Irene Ravache turns 80, guilty for not having been more present during her children’s childhood: ‘I worked a lot until they were six’

If there is one thing that actress Irene Ravache regrets in her life, it is not having spent more time with her children. She says that her absence, due to work, put her sons, now men over 50, in danger. The oldest, Hiram, started using drugs when he was younger. Irene blames herself for this.

“It’s inevitable not to think: where was I when it all started? Why didn’t I see it? But we don’t see it, even because the first reaction the user has is to lie, and they learn to lie better than an actor,” she says, in conversation with F5. The actress, who has just debuted in a play and will soon be seen in three feature films, celebrates her 80th birthday this Tuesday (6)

Off the air since “Éramos Seis” (Globo, 2020), Irene says she hasn’t seen much of what’s happening in soap operas, since TV doesn’t appeal to her like it used to. She also criticizes authors who leave out experienced artists and choose to select new talents based on the grandeur of their social media profiles. “Opportunities should be given, but on what basis? If it’s on the basis of followers, I think it’s shooting yourself in the foot.” Check out more excerpts from the interview below.

How do you assess your 80th birthday?

I went through life like most people do, without any big plans. The only thing I planned was the arrival of my second child. [Juliano, 51]but the rest of it all happened, and the same thing happened in my career. When I look back at my trajectory, I see a ballast and a trail. I evaluate some successes, some stumbles, some mistakes, and on this journey what really helped me was therapy.

Do you demand too much of yourself?

I’ll say something about the show I’m premiering now [‘Alma Despejada’, no Teatro dos Quatro (Rio)] : I have always been average, and that is how I see myself. I am not exceptional in anything, I do not have great intelligence or any great achievements, but I am not completely unnoticed. I like to emphasize this, because people sometimes give an exaggerated value to both their achievements and their pains. Average without fear of being mediocre, in the pejorative sense of the word. I use the word ‘old’, I am not afraid, just as I have never been afraid of the word ‘new’. I have good examples of old people in my house.

Do you regret anything in life?

A lot of things. Some of them I still try to revisit or give a new perspective to, but there are others that perhaps I will only do in a new incarnation. From something simple, like being more dedicated in gym classes, to my professional life, where I could have dedicated more time to some aspects of my career. For example: I could have dedicated more time to preparing myself to be ready to do a musical. I could do it, but I’m not ready.

On your personal side, any regrets?

Not having spent full time with my children. I worked and traveled a lot until they were six years old. And that period is so definitive and important that I don’t know how it could have crossed my mind that I had other things to do. That should have been my main function, an obligation. I believe that some factors could have been different. My children tell me that I’m crazy for thinking that way, but they went through some dangers that I could have intervened in other ways.

The oldest, Hiram, now 58, became addicted to drugs and ended up being hospitalized. Is that what you mean when you talk about ‘dangers’?

When a child uses drugs, it is inevitable to think: where was I when it all started? Why didn’t I see it? But we don’t see it, because the first reaction a user has is to lie, and they learn to lie better than an actor. But that is long in the past; my son is now a psychologist specializing in drug addiction disorders and has been clean since 1995. But I regret not having stayed longer or been more perceptive to realize it.

After going through this, what do you say about the decriminalization of drugs?

I’m a prude, I always have been, I think drugs are horrible. I’m not one of those who are in favor of legalization. It’s not prejudice, but a formed concept. Why use something that is destructive? I’ve always lived with people who drank or used something, but I wasn’t living with destruction, they were people who seemed to know what they were doing, they were unharmed by the consequences.

At 80 years old, you have three films to release and have just premiered the play ‘Alma Despejada’ in Rio. Tell us about this moment.

I did this play before the pandemic, an award-winning text that we premiered to packed houses, but we had to stop. We’ll be back in 2023, in São Paulo, and now, after a tour of the South, I’m returning to Rio with the show. I’m from Rio de Janeiro, I’ve lived in São Paulo for many years, but I’m going to celebrate my 80th birthday in my city, on stage. And the films that will be released now are ‘The Business Women’s Club’, ‘The Hanged Men’ and ‘Passagrana’. They are three completely different roles.

We don’t see you in soap operas anymore. Why?

My contract with Globo ended in February 2023. I had some invitations, but they conflicted with my theater schedule, and I don’t have the ability to do TV and theater simultaneously. I prioritized the stage. The films were shown during the breaks, which was great. But I still don’t have a date to return to TV. I see myself in a moment of passion with theater.

Are there a shortage of good roles for actors over 60?

I think it’s mainly on television. Not for lack of talent, but I believe it’s because of the writers’ choices. Not against the elderly, but because they don’t want to develop a good role that isn’t that of a grandpa or grandma. We have very talented actors who are left without a job market. It’s a shame. The public had time to get to know us, so there’s a vote of confidence. Viewers miss Lima Duarte and Rosamaria Murtinho, because they know what they’re capable of.

Are you against giving big roles to actors and actresses who have never worked on TV?

We all had an opportunity one day, but it wasn’t by chance. Directors went to theaters, saw the young actor, saw possibilities, the mastery of voice, body, and gave them the best chance. When the opportunity is given based on the number of followers on social media, it seems to me that there is a big mistake, and practice has shown this to be the case. Opportunities should be given, but based on what? If it is based on followers, I think it is shooting yourself in the foot for television drama.

Have you been watching TV? Remakes?

Looking at TV now, I don’t watch much, because it doesn’t spark my interest or captivate me. I’m not against remakes, but sometimes I think it’s better not to change them, because the original story gets lost. To remake something, you have to be good at it, committed, and you can’t do it any old way. Changing things just for the sake of changing things isn’t even good. ‘Romeo + Juliet’ (1996), the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, for example, is a gem of a remake, but everything that was precious about the original story is still there.