‘Pantanal’: ‘I’m still a muse’, says Giovanna Gold, a Zefa from 1990

She was the first Zefa of “Pantanal”, 32 years ago. Then TV debutant Giovanna Gold, 58, caused quite a stir even in a supporting role – at the time, she was the woman hired by Maria Bruaca (Ângela Leal) to help her in the kitchen and household chores.

Giovanna was featured on magazine covers, became a national muse, and was stopped on the streets. All consistent with the success of the soap opera shown by the extinct TV Manchete, the first to beat Globo in audience. A wonder. Quite a feat, fondly remembered by the actress who, despite good memories, refuses to comment on the current plot.

“I don’t get anything from Globo to talk about the soap opera. I’m not a paid commentator to analyze the work. What I have is a loving commitment to my experience”, says the actress, who recently launched an application created to help artists memorize and interpret texts. A resident of Vidigal, a community in the South Zone of Rio, she admits she is afraid to live there, despite the breathtaking view of the beaches of Leblon and São Conrado. Giovanna gave the following interview to F5:

The remake of “Pantanal” has been breaking audience records on Globo. As Zefa’s interpreter in the first version, did you ever feel jealous of the character?

I don’t call it jealousy. I don’t own Zefa because none of the characters belong to an actor. Hamlet, Shakespeare’s, it’s everybody’s. Do you know what happens when a person says ‘the character was mine’? Lack of contract. I would love to have a contract and be working.

Why aren’t you working?

It’s difficult for everyone. My life today is sending my resume to casting producers, as I always did. I want to do soap opera, film and miniseries. I’m a great actress, I run like hell and I’m successful with my characters because I dedicate myself. Zefa, Alzira from “Mulheres de Areia” and Kátia from “Por Amor” are proof of that.

“Pantanal” was your first soap opera and you soon became a muse. She was one of the muses of the 1990s..(Interrupting) I am muse. I continue to be. I live on art and I live on inspiration and I inspire other people. I take ownership of being a muse and not the character of Zefa. I know how much love, creativity, experience, fantasy, eroticism, madness and ignorance I gave to Zefa.

What do you remember behind the scenes of “Pantanal”?

It was all wonderful. Lots of oxygen, sky, moon, the river and being on the boat with Almir Sater and Sérgio Reis playing guitars and humming while fishing. Sérgio would take my hand so I could put it on the alligator’s head and I was almost scared to death.

Have you returned to the Pantanal?

Recently. I won a trip from the Mato Grosso do Sul Tourism Foundation. A dream trip and I reviewed so many things, recognized several places. It was an amazing and joyful 15 days that made me remember how happy everyone was during the recordings. Everyone under contract!!! That makes a difference for any actor.

In a competitive environment like TV, do you have any grudges against a coworker?

I’m Brazilian (laughs). Point. Talking about it is giving ratings to those who don’t deserve it. I am too elegant to speak ill of others.

What is it like to live in Vidigal?

I’m not born and raised here as I see people beating their chests. In fact, I’m not from anywhere. I was born in Salvador and now live in Rio, but I lived in São Paulo for many years, New York, Buenos Aires, Madrid and Búzios. I’ve been thinking about living in Bonito now because I don’t have this thing of attachment to a corner. But it is difficult to live in a community. I’m afraid, of course. I want to cry and that feeling of helplessness hits. In fact, living in Rio is rotten.

In what sense?

All. Safety, dirt, health, people’s behavior. I was born in 1964 and I thought things would evolve and what happened? A total throwback. The only thing that makes me proud at the moment is Anitta. A girl from Honorio Gurgel and conquered the world. Even she jumped out now. She is a mother burying her daughter, a victim of a stray bullet, a stepmother poisoning her stepchildren, people dying without medical help, values ​​inverted…. Total madness. Not to mention politics.

Speaking of politics…

(Interrupting) I don’t argue about politics. I dialogue. I don’t get into this polarization between Lula and Bolsonaro. I’m on the third way and at the moment thinking about voting for Simone Tebet (MDB candidate, Brazilian Democratic Movement). Lula disappointed me and Bolsonaro can’t even comment. I’m sorry about the artistic class, but Sergio Moro didn’t commit any crime other than putting a criminal in jail. I only regret the course that Brazil has taken in the last five years and look at the right that we had to intubate.

Have you suffered harassment throughout your career?

Who never? But the worst thing for me was the fact that I couldn’t be a comedian because I was considered ‘beautiful’. I also couldn’t have another role character that didn’t explore the ‘sensuality’ that I was labeled. A director once said that a certain role wouldn’t be for me because he needed a ‘junk’ actress. He used that term and I haven’t forgotten. Do you know who was cast? His daughter.

I noticed that you evaded the questions about the “Pantanal” remake. Because?

I don’t get anything from Globo to talk about the soap opera. I am not a paid commentator to analyze the work. What I have is a loving commitment to my experience. An experience that lasts and it was wonderful. I am happy to talk about Zefa.