Guillermo del Toro’s Dark Fantasy Classic Still Haunts Its Star 20 Years Later [Exclusive]

It’s been 20 years since Pan’s Labyrinth premiered to record acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, and Ivana Baquero, who starred in the film at the age of 11, is reminiscing about the production of the fantasy epic. It was her first major role in a motion picture, but she had the guidance of Guillermo del Toro, who gave her some advice that she still abides by. Collider has partnered with producer and director Alex Noyer on The Séance to bring you the hottest updates on all things horror from the Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes. Noyer caught up with Baquero at the event, where she is celebrating the 20th anniversary and 4K re-release of Pan’s Labyrinth.

Baquero had a challenging role in the film, playing the lead part in a dark movie rife with special effects and prosthetics; the part was originally written for a younger actor, but del Toro was so impressed by Baquero’s audition that he re-wrote the script for her. She spoke about the guidance she received from the acclaimed writer/director, telling Noyer:

“He said that the most important thing an actor has to have…of course you need to prepare yourself, of course you need to study, but you need instinct. And he said, ‘You have the instinct.’ So that advice, really…I think it really stuck with me a lot, and it made me believe in myself, to just follow my instinct, which is the most important thing, I think, as artists, that we can have and believe in.”

To prepare her for the dark subject matter of Pan’s Labyrinth, which went beyond the gruesome horror of the film’s monsters to include war, murder, fascism, and torture, del Toro gave Baquero a curriculum of film and literature. “I remember he gave me a lot of material, like he made me watch Grave of the Fireflies, which was about the war in Japan. And that’s a very dark movie,” said Baquero. “I read a bunch of comics; Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was another one of the comics he made me read. So, you know, he made sure that I knew about the world that I was about to dive into.”

His advice was effective; Baquero’s performance was widely acclaimed, and she has gone on to have a successful career, starring in films like The Anarchist’s Wife, The New Daughter, and Sister of Mine, and TV series like The Shannara Chronicles and High Seas. She can most recently be seen in the crime drama A Widow’s Game and the TV series Spartacus: House of Ashur.

How Does Baquero Feel About the Horror Genre?

While Pan’s Labyrinth cemented her status as a genre icon, the film wasn’t Baquero’s first horror movie, as she was featured in the serial killer thriller Romasanta: The Werewolf Hunt, the Brian Yuzna creature feature Rottweiler, and the supernatural chiller Fragile: she notes that “they always needed a little girl, you know, in a scary movie.” She does feel a connection with the genre, as she finds it to have a universal appeal. She explained:

“I always say, I don’t know if horror chose me, or I chose it because it’s always been with me. You know, no matter what, I can’t shake it off in the best possible way. Like, I feel like, most of the, you know, interesting scripts that come to me are our horror movies. And I think it’s also because they’re so universal, you know, and, and that they, they can encompass so many different things in them that I always am drawn to them.”

What Is ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ About?

A fable set during the Spanish Civil War in the 1940s, Pan’s Labyrinth tells the tale of Ofelia (Baquero), a young girl whose widowed mother (Ariadna Gil) has just married the devoutly fascist Captain Vidal (Sergi López), and is pregnant with his son. As she explores Vidal’s vast estate, she finds a secret fantastical underworld, whose guardian, the Faun (Doug Jones), believes she is the reincarnation of his world’s long-lost princess.

To prove her worthiness to reclaim her throne, Ofelia must undergo a series of tests, encountering a grotesquely enormous frog and the carnivorous Pale Man (Jones again, in an even creepier costume), before the final test requires the ultimate sacrifice. Meanwhile, Vidal is attempting to smoke out the local resistance to General Franco’s tyrannical rule, unaware that his own housekeeper, Mercedes (María Verdú), is working with them. The film was a hit with critics and audiences, and won three Academy Awards; it will be re-released theatrically this fall.

Pan’s Labyrinth made Cannes history when it premiered at the film festival in 2006. After its first screening, it was hailed with a 22-minute standing ovation, a record that has yet to be equalled or surpassed. Pan’s Labyrinth will be re-released in theaters this October. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Check out Noyer’s full interview with Baquero above with the following highlights:

00:42 – Ivana Baquero reflects on preparing for Pan’s Labyrinth and Guillermo del Toro’s intense approach to the role.

02:10 – Baquero discusses her preparation for the emotionally demanding role and how the film shaped her acting.

03:48 – Baquero shares Guillermo del Toro’s most important advice.

05:01 – The actress discusses the idea of starring in such a dark and mature story at such a young age.

06:14 – Baquero on how del Toro helped her understand the film’s themes.

08:21 – They discuss Pan’s Labyrinth’s practical effects, creature work, and why its visuals still hold up today.

09:28 – Baquero reflects on interacting with the creatures and prosthetics on set and working with Doug Jones.

11:38 – Baquero talks about the demanding shoot schedule, balancing school with filming, and the pressure as a child actor.

13:35 – The different themes and characters in the film resonate more deeply with each rewatch.

19:09 – Baquero reflects on how the film changed her career while still staying grounded.

21:04 – Baquero discusses recent projects, including Spartacus: House of Ashur and working in Spain and Hollywood.

22:08 – Baquero talks about her lifelong connection to horror films and why the genre continues to draw her in.

23:44 – Baquero reveals what genuinely scares her in real life despite growing up with horror.

24:44 – The actress shares her three biggest pieces of advice for young actors in the industry.