Elizabeth Savala turns 70 and is negotiating a return to TV: ‘It’s liberating and positive not to have a contract’

Elizabeth Savala doesn’t have big plans for this Saturday (23), when she celebrates her 70th birthday. “Despite being a Sagittarius, I hate parties. It’s a horrible job for those who do it, you have to make room for the guests. It’s only good for those who go”, says the actress in an interview with F5 by phone, directly from a hospital in Rio where her husband, Camilo Attila, is recovering from a hospital infection.

For her, what’s really special is getting the family together for a simple celebration, doing the little everyday things. This would include the kind of happiness that can be found in moments of carelessness, as Guimarães Rosa would say.

For this round date, she hopes to stay at home with the presence of Camilo, her four children (Tadeu, Cyro, Thiago and Diego Picchi, fruits of her 11-year marriage with fellow actor Marcelo Picchi), daughters-in-law and the family dogs.

The actress comments that one of her plans is to watch a film — if possible, “I’m Still Here”, which portrays the family of former congressman Rubens Paiva after he was kidnapped, tortured and killed by Brazilian army soldiers. The production excites Brazilians with a possible Oscar nomination. Savala hasn’t watched it yet because her husband is hospitalized.

Away from television since ending her fixed contract with Globo in 2022, the actress was able to be reviewed by fans of “Chocolate com Pimenta” (2003) last year, in the Vale A Pena Ver de Novo section. Her character is one of the milestones in the actress’ career, and she claims to still find fans of the iconic Jezebel, a comic villain.

“Jezebel is bad, very bad, much worse than Odete Roitman, from ‘Vale Tudo’. But, because she had humor, people liked it. She was like a Cruella [vilã da história da Disney 101 Dálmatas]terrible, but it won empathy from the public”, he says. Check out excerpts from the interview below.

Taking advantage of the success of the film ‘I’m Still Here’, you can tell us what your life was like at the time of dictatorship? I studied at the drama school at the University of São Paulo and our building was behind the sociology group. Every day someone disappeared from there. The army soldiers turned off the lights on the campus, so we had to attend classes by lamplight. They stood at the door of the rooms watching, we were searched before they could enter.

There are people who call for military intervention in politics.

We cannot and cannot forget this period. Many things were lost. I’m not afraid to take a stand. Walter Salles [diretor de ‘Ainda Estou Aqui’] He is an enlightened person. I haven’t watched the film yet because I’m in the hospital with my husband, but it’s essential, we have to go to the cinema. There should be a film like this every four years so we don’t forget what happened.

When did you tell your parents that you wanted to be an actress?

I always had two dreams in my life, which were to have a family and to be an actress. I’m from São Paulo, and my family has a printing company in the city founded by my father. I worked there from 12 years to 19 years. I liked the sales part, it helped me in life and my father wanted me to stay at the company. But he had been acting since he was 7 years old, doing small plays at school.

So how did you decide to pursue acting?

I had to be an actress because I only knew how to do that, I had no other training. When I was 13, I watched the show “A Moreninha”, by Marília Pêra, and I was fascinated.

Chocolate com Pimenta turned 20 this year, and her role as Jezebel is one of the most memorable in her career in the eyes of the public. What do you remember about the time?

The character is very comical, but much worse than Odete Roitman, from “Vale Tudo”. She had humor and was terrible, a kind of Cruella, but she won the audience’s empathy. I consider Walcyr Carrasco a great novelist.

With 25 soap operas on the list, is there one that you consider to have been a turning point in your career?

The first version of “Gabriela”, from 1976. It was a success. The cast and I went to Portugal to promote the plot, and it was crazy. We had to carry bodyguards, we were photographed wherever we went. We paraded in an open car, saying goodbye. I think soap operas are Brazil’s biggest export product, we are very respected.

Since you broke your contract with Globo, you haven’t done any more soap operas. It was good?

I found it liberating and positive. It’s a time to choose jobs because, being hired, you are obliged to do the work. Now I feel freer and it’s wonderful to be able to choose. I’m older, I have more uncertainties and it’s more interesting. Not being sure of anything, you take stock of your life more. I haven’t slept for a long time now that I’m asleep. We stink like hell, it’s a lot of sweat and tears. I’m from a generation where actresses needed to be thin. Now I can sleep, go to the bakery, do normal people’s things and make emotional contributions.

The broadcaster is preparing a continuation of “Eta Mundo Good” for 2025. Will you participate?

We are in the reconversation and contract negotiation phase, but I want to participate. Premieres in March. I recorded a participation in “Dona Beja” too, by Max. I think that the audience for soap operas continues to be soap opera audiences, who like good stories. Open TV still has a place among the older generation and should be maintained.