I’m grossly underutilised as an actor: Catherine Tresa

Over the years, Catherine Tresa has made her presence felt across the South Indian film industry with her striking screen presence and charming roles. But behind the image carefully crafted by the industry lies an actor hungry for more layered, meaningful characters — and a person drawn to ideas, philosophy, and humour in equal measure. As she prepares for the release of her next Telugu film Phani, Catherine opens up about what drives her, the labels she wants to break free from, and why facing a snake on set didn’t faze her. Excerpts:While Catherine doesn't strictly label herself a method actor, she does lean on elements of the approach when needed. "Playing rooted characters, especially in films like Madras, was a unique experience because it requires a deep understanding of the lives people lead before we can authentically portray them," she says. "Director Ranjith made sure that Karthi and I spent time in the area north of Madras, where we participated in a two-week workshop. This was crucial for acclimatising ourselves to the environment and establishing a real connection with the setting. Karthi was easy to work with, and I believe this preparation had a significant impact on our performances."Despite having played a variety of roles across languages, Catherine feels she has largely been boxed into the glamorous heroine image. “I feel that I’m grossly underutilised as an actor. I haven’t yet been given the opportunity to evolve beyond that image. I truly believe I can do much more than just portray glamorous roles. Moving forward, I would love to take on projects where I’m the lead, allowing me to showcase a broader range of my abilities,” she says.Catherine’s multilingual filmography wasn’t a calculated career move — it was simply instinct. “Even before it became a trend, I never really focused on language. For me, it was always about doing films that had the widest reach — whether in Telugu, Tamil, or any other language,” she explains. “I don’t even speak most of these languages fluently. It’s always been about connecting with people, and if our films manage to do that, I feel I’ve succeeded.” she adds.In Phani, Catherine steps into her most layered and significant role yet. “None of my previous roles compare to this in terms of depth and screen presence. It’s the most extensive character I’ve portrayed,” she says. The film also came with its set of challenges — including a scene with a live snake. “When it was time to film, the director’s assistant held the snake very close to me. I was genuinely scared, but that fear helped with the acting. After the shot, I realised how close it was to my face. My director just smiled and said, ‘You did it! That’s the shot I wanted."Catherine is now eyeing comedy as the next chapter in her career. “I want to explore more comedy films. I love making people laugh because it brings joy to both them and me,” she shares. “While I enjoy serious content during the day, I prefer watching lighthearted films to unwind and laugh at night. I believe my natural sense of humor deserves to be showcased on screen.”- Divya Shree