A True Love Story

Miguel Varoni and Catherine Siachoque talk about their love on and off the small screen.

Miguel Varoni and Catherine Siachoque, the most beloved telenovela couple in the industry, are together again in Telemundo’s La Casa de al Lado. Married for more than 15 years, they have worked together in only three productions. Their first, Las Juanas, was when they met and instantly connected. “She captivated me the moment I saw her,” says Varoni. “It was love at first sight. He won me over with just a hello,” adds Catherine. They also co-starred in Te Voy a Enseñar a Querer, and in Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso, Miguel was the director and Catherine was part of the cast.

La Casa de al Lado is not your typical telenovela. “It’s a novela that has a lot of ins and outs and it’s an
adventure every time we get an episode,” explains Varoni. “It’s the type of story that has you glued to
your television set and, for us actors, to the script,” says Siachoque, who is considered the “queen of
the bad girls.” When it comes to the characters they play—Javier Ruiz and Ignacia Conde Spencer—it’s
a love-hate relationship. “Javier is a coward without moral values and I don’t respect or esteem him, but as an actor I think he’s fabulous,” says Miguel. “Ignacia is spoiled and she brings really terrible problems to her family,” says Catherine. “But for the first time I am playing a character that dresses to my liking,” she adds with a laugh.

When it comes to working together they are each other’s number one fan. “I am not only lucky to have been able to work with her as an actor but I have also had the opportunity to direct her,” says the 47-year-old who was born in Argentina. “Personally, she is one of the best actors that I have ever worked with.” Catherine, a Colombian native, feels the same. “He is an amazing actor and I admire him professionally.”

What they don’t quite see eye to eye on are the love scenes. “Since we are a couple, our love scenes are
a bit more difficult because I feel exposed. Even though you don’t kiss the same way as you do on the novela, I feel like my personal life is being spied on,” explains Catherine. Miguel can go either way. “Sometimes it’s easier and other times harder depending on how the scenes are… it’s all relative.”

In the end when asked if their relationship is more like a telenovela or a fairy tale they are in complete
agreement. “It’s not one or the other,” says 39-year-old Catherine. “We are a team and we walk
together hand-in-hand through life. Nothing is guaranteed so every day you have to cultivate your
relationship.” Miguel keeps it short and sweet. “It’s true love, real love.”