CLARA CANTOS – SHE SPOTLIGHT
- Johanna K. Lumi
- May 7
- 4 min read
Actress / Director
Based in Paris, France
In this She Spotlight, Johanna sits down with Clara Cantos - an actress and director whose work is shaped by emotional honesty and lived experience with a deep belief in stories that disturb gently and stay with you. Moving between acting and writing, she is currently developing her own original work, bringing together themes of identity, femininity and transformation with a distinctive, poetic voice.
An actress and director whose work is shaped by emotional honesty and lived experience, with a deep belief in stories that disturb gently and stay with you.
Moving between acting and writing, she is currently developing her own original work, bringing together themes of identity, femininity and transformation through a distinctive, poetic voice.
You’ve described your journey into the industry as one shaped by necessity and self-discovery. Looking back, what first drew you into this world, and what kind of change are you hoping to make through your work now?
I came to acting the way most people come to therapy - out of necessity, and then couldn’t leave.
As a child, during a difficult period in my life, the stage was the first place I felt safe. Then I realised it made the people around me feel something too. That was the revelation - stories don’t just save the one telling them.
I grew up in 90s Spain - a glorious contradiction of old patriarchy and wild freedom - and that tension shaped me. It gave me a sense of adventure, but also a strong awareness of injustice, particularly towards women and children who don’t get to speak. I carry that silence with me whenever I step in front of or behind the camera.
My cinematic education began with Spanish and French classics - the kind that linger. Then British humour taught me to laugh at the wound before it heals, and American action films reminded me that sometimes you just want to watch things explode beautifully.
You’re currently stepping into writing and directing your own work. What are you building right now, and why does it matter at this stage of your career?
For a long time, I thought the goal was simply to work - and I did. I worked constantly, often confusing busyness with meaning.
Then something shifted. I started writing and directing the stories I had been waiting for someone else to tell. I became more intentional - about the projects I choose, the collaborators I work with, and the energy I bring into a room.
Right now, I’m developing an original fantasy drama screenplay - ambitious, dark, and female at its core - which has already received multiple writing awards. The world is built, the story is ready, and the next challenge is funding.
I don’t mind mountains. I’m a Spanish climber.
From the outside, your journey can appear confident and dynamic. What’s something people wouldn’t necessarily see about your path?
From the outside, I can appear relentlessly optimistic - dynamic, the one who holds the room together.
What people don’t see is that for most of my life, I was last on my own list.
Then my mother fell ill. Nine months - the same time it takes to bring a life into the world - and she was gone. In that time, we repaired what had been broken between us, and I learned, slowly and permanently, to love myself.
Everything since has been different. The creativity feels more honest, the connections more real, and the ambition more grounded in something true.
Life is very short. We might as well dream at full volume.
As you come into Cannes this year, what does the festival represent to you right now, and what are you hoping to make happen while you’re there?
For a long time, Cannes felt like a sacred temple - something to admire from a distance, convinced the door was locked.
Then you arrive, and realise it was open the whole time. You just needed to push it.
Now, Cannes represents presence. Not the chaos of rushing between meetings, but the moment of real attention between two people - that’s where everything I care about has ever started.
I come with open eyes and an open heart. And I take the dressing up very seriously - my inner child doesn’t want to miss the fun of the game.
You’ve spoken about the importance of connection and community. What does “building collective power” mean to you in practice, and who are you hoping to connect with next?
Being an actress can feel lonely - but it doesn’t have to be. Cannes is proof that teamwork creates something much bigger.
There is always someone going through the same uncertainty, someone whose success you would celebrate as your own. The community exists - sometimes we just forget to use it.
I love being the connective tissue - sharing contacts, ideas, or simply asking the right question that opens a door.
I’m here to find collaborators for stories worth telling - theirs, mine, ours. People who believe great work comes from trust, generosity and joy on set, not in spite of them.
If that sounds like you, come find me. I’ll be the one gesturing enthusiastically about something.
Clara Cantos will be joining the She Squad at Cannes 2026.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Johanna K. Lumi is a Finnish-born, London-based actress and interviewer working across the UK, Nordic and wider European film industries. With an active career in acting and experience across directing, casting and production, she has also conducted red carpet interviews at the Finnish Oscars, bringing an industry-insider perspective to her work.
At the Marché du Film 2026, she is conducting interviews for Yes She Cannes, spotlighting female creatives and building relationships across the global film community. Alongside her acting work, she is developing a cross-Scandinavian production and expanding her presence across European markets. (IG: @johannak.lumi )
Post created by Isabella Bonfante (IG: @isabellabonfante )
Yes She Cannes is a global platform dedicated to elevating women in film through visibility, connection and access - creating meaningful opportunities at Cannes and beyond. Follow along: @yesshecannes
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