Tereza Seiblitz says fame scared her in the 1990s and that she likes being ‘invisible’ sometimes

In the 1990s, it was only Tereza Seiblitz. The actress, in her 30s at the time, had two of Globo’s biggest hits: she played Joana, in “Renascer” (1993), and the gypsy Dara, in “Explode Coração” (1995). It was good? He was. But Tereza doesn’t hide that fame on such a large scale left her a little scared.

“We deal with fame when we choose this area, but I confess that at that time, I didn’t really know what it was. I had a mother who was a teacher and a father who was a doctor at home. And, suddenly, the shock of you being in the blender at people’s homes,” she tells F5.

The artist turns 60 this Saturday (29), and has one more reason to celebrate: she will play a regular role in a soap opera on the channel after more than 20 years away. The last one was in “Malhação” (2002). In “Volta por Cima”, the next 7pm soap opera with a name that comes in very handy, Tereza will play Doralice, a seamstress who suffers from fragile health.

His return comes after a few years away from audiovisual, a period in which he was able to remain ‘invisible’ and preferred to exchange the television spotlight for the stage and family life. “It was important for me to become the mother I was and continue to be. There was no cell phone, WhatsApp, Instagram. I had to be present.”

You are celebrating your 60th birthday this Saturday (29). What is your assessment?

I don’t think about it, I’m someone who hasn’t kept time since I was a child. Life, for me, is every day, of daily gestures and efforts. I don’t think about these milestones, as the decades and years pass.

Currently, you can be seen in ‘Justiça 2’ (Globoplay). Have you ever felt wronged?

There are stories in the series and it’s been a year since we recorded them. When I think about justice, I don’t think about myself, but, for example, about riverside populations removed from their homes, about subsistence, about the planet losing quality of life. I have been moving in these directions.

Globo shows the remake of ‘Renascer’, 30 years after you played Joana. Have you enjoyed it?

I think it’s beautiful that the character is being remade now. [pela atriz Alice Carvalho]. I notice a different way of conducting, a different language and that is good. It would not make sense to do it the same way as it has been done before.

Do you consider that your greatest moment was playing the gypsy Dara in “Explode Coração” (1995)?

I am lucky to have done such strong soap operas. Gypsy Dara brings me good things, even 28 years later. This year, I went to a 40th birthday party for a group of gypsies and their affection for me was very great. They were people who live dance and culture, who watched the soap opera. Many came to talk to me in a special way.

What did these people tell you?

They were girls who had curly hair like mine and they saw a protagonist with hair like that at that time, which was difficult. They felt represented by me. I was a child who wanted to have straight hair, as I didn’t have anyone with curly hair, so it’s nice to see that. It’s rewarding to play a character that frees people, their desire to dance.

It was actor Ricardo Macchi’s first soap opera. His performance as the gypsy Igor was marked in a pejorative way. Does that bother you?

I don’t know how to respond. Everyone helped him, the whole cast, but… It doesn’t bother me, but it’s a shame they say that.

In the 1990s and 2000s you did a lot on TV. Misses?

I am a woman who moves forward. I don’t think about success, I live in the present and what interests me are good characters, no matter what platform. After Dara, I spent six months in France doing theater, I graduated in mime, and I started motherhood. I didn’t focus on the fact that I was out of soap operas, but on what I still wanted to accomplish. I’m moved like that, I don’t look back.

How did you deal with fame at that time? We deal with fame when we choose this area, but I confess that at that time, I didn’t really know what fame was. At home he had a mother who was a teacher and a father who was a doctor, no one famous. And suddenly, you’re scared of being recognized wherever you go.

Have you ever had problems because you are famous?

Fame can be super invasive. My father was about to have a coronary artery bypass graft surgery and someone at the hospital asked me for an autograph. And I understand her, I was important to her at the time. I learned from her. Now, I find it interesting that sometimes I can become invisible during my life. Years ago, I went to the Baianas ward at Mangueira and the head of that ward didn’t recognize me right away and I thought that was incredible.

It’s nice to be able to move around like a ‘normal’ person, no?

It’s the actor’s basic principle, to change, to become invisible, sometimes to disappear. Somehow, I manage to go to the fair, to the beach. Fame is something for you to deal with. In my moments of reflection, there were times when I didn’t want to hear anyone call me Dara.

I imagine this break has had a positive side for you.

Yes, it was very important for me to become the mother I was and continue to be. There were no cell phones, WhatsApp, or Instagram. I had to be present. I was so happy when I was in the maternity ward with my children, during the postpartum period, because I didn’t have all that work demand and I could dedicate myself to them. Being present, listening, and creating with pleasure is essential for a mother. Working in the theater is a little more continuous in this energy. With TV, the level of exposure and expansion is very high. It allowed me to have a more organic life. My youngest is 18 years old (Juliano). [Além dele, Tereza tem Vittório, 23, e Manuela, 25]

How has the preparation been for the next 7pm soap opera, ‘Volta por Cima’?

I’ve been preparing myself with workshops with seamstresses, and I’m terrible at manual work. But I’ve found this special and delicate work of the character, who is a seamstress, incredible. Half of her income comes from this way. She’s Doralice, a woman who has a heart condition and some weaknesses.

What else can you say about the character? She has a brother played by Milhem Cortaz who is her mainstay. She is married to a bus driver and has a hard-working daughter who had to drop out of school to sell the clothes she makes at home. It is a very Brazilian family, very Carioca. Everything is portrayed in a universe located in Madureira (North Zone of Rio).