The actress plays a brave young woman who wants to cross the fence of Melilla in ‘El salto’, the latest film by Benito Zambrano. 

The radiant presence of actress Edith Martínez-Val, 22 years old from Arrecife, Lanzarote, in Madrid’s West Park with her dog, Udana, is starkly contrasted with her hardened and rigid demeanor in Benito Zambrano’s latest film, «EI Salto,» premiering on Friday, April 12th. In the film, she plays Aminata, a fiercely courageous young woman who hurdles over the fence of Melilla among hundreds of men after surviving a grisly migratory journey. Martínez-Val shares that her life in Spain was far removed from this reality, and engaging with it has led to a wealth of personal discoveries, from delving into the stories of Sub-Saharan migrants who have made the treacherous journey to Europe, to exploring her African roots. She was adopted and raised in a convent school in Madrid, later living in France and Canada, and was previously only aware of these issues through news reports. When asked what she learned, Martínez- Val emphasized the importance of humanizing the people we see in the news, understanding that everyone has a profoundly weighty and extreme reason for enduring what they do. She found it heartbreaking that parents are separated from their children. While working on the film, she began to hear stories, see faces, and developed an intense affection for her character.

This process made her acutely aware of the injustices and anger surrounding these issues. Martínez-Val hopes that audiences will gain information and awareness from the film. She hopes they will contemplate the suffering caused by the unresolved issue of migration, which is influenced by the politics of both continents. She also hopes they will understand that these people are just like us. The film has significantly connected her with her roots. Although she was aware of them, she had never had the opportunity to connect with people who could share stories that might be similar to those of her relatives. This connection opened a part of her and was a beautiful and interesting experience. The film also introduced her to other black people. She had never had much contact with black people before. It was her lifelong hairdressers, who are from various African countries, who taught her about their way of life and work. Now, when she sees a black woman, she sees a strong foundation, like the character of Aminata. Martínez-Val feels at home in the hair salon. She spends about six hours there every time she visits, which she likens to spending an afternoon with her aunts. They never judged her, but they believed it was important for her to know her roots. They would tell her, «If you’re willing to learn, I’ll teach you.» She feels a deep connection to what they tell her. For Martínez-Val, having Afro hair was a struggle, and she didn’t like it being touched. She couldn’t put it in pigtails that would sway in the wind. Now, she views her Afro hair with pride, just like her skin, which she didn’t initially see as beautiful despite her parents telling her it was. Reflecting on her childhood, Martínez-Val feels fortunate to have found a good group at school. She knew she was different and accepted it, but she never experienced aggression or felt like she didn’t fit in. She is aware that others have suffered terribly. Martínez-Val played a servant in the historical series «Dos Vidas,» which she describes as a turning point in her career. It was her first daily job and it gave her a foundation and confidence. She notes the frustration and powerlessness she feels when fiction doesn’t address the types of roles that reflect real-life, such as a lawyer, and instead offers roles that stereotype or lack depth.