Playing the villain is tough job, but someone has to do it. Luckily for the newest addition to Univision's soap opera selections "La Gata," Laura Zapata likes being the bad guy.

"I love being the villain of villains," the 58-year-old actress said in an interview with EFE.

In "La Gata," which premiered on Univision on Monday, Zapata plays Lorenza Martinez Negrete, who is a fancy, sophisticated mother.

"The bad ones are the most intelligent characters in the story because they are the ones that move the plot," Zapata said.

Zapta's Lorenza character would hate to see her wealthy son, Pablo Martinez Negrete (played by Daniel Arenas, a Colombian actor best known for his roles in "Corazón indomable" and "Teresa"), end up with a poorer girl like Esmeralda (who is played by Mexican actress Maite Perroni, known for "Cuidado con el ángel" and "Rebelde").

"Lorenza says 'every sheep with its partner' and she is sure that the difference in classes, education, social position and values must be taken into account when it comes to love," Zapata said.

Although Zapata likes being the foe, the Mexican actress insists that she is nothing like her evil characters.

"Away from the cameras, I'm a human being full of compassion and loving to those around me," she said.

Zapata gained fame in 1974 through "Mundo de juguete," a telenovela. She played a high school student in the soap opera; after the role she "devoted herself to playing heroines in television dramas," according to EFE. She is also the half-sister of singer Thalia.

As previously reported by Latin Post, "La Gata" made its premiere in Mexico earlier this year. The soap opera also stars Paloma Luis de Alma ("Impulses") as Mónica, Juan Verduzco ("Por siempre mi amor") as Agustin Martinez Negrete and Manuel Ojeda ("Corazón salvaje") as El Silencioso.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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