Nicole Wallace, known for her role in House of the Spirits, recently explained that she made a deliberate choice to portray her character, Clara del Valle, in a way that differs from Meryl Streep’s performance in the classic 1993 film.
Over three decades ago, Isabel Allende’s popular novel was turned into a film with a famous cast, including Meryl Streep as Clara, alongside Jeremy Irons, Winona Ryder, Glenn Close, and Antonio Banderas. However, the movie received mixed reviews.
The story is being retold as an eight-episode series, filmed in Chile and featuring a Latin American cast.
In a recent interview with TopMob, actress Nicole Wallace discussed how she would approach the role of Clara differently than Meryl Streep did.
She thought the performance was truly beautiful. She explained that the actress brought a subtle, almost ethereal quality to the character, making her presence feel delicate and otherworldly.
Wallace portrays the younger Clara, while Dolores Fonzi plays her in later life throughout the season.
I aimed to keep Clara grounded and relatable for as long as possible within the story. While Dolores’ influence sometimes pulls her away from reality, I wanted to emphasize Clara’s humanity and deep connection to the world around her.
It’s a tremendous honor to step into the same role and story as Meryl Streep, and to have the chance to revisit that material and interpret it in my own way.
Allende’s novel heavily features magical realism, and Wallace prepared for her role in a distinctive way: she practiced spiritual exercises alongside the other actresses.
She explained that it was crucial for her to personally experience these things, so her performances would feel genuine and authentic.
I aimed for a very realistic feel. Since she was simply born this way, it’s completely normal for her, and I wanted that same sense of normalcy to come across in the portrayal.
The House of the Spirits will arrive on Prime Video on 29 April.
Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.
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2026-04-29 10:42