry of the Interior was difficult because they did not tell the truth.
What is Albertico Pujol's opinion on the Cuban regime?
Albertico Pujol is a critic of the Cuban regime, pointing out that it has caused a deep anthropological damage in Cuban society. He stated that the regime has altered the values, education, and way of expression among Cubans.
Can Albertico Pujol return to Cuba?
Albertico Pujol cannot return to Cuba due to his statements against the dictatorship. He has expressed that the country's issues should be resolved by the Cubans themselves.
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