Being the Daughter of Acting Legends
I was raised in the wings of theater.
I was raised in the wings of theater.
Our dining table was the place where they rehearsed.
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In one of them, I won a Palme dOr at Cannes at the age of 19.
So that created, for me, a kind of separation that I existed and they existed separately.
And also, my generation wanted to be actors, so I had the generation.
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It was not only something related to my parents.
I had my generation to grow with, so that was important.
But, then the Brazilian film industry was nearly obliterated.
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Winning Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her work inLove Me Forever or Neverwas a big deal.
In fact, it gave her hope during a period when she was tempted to quit the profession.
I became like a Pelayo [Novo].
I’m Still Here delves into the tumultuous era of 1970s Brazil, focusing on Eunice Paiva’s enduring quest to uncover the fate of her husband, Rubens Paiva, who disappeared during the dictatorship. As she nears the truth after decades, Eunice is confronted with the onset of Alzheimer’s, adding urgency to her search.
It was something unbelievable.
I believed, Wow, now I’ll have an international career.
I will do just cinema.
That was when the first president elected in Brazil closed Embrafilme.
Embrafilme was the main producer of cinema in Brazil, and they just destroyed it.
I went to theater and I didOrlandoby Virginia Woolf.
Eventually, Torres would go on to make a movie that would revitalize movie theaters Im Still Here.
I’m Still Hereopened in Brazil and brought people back to the cinemas.
It’s totally full.Totally full with people applauding and huggingeach other, like a Mass!
This is so beautiful, so beautiful.
The Key to Playing Eunice in Im Still Here?
And to do it smiling.
One of Eunices most remarkable qualities is also a reason Torres performance stands out.
And I never felt what I felt with her.
I never did tragedy.
I never did a Greek tragedy on stage or whatever, but she has this quality.
And to do it smiling.
That made the whole difference because,at a certain point, we are not acting anymore.
We were just being.
To be or not to be, the famous problem.
You do not pretend to feel.
This film has this strange quality.
Of course, we are acting.
But there is something beyond that.
This film is really strange because, what is acting in that scene?
What can you do besides feeling something, or understanding deeply an emotion?
Because when you look at yourself, what will you do?
you’re free to’t do anything, and you hope that there is something there.
I just had the feeling.
We had been through a lot of things.
I mean the character.
Then I could go home.
That day was a special day for me.
The movie tells the real-life story of the Paira family.
Turns out, Torres will never fully separate from Eunice.
It’s like a piano that gets better with the music you play on that keyboard.
She understands, Oh, it’s melodrama.
Oh, it’s comedy.
So when you see her face blank by Alzheimers, its so shocking.
So I think I now have this new keyboard, this new tune in my soul to access.
Eager to hear even more about Torres' journey as an actor and her experience makingIm Still Here?
I’m Still Herearrives in theaters on January 17.
