Emma Ros: "Tarragona is a very cultural city and is full of art"

The interior designer and multifaceted actress consolidates her career with three international awards and shares how her Tarragona roots have marked her artistic career 

Diari

By Francesc Pérez

8/25/2025

The actress and interior designer from Tarragona Emma Ros continues to consolidate her career in film and theatre. Known for her roles in “Kill Them and Don't Come Back Alone”, “Calamity Jane 1882” and the series ‘Com si fos ahir’, this year she adds three international awards to her resume: two awards at the Cowpokes Int'l Film Festival 2025, including Best Actress for “Water Around Your Neck”, and another at the Stockholm City Film Festival 2024, where she also won the award for Best Actress. With 16 awards, 2 nominations and a passion for her craft, Emma combines talent, perseverance and a deep connection to her roots.

Emma was born and raised in Tarragona. Have you had the opportunity to work with local creators and how do you see the cultural and theatrical scene in your city?

I haven't had the opportunity to work in Tarragona yet, although in my beginnings I would have liked to. What I have been able to do is give theater classes to actors from Tarragona who are now dedicated to this world, and it makes me very proud. I think that the people of Tarragona, in many areas, are very artistic and cultured because, both in carnival, which is a real blast in terms of creativity, and in plays, there is a lot of involvement and a lot of care. In Reus there are also very interesting and elaborate works, as in our city. In addition, the Metropol is a very important theatre, as very important plays have been made with renowned actors from TV3 and the rest of the country.

She began in the theater with works such as in the “Burning Darkness” and “Fins que la mort us separi”. What attracted you to the stage and what do you remember about your beginnings?

First, I was in Tarragona teaching theatre classes to actors and directing plays. Then I went to Barcelona to do advertising and fiction, but I have always believed that theatre is a very important part of an actor because you have direct contact with the audience and you work on a character from beginning to end without interruptions, not like in cinema. This helps you understand and connect with the character as a whole.

Which of your works do you consider a turning point in your career?

“Kill Them and Don't Come Back Alone” was very important because it is the short film that has had the most international trajectory and because I played a female protagonist where all the weight fell on her. The short film lasts thirty-five minutes and, in a way, it helped me as an actress, since I was able to connect with the character's past, to know her fears of that time, so far from me, but so close because of the fight for women's rights, as in any era.

With 16 awards and 2 nominations at international festivals, is there any award that has particularly marked you?

Yes, in a negative way, in a festival that I prefer not to mention. We had been nominated in Spain for a couple of festivals that allowed you to access the Goya Awards and the award was given to some actors that I, personally and without despising their work, I think were given simply because they were TV3 actors. In my opinion, it's unfair because our short film was the best rated of the entire festival and his, on the other hand, the worst rated. That short film had no chance of accessing the Goya Awards and we did.

And what prizes do you have?

We have awards for best short film and best actress at many festivals. In Mequinenza, for example, we won the award for the best short film and the best rated by the public. Now, at that festival, you can access the Goyas; a pity that when we won it was not possible. Who knows, maybe we'd have one now.

In addition, this year it has added three new awards...

Yes, I am very happy. I received the award for Best Actress (Short) at the Cowpokes Int'l Film Festival 2025 for “Con el agua al cuello”, and we were also awarded in the category of Best Supporting Actress. In addition, last year I won the Best Actress award at the Stockholm City Film Festival 2024. These recognitions make me very excited because they are the result of a lot of work and dedication.

Her career has transcended borders, participating in international festivals. How do you define your acting style and how do you connect with audiences beyond Spain?

I have trained in schools in Barcelona and Madrid and, although I have learned many techniques, I prefer to follow my instinct at all times. It has also helped me to investigate the character and create a past for her to know her experiences, since without a past, she is an empty character. You also have to create future needs for them, as well as their desires, their fears, their desires... You have to know where it comes from and where it is going. Above all, don't want to be egocentric when you're an actor: you don't have to seek the applause of the audience, you have to try to be generous with the character.

What projects are you currently working on and what would you like to explore in the coming years?

I am currently improving my book and also looking for a representative in Madrid, which is where I think there are more opportunities. In addition, I am creating my own interior design brand: 'Emma Mood Home', and I seek to create an image that merges my facet as an actress and be able to extrapolate it to my facet as an interior designer. On my social networks I like to advise and guide those who have doubts or want to learn about interior decoration. Having trained as an actress and interior designer has helped me because both disciplines are creative and technical, as they require a lot of knowledge. You have to have everything under control and be very generous, taking into account all the technique behind it, just like in interior design. We destroy a whole life to create a totally new one, as with the characters in the theater.

With 16 awards, 2 nominations and three recent international awards, Emma Ros has established herself as one of the most outstanding Tarragona performers. Between filming, festivals and new projects, her talent and dedication continue to take the name of Tarragona to stages around the world.