Barbara Reis, a resident of Méier, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, will give way to another actress from a Rio suburb in the primetime spotlight. With the end of Terra e Paixão, Aline is replaced by Maria Santa whose actress Duda Santos also left the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro. Just like her colleague, who debuted in the “Noble” category and has already played the main role in Walcyr Carrasco's plot, the young woman also hopes that her life will change with Renascer.
“I hope to buy my mother's house. This is one of my dreams,” said Duda in a chat with the TV news.
“Maria Santa” will be the third work for Duda, who is only 22 years old. The actress stood out in Travessia (2022), in which she played Isa, the sister of the problematic Theo (Ricardo Silva), who relies on technology. Before appearing on television, she was a model and took photographs for shops in the community where she lived, Vila da Penha.
“I'm only three years into my career, but my life has already changed a lot. My first job was a special appearance in Malhação: Toda Forma de Amar.” [2020]. After that, I worked as a model for clothing stores in the community where I lived. I have also done photography as a makeup model. Today I no longer work as a model in stores. But I had fun, I made great friends and was very happy. Now I'm dedicating myself to my career as an actress and it's a big dream to be able to make a living from art!” said Duda enthusiastically.
The young woman, the older sister of Rhuan (21), Pedro (18) and Maria Paula (15), left the neighborhood with her family four years ago to be closer to her paternal grandmother. Today, the new Globo star lives in Jacarepaguá, a neighborhood in the western zone of the city, and ensures that she always visits the place that was her birthplace until she comes of age.
“We missed it [a avó] around her and she felt the need to have us close. We are very attached to each other. But I love my heritage. I spend all memorial dates there in Vila da Penha with my family. I always meet people who watched me grow up and they love soap operas. You’re always in the crowd!” Duda cheered.
The actress is managed by the same office as Barbara Reis and knows how important it is to occupy the most important position in a primetime soap opera on TV Globo. “Representation is the feeling of being possible. It's very nice to see black people from the suburbs taking center stage and occupying spaces that are also ours. I want to open doors for others like they were opened for me,” she said.
Duda has his references in art on his sleeve: “Lucy Alves, Indira Nascimento, Belize Pombal, Taís Araujo, Jéssica Ellen, Thalita Carauta, Késia and Juliana Paes are some of the great references as actresses and fantastic people. I admire.” and follow each individual’s work. I was able to be around some of them already and fall in love with them even more.”
Maria Santa is the protagonist of Bruno Luperi's story in the first 15 chapters, but will appear in dream scenes and flashbacks until the end of the soap opera, which premieres on January 22nd.
“It is love in the best sense of the word. She comes to teach, love and reborn these characters. It's sad to only be involved in the first phase because I love doing this soap opera and wanted to spend more time on it.” “My colleagues. But I think the story is beautiful and that’s how it has to be,” said Duda, whose character will die in Chapter 11.