By Jorge Calvillo (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 23, 2014 12:39 AM EDT

Playing a character surrounded by luxury, comfort, good food, hygiene and living in a "decent" home is not complicated for any artist, but giving life to a character whose world is surrounded by trash, rats, poverty and mistreatment is an experience any actor can value and remember for the rest of their lives.

For actress and singer Maite Perroni, playing her new character, Esperanza "La Gata", is more than a challenge, it's a professional and life experience which has allowed her to see a reality so far from her own in which many people live.

"We're used to living our story, in our world and for us that's what's real and tangible, we know there are other ways of living, but we don't feel them because they are not a part of our lives and when you come out from your own space and arrive at another, it's inevitable to know nothing, observe and realize how it is. It's a special place, we've met some incredible people, we're shared with the people working and living there," said Maite in an interview for Quién.

The character of "La Gata" forces Maite to spend a large portion of her time in a garbage dump, in conditions of extreme poverty and projecting a lack of education. "You're there and its impossible not to feel and imitate these circumstances, it's been two months of filming on location, where practically 80% of my character's story develops. It's quite an experience, it's very hard, but at the same time it's a life lesson and at the same time you realize other things, because you touch other realities," she added.

Maite assured that "La Gata", a remake of a Venezuelan telenovela from the 60's is not a story that is out of touch from reality, detailing that the script contains the contrast of two realities which allows the sensitization of the audience to a stronger reality than what they're used to.

La Gata is Televisa's new telenovela and will premiere on May 5.

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