Kate del Castillo believes that her performance in the series “La Reina del Sur” was a great gift.

“Teresa is a character that I really enjoyed, as I have never enjoyed anything else,” the 39 year-old actresses said on Tuesday to The Associated Press.

“For me (she) is an icon ...the audience took a Teresa Mendoza in ...  (she) is the icon of the strong woman whom raises their voice, one who does not let herself be beat by anyone.”

Del Castillo is delighted because the soap will air on the Mun2 channel starting February 19.

“I am delighted to pass it again with English subtitles,” said the Mexican actress, adding that she prefers subtitles to dubbing, so that the essence of the characters isn’t lost.

More than a telenovela, Kate Del Castillo defined “La Reina del Sur”, as a set with a bold format.

“It’s too short to be soap opera ...  with a higher risk… I love that they have gone ahead with everything and have not been afraid,” said the actress.

During its original broadcast on Telemundo, the hit series broke record ratings for the station.

“La Reina del Sur”, based on the book by Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte, chronicles the adventures of a woman that by circumstantial issues becomes a powerful drug lord.

Rafael Amaya, “El Guero”, one of the great loves of Teresa Mendoza in the series, considers that the phenomenon of “La Reina del Sur” and its ratings are very significant.

“The viewers are giving us clues ... on what do they do want to see,” said Mexican actor of 34 years.

Ivan Sanchez, who plays Santiago Fiesterra, believes that a key element in the success of this project was the integration and the mixture of cultures.

“Sharing the telenovela with a group of Colombians, Americans, Mexicans, and Spanish ... though everyone has their own way of working, together everything worked ... that’s what resulted most rewarding ...  and that’s what has crossed the screen,” said Spanish actor.

For Kate Del Castillo, public acceptance related to the characteristics of the antagonistic heroin.

“We’re not idealizing the typical protagonist who is perfect and angelic ... Teresa is a woman who makes mistakes ... not a moralist, she is open to everything.” said Del Castillo, adding that modern women no longer identify with passive characters.

In addition to her popularity on the screen, the actress has recently caused a stir on social networks.

In January she wrote on Twitter that she believed more in the head of the Mexican narco, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, than in the government, later stating that her words were taken out of context.

“They did not understand the irony, and the sarcasm that I intended,” she said. ”Everyone reads it their own way; people always put it in first person. These are my beliefs… and I was not expecting empathy from anyone. Nor did I imagine that would be such a big thing. “

But this fact did not stop Del Castillo from keep speaking out.

“I like being controversial, I always have been ... I like to support what I believe,” said Del Castillo.

With the same human frailty in the character she plays in “La Reina del Sur”, the protagonist of the series added that life is a constant evolution in which you are constantly being judged.

“I have the right to change my mind ... If you do not want to have children today or tomorrow, or maybe forever ... Why do we crucify that?”

Del Castillo said that even the subject of the story was widely criticized. “They said it was for or on behalf of drug trafficking. I do not see it like that at all.”

“On the contrary. Shows how you live that sort of life ... how dire things happen, and how the terrible life these characters led is not just a fictitious story,” said the protagonist insisting that we must go after the real criminals in these times of crisis, not the actors.

“La Reina del Sur” is a chapter in the life of the artist. “It will always be in my heart and was a watershed (decisive moment) in both artistic life and my personal life.”

New projects came for Castillo at the end of the hit series.

” I just got back from Mexico to make a movie called “Colosio” ... its really good…  and perhaps will cause more controversy in my life?” She smiled and added that there is another film that will give plenty to talk about “K-11” in which she plays a transsexual.