Juliana Paes returns to play a criminal, but says this one is different

If there’s one thing Juliana Paes can’t complain about, it’s the lack of success in her professional life. After the soap opera “Renascer” on Globo and “Pedaço de Mim” on Netflix, she’s in a new production. This time, she’s the protagonist of “Vidas Bandidas” on Disney+, playing an outlaw woman. Paes assures that Bruna has nothing to do with another criminal she recently played: Bibi Perigosa, in “A Força do Querer” (2017).

“Bruna is a strong, independent character and completely different from Bibi, who had a more passionate streak. Bruna chose this path of deviation, this path of criminal life,” she says.

Paes agrees that she is going through a phase of maturation as an actress and has been making better choices and making fewer concessions. “I’ve been saying yes to myself more and I feel confident about how I want to perform a scene. I’m less willing to negotiate, because the character is mine. I really get into the character, I study the character a lot,” she says. “We need to be open to talking to the cast and the director on set, but in some cases, I know what I want to say with that scene.”

Happy at home

“Vidas Bandidas”, which premieres this Wednesday (21) and is the second series with Juliana in the cast that premieres in a short space of time. The actress also hopes for an international success and said that she no longer thinks about a career outside of Brazil.

“I’ve had these ideas and these pseudo-invitations, but I’m too attached to my home, to my family. It’s hard to imagine myself leaving my children, spending three months traveling abroad. It’s not something to belittle me for not having the courage. I think it’s joy, I like being here. I like being with my family. I feel complete here. I’ve never felt this motivation to look for something outside,” she says.

“Bandit Lives”

Bruna, played by Juliana Paes, is the leader of a gang that robs tourists in Rio. The miniseries follows the story of the gang leader, who includes Raimundo (Thomas Aquino) and Serginho (Rodrigo Simas). The twist happens when the accomplices decide to rob the boss.

The crime takes place on a luxury boat and the situation gets out of control. Serginho accidentally kills Lara (Larissa Bocchino), Bruna’s sister, and flees the crime scene. Shot, Raimundo is arrested and convicted. In jail, he discovers that Serginho not only left him to his own devices, but also stole his life and lives his dream of happiness. The two will also have to deal with persecution from Bruna, who wants revenge for her sister’s death.