Catinca Untaru is the only child of the Untaru family. At the tender age of three, she shared her aspirations with her grandparents, expressing her desire to become a theatre actress, eagerly awaiting the day she would receive flowers on a stage. From a young age, she was captivated by fantasy stories and legends, which sparked her imagination and fueled her creativity.
As she began to take English lessons at the age of four, her teacher, a former flight attendant, noticed her interest and started sharing stories about different countries and customs to keep her engaged. This exposure to various cultures and languages helped Catinca develop a unique ability to speak English with different accents.
At the age of 10, Catinca auditioned for the role of Alexandria in Tarsem Singh's The Fall (2006),competing against hundreds of children from around the world. Despite not initially fitting the character description, she won the role, making her the first Romanian child actress to star in an international film. Her discovery was marked by a series of fortunate coincidences, starting with the recommendation of a former teacher and culminating in an impressive audition with the director, Tarsem Singh.
Catinca's experience filming The Fall was a memorable one, with her favorite part being the elaborate costumes designed by Academy Award-winning Eiko Ishioka. She was kept on her toes, not being privy to the entire script, and instead, was constantly surprised by the story. Her mother, Ruxandra, recalls that Catinca would often switch between her normal self and her character, Alexandria, even in her hotel apartment.
The experience of filming in over 20 locations around the world allowed Catinca to explore different countries and learn about various customs. She was particularly impressed by India, where the shooting took place. Despite her maturity for her age, Catinca still enjoys playing with dolls and spending time with her friends. During the filming, her biggest wish was to return home and resume her normal life.
In her free time, Catinca enjoys reading books, writing stories, and even dreams of making movies one day. After the filming ended, she returned to school and became the head of her class. As of January 2007, she was involved in a Romanian experimental media project called "10," where a group of kids were planning to create a movie inspired by her own story, blending elements of reality and fantasy.
