Gabriela Duarte says she avoids talking about politics with her mother: ‘Each one is responsible for their CPF’

Politics is definitely not a subject to be discussed at Sunday lunch at the Duarte family home. This is what reveals Gabriela Duarte, 48, daughter of Regina, 76, former secretary of Culture in the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

“I learned to separate things to have harmony in living together. Because she is my mother. And she respects me too. We talk about life, about everyday things of a family”, says the artist, who has just left the TV casting Globo after 35 years, in an interview with F5.

Over the past three years, Regina Duarte began to be heavily criticized by former colleagues in the dramaturgy and on social networks for her position in favor of Bolsonaro. It was between March and May 2020 that she was part of the then president’s government. After a frying process conducted by Planalto and allies, Bolsonaro announced on social media that he would take over the Cinemateca Brasileira, in São Paulo – which never happened.

Since then, however, Regina’s image has become rusty, mainly due to the dissemination of many fake news on the internet, whose themes ranged from the Yanomami crisis to attacks on President Lula (PT).

Evidently, this whole situation ended up splashing on Gabriela. After all, it is her mother that people criticize. Even so, the actress says that most knew how to separate one thing from the other, that she was never disrespected in her work environment and that she does not consider that there was any damage to her continuity at Globo due to her mother’s attitudes.

“I always say that everyone is responsible for their CPF. I never wanted to believe that in some way I could be affected by my mother’s opinions or charged to speak out. I didn’t and will continue to do so.”

Check out the interview below.

After 35 years as a Globo employee, your contract has not been renewed. Was it taken by surprise? The decision to end this cycle did not happen overnight. I’ve been working there for many years. It takes care and respect always, but at these times even more. Perhaps the absence of calls for work even with the post-pandemic resumption was already a sign. But yeah, I wouldn’t say I wasn’t surprised. After all, there were 35 uninterrupted years of contract.

What are your plans for now, what’s next? I am in the process of writing an autobiographical book about my journey in search of identity, alongside journalist and writer Brunna Condini. And with the monologue based on the feminist manifesto “O Papel de Parede Amarelo”, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, adapted by Annalee and directed by Clarice Niskier. This is what I have concrete and in progress. But, in terms of ideas, there are many interesting projects to come.

Many people who leave Globo say they seek more autonomy and professional freedom. Simultaneously, there is less stability. How do you see this question? First, you need to understand what stability is. We know that a fixed contract brings us financial stability – and that’s good, yes. But, on the other hand, it’s been 35 years in that format. Which gives me the opportunity to be able to take a risk today. To show myself in other ways as an artist. All of this comes at a beautiful time in my life. Of many internal discoveries. They are always choices and every choice has its counterpart. For my part, I have always made a point of honoring my choices, making every counterpart count.

In a personal retrospective, do you consider Eduarda from “Por Amor” (Globo, 1997-1998) one of your main works? Eduarda went viral at a time when social networks were in their infancy, the internet was not so popular. Can you imagine her today? I’m dying of curiosity to think about what her cancellation would be like. Or the other way around. Who knows. But I have deep affection for her. I would defend Eduarda today, for sure, and I know that many people would be with me in this defense.

Do you believe that the troubled relationship between your mother and Globo, especially after her political positions, may have influenced (or harmed) your career in some way? Honestly, I don’t see this troubled relationship between the company and my mother. Her departure from TV Globo [em fevereiro de 2020] happened on good terms, and it couldn’t be different after half a century of success, the result of this partnership. I was always treated like Gabriela Duarte at the company. My bosses and co-workers respected (and do) me. I don’t think it has any influence.

Your image ends up being quite linked to that of your mother… In any case, I prefer to think that it is neither reasonable nor fair that they treat or see me as an individual, with their own ideas, positions, trajectory and dreams.

How do you deal with heavy criticism of your mother’s political position, who is also not afraid to expose her opinions, however controversial and controversial they may be? I always say that everyone is responsible for their CPF. And I never wanted to believe that somehow I could be affected by my mother’s opinions or asked to express myself on topics that my professional colleagues, artists, are not asked to do. The press was the one that demanded that I answer for their opinion. As if it were my duty. I didn’t and will continue to do so.

Do these charges bother you? People need to understand that I am Gabriela, with different stories, trajectories, personalities and thoughts, and that we respect each other.

Do you talk about this subject with Regina Duarte? How are the chats? Of politics? No. I learned to separate things to have harmony in living together. Because it’s my mother. And she respects me too. We talk about life, everyday things of a family.