Was that my life really?
The events are true and most of the emotions are true.
I totally approve of it," the legendary author says of Isabel.
Oscar Gonzalez/getty images
It will be released in its entirety on March 12.
She shared her reservations, regrets, and possible retirement candidly.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Mrs. Allende, what was your involvement in the creation ofIsabel?
HBO Max
ISABEL ALLENDE:I was not involved.
Those were my concerns, and I let them know.
They were really respectful; they told the story they wanted to tell without offending anyone.
They were very kind to me.
How do you feel about Daniela Ramirez’s portrayal of you?
My God, she is so beautiful!
Although I don’t think she looks like me at all, fortunately for her.
[Laughs] But the hairstyles and the clothing were copied exactly.
Even a necklace that I still have that I wear frequently, they copied it.
I don’t know how they did that, but it looks exactly the same.
How accurate is the miniseries?
Nothing is totally accurate.
When you tell somebody’s life in this way, you choose the highlights and the lowlights.
The happy, wonderful, and most successful moments, and the tragic ones.
All the grays in between are lost.
Was that my life, really?
The events are true, and most of the emotions are true.
Some moments are very personal parts of your history.
Were any particularly difficult for you to relive?
Yes, yes, yes.
All the parts about my daughter in the hospital.
I watched it with my son, and we had to stop.
The miniseries begins with that story, and we agreed it was hard to watch.
My son was crying like a baby, but we eventually continued.
There were moments where I felt shame.
I wondered, “Why did I do this?”
Why was I so stupid?
Why did I hurt people this way?
Then I thought, I haven’t done anything in my life that’s uniquely bad.
People make mistakes, so I have to forgive myself.
What are your feelings on regret?
I regret the things I’ve done in my life that hurt other people.
When I have hurt myself and made mistakes, it’s fine.
I can take the stumble and I’ve fallen down on my knees.
But when I hurt others, I carry that with me always.
You eventually returned to your family, however, who at this point was living in Venezuela.
You say inIsabelyou were leaving behind a man who might be the love of your life.
Did you ever see him again?
[Laughs] No, I never saw him again.
I have no idea if he’s still alive.
When I decided to go back to my family, I stopped all connection with him.
The mystery of your father’s disappearance leaves the viewer wanting more.
Can you share any insight into that?
He disappeared from my life when I wasn’t even 3 yet.
I never saw him again.
I did see him in the morgue because I had to identify a body.
That was the extent of his absence, total.
I can’t tell you more about that mystery because it continues to be so.
In a way, it was my fault I didn’t pursue something.
Maybe it was pride or indifference?
She would repeat the same thing anytime I asked.
You’re famous for starting new novels on Jan. 8, which is now behind us.
What can you tease?
I’ve been really productive during the pandemic.
Writers need time, silence, space, and solitude, which is what the pandemic has given me.
Last year, I wrote a book calledA Soul of a Woman,which is coming out next week.
I also wrote a book that is in my agent’s hands right now and is being translated.
But I will go back to that soon, hopefully.
It sounds like retirement is not on your mind at all?
As long as I have my brain, there’s no need for a retirement.
I hope that it will last.
I come from a family who live long lives.
They have all kinds of ailments and problems but nobody has gone demented.
I hope that’s a good sign for me.
[Laughs]
Thisinterview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
