MILENA SMIT
*Between Frames
written + interview Alban E. Smajli
Milena Smit moves through cinema with an intuitive force. As an actor, she absorbs characters at their core, shaping them from within. A script carries an atmosphere that guides her, each role unfolding through presence and instinct.
Her first rehearsal with Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz marked a shift. The industry took notice. Without formal training, she learned on set, refining her craft through experience and deep collaboration.
Time on set is fluid, shaped by waiting, by intensity, by the energy of those around her. Beyond acting, new ambitions form—studies, personal growth, the idea of motherhood. Every role, every decision, every moment exists fully in its own space.
dress ISABEL SANCHÍS
jewelry YVES SAINT LAURENT
heels FERRAGAMO
Alban E. Smajli
When you take on a role, do you see it as an act of becoming—or of undoing?
Milena Smit
For me, the key is learning to work with the emotions of the characters while disconnecting from those that might trigger my own personal wounds. I used to rely on my own emotions and experiences, but it took a heavy toll on my mental health.
What does “Ephemeral” mean to you in an era that’s obsessed with capturing and archiving everything?
Being present, so those small moments don’t slip by unnoticed.
Do you think cinema is closer to memory or to dreaming?
I believe it’s a perfect blend of memory and dreams, with a touch of magic added.
Is there a single moment in your career so far that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever?
The first rehearsal I had with Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz in their office, back when I still didn’t know if I was going to play Ana in Parallel Mothers.
When the script is in your hands, what pulls you in first? Is it the story, the silence between the words, or the world it creates?
The aura of the script, the energy conveyed by the story and the character.
Your work feels like you’ve found beauty in imperfection. How much of that is you, and how much comes from surrendering to the process?
I try to approach everything I do from instinct and gut feelings. I don’t have much experience with technique, since my school has been the work itself and the people I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on various projects.
What’s more exciting to you, playing a character who feels like home or one that feels completely foreign?
I like the duality of both. I wouldn’t know which one to choose.
If your life were a film, what genre would it be today? Would tomorrow maybe be something else?
Right now, it would be a documentary about spirituality (laughs), but there have been moments of everything—drama, horror, romantic comedy…
What’s your relationship with time when you’re on set? Does it move too fast or too slow?
It depends on the day. On set, there’s always a lot of waiting, but I try to bring a book for those moments or enjoy the time with my colleagues. However, there are also days that are tough.
What excites you most about the worlds you’re bringing to life next?
Fulfilling other dreams, like continuing my studies, growing personally, becoming a mother someday, and living precious moments with my family.
total look DSQUARED2
dress HHABEY CLUB
shoes JIMMY CHOO
“I used to rely on my own emotions and experiences, but it took a heavy toll on my mental health.”
Milena Smit speaks with Alban E. Smajli
for LE MILE Issue 38 / Ephemeral Edition SS25
full look SAINT LAURENT
full look LOEWE
jewelry BULGARI
full look ARMANI
jewelry BULGARI
talent MILENA SMIT
photographer LEIRE CAVIA
set designer JOSEFINA MAIZA
stylist MANU MENDI
make up + hair REBECA TRILLO-FIGUEROA using YSL Beauty
photo assistants ALBERTO FERNANDEZ + NICOLE WAR + ELENA DIAZ
set assistan t DELFINA AYERZA
stylist assistants RAUL GONZALEZ + MARIA GADEZ
Thanks to CRAM TALENT