1 of 7 The actors Diego Martins and Amaury Lorenzo, Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and Passion” — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 2 of 7 The actors Diego Martins and Amaury Lorenzo, Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and Passion” — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 3 of 7 actors Diego Martins and Amaury Lorenzo, Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and Passion” — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 4 of 7 actors Diego Martins and Amaury Lorenzo, Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and Passion” — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 5 of 7 Actors Diego Martins and Amaury Lorenzo, Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and Passion” — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 6 of 7 Actors Diego Martins, Kelvin from “Land and Passion” “ — Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki 7 of 7 Actors Amaury Lorenzo, Ramiro from “Land and Passion” Photo: Vinícius Mochizuki
The interpreters of Kelvin and Ramiro from “Land and passion” pose together for EXTRA
As they leave the Estúdios Globo, Amaury Lorenzo and Diego Martins are approached by a lady who asks them for a photo. After taking care of her, the two get into the same car on the way to this EXTRA story, to her euphoria: “Oh look, they’re together in real life too!”.
The support for the Kelmiro couple from “Land and Passion” has pushed the boundaries of the fiction dictated by author Walcyr Carrasco, in which brooding foreman Ramiro (Amaury) fights against his feelings because he believes it’s wrong to like one While Kelvin (Diego), Naitandei’s new partner, tries to convince him that it’s worth fighting prejudices and living this love.
Away from the stage, the harmony between the actors also extends to the funny videos published on their social networks, captivating and confusing the warmhearted fans of the duo, nicknamed Kelmiretes.
— I think that this pressure is normal for us to become a real couple. It’s something people create to become even cooler. We’re really close in real life, and that ends up giving vent to other people’s fantasies. I myself was already hoping for something like this when I was watching films and thought that these couples could be real, for my own amusement observes Diego, 26 years old, from São Paulo from Campinas, who now lives in Barra, West Zone of Rio, alive.
Amaury, 38, jokes about speculation that the two are in a relationship.
— Diego is a beautiful, intelligent and interesting man… If all of Brazil is in love with him, then why shouldn’t I be? suggests the miner from Congonhas, who lived in Niterói but left the city to go to Recreio dos Bandeirantes to be closer to the work in Jacarepaguá.
In this relaxed and goodhumored atmosphere, just like that of Kelvin and Ramiro in the nine o’clock soap opera, complete with the famous little squeeze, the photo shoot and the interview took place with those who made the greatest success of “Land and Passion” took place.
— We wanted to shoot with elegant looks because we wanted to convey a different image than what we see on TV and what we usually wear in our daily lives. I’ve never done such a beautiful editorial before,” said Diego, who has a career as a drag queen and usually wears heels, wigs and elaborate makeup for themed photo shoots.
Almost the namesake of Diego’s character, Kevin, the fashion producer on the agenda, wondered whether Amaury would accept wearing a skirt while filming.
Why not? The more we address bias, the more Ramiros will be produced out there. These photos simply show two men. A black man and a white man. And it’s our first cover together! he was proud.
Are you single?
Amaury: I am. I’m very affectionate, I like to listen, I like to talk… It’s difficult to balance work and love life. Soap operas require athletic commitment, and I like to do everything very well. I miss (a company), but…
Diego: I was in a very long relationship that ended a year ago. For the past few months I have been engrossed in the soap opera.
Have you received a lot of flirts and nude photos?
A: Lots of nudes! Nowadays, while running on the beach, I constantly had to stop to take photos. They asked if they could squeeze my butt. I left it, no problem.
D: If people ask, fine. But they squeeze me surprisingly… They come, squeeze and kiss me. Suddenly a hand appears. “Kelvin likes to be squeezed, doesn’t he?” Yes, but I’m not Kelvin…
How did the famous squeeze happen?
A: It came into the text and we expanded on it. It’s a fun way to show affection. The small pressure is an exciting thing. He presses, but he wants to touch, kiss…
The public is demanding the first real kiss between Kelvin and Ramiro, and there are already people writing fanfics with juicy scenes between the two. Do you also hope that this relationship goes beyond kissing?
D: Fans love making up side stories. They want the couple every day, the sex. It’s high time to air spicier scenes between two equals. How many sex scenes do we see from heterosexual couples? Even in a seven o’clock soap opera! I’m not just talking about “land and passion”: we have to remove the stigma, end the taboo.
A: If they create fanfics, that’s a sign they want more, right? Audiences have been watching soap operas for 60 years. The more a kiss is problematized, the further it becomes from normality. Walcyr will know the right time to write the expected scene. We trust. Why can a heterosexual couple kiss on the street and a gay couple not?
D: When I was 18, I experienced an embarrassing situation in Osasco, where I lived with my parents. My boyfriend and I shared a quick kiss at the gate of the building. The property manager saw it from the window and sent a letter to my father and all the condo owners saying that João’s son was committing lewd acts in the open and common areas of the building. We took them to court for homophobia. There were witnesses in our favor, but we lost the trial. Years later, a lady who testified against us apologized. She said she was sorry. People have their time, but we can’t wait.
A: Nobody ever banned us from kissing on the soap opera because the kiss was never written. We only record what the author writes. The script goes like this: “They almost kiss,” “an atmosphere of affection.” The demand for the kiss comes from the public.
D: The first questions they ask me are: “Where is Ramiro?” and “When are you going to kiss?” People of all ages, everywhere.
Diego has already declared himself a gay man. And you, Amaury, consider yourself part of the LGBTQIA+ community?
A: Of course I feel that way! I am a theater teacher and I murdered three students because they were LGBTQIA+. One was killed by his father. I welcomed a friend into my house who was beaten for being with another man on the street. I have expelled former students of evangelical parents because of their homosexuality. How can I not participate in this fight? We will be taking part in an LGBTQIA+ parade on the 29th (in Madureira). They invited me to be the king, but I can switch places with Diego and be the queen.
But do you identify with any of the letters in the acronym?
A: I consider myself an LGBTQIA+ man. It could be that I’ll soon marry another man, cis or trans, a woman, cis or trans… It could be that I’ll have sex with a tree. I know the public is curious about my sexuality. I have no problem with that. The only problem is when the topic is over my work as an actor.
Was it quiet when you declared your homosexuality, Diego?
D: This topic was never an issue at home as my parents had many gay and lesbian family members even before I was born. That made the difference. They graduated with a different mindset, they were always very connected to the arts. So I was never afraid of what would become of me, but rather afraid of what I would suffer. Even as a teenager I thought boys were cute, but at that point I didn’t want to do anything about it. When I was 16, I fell in love with my best friend, who became my first boyfriend. But I had dated girls before him. My mother only advised me not to become a drag queen because she was a type of artist who usually only worked in clubs at night, and I had talent beyond that. And that’s exactly what I became, Drag Diego. Now she loves watching me ride. I was always afraid of being prejudiced and losing my job because of my personality. Anyone who puts their face forward and says “I’m gay” runs the risk of not being accepted, no matter how talented they are. But I had no choice and didn’t want to. I prioritize who I am and my freedom.
Amaury, have you ever suffered from any prejudice?
A: I always hear that I went to bed with everyone to star in this soap opera, that I’m exploring my body… They try to attack me because I’m a 6’2″ black man with a big ass and big chest . Folks, it’s been 25 years of theater! Prejudice will always run through the veins of our society. As a child, in the interior of Minas, at the age of 8 or 9, I was already the target of cruel comments because I danced classical ballet. One time I was leaving class and I heard people calling me a fag and I didn’t even know what that meant. When I turned around, they were saleswomen from a clothing store. In the neighborhood where I lived, a boy shouted, “Amaury, look back!” He had a shotgun pointed at me. He called me a fag and shot me. It left a hole in my back. I began to be ashamed of ballet. When I was 10, I wanted to audition for a ballet company in London, and my mother went to school to ask me for permission to go to Belo Horizonte. When I returned two days later, the English teacher sneered in front of 40 students: “Did you know Amaury is a dancer? If I spoke out, I would be expelled from school.” Therapy helped me overcome it.
What exciting impact did it have on soap opera audiences?
A: A man told me that he was married to a woman for years. When the children turned 18, he opened up, she understood, the two separated and became friends. Then he added: “I am 64 years old. I look at Antônio La Selva (Tony Ramos’ character in the soap opera) and see my father. As long as he is alive, the prejudices are so deeply rooted in me that I cannot kiss another man. I think I’ll be free of guilt shortly when he leaves.” Look how painful it is: He’s waiting for his own father’s death to find the courage to be who he is, and to love whoever he wants! Diego and I recorded a scene in which Ramiro says to Kelvinho: “I want to love you, but I can’t.” That’s not how I learned it. “Doing a scene like that hurts me so much… Even that most conservative audience tells me, “How sad that this guy won’t be able to be with this little boy soon.”
Have you ever been embarrassed to reveal a relationship?
D: Don’t admit it, no. But to assume. I had a homophobic friend (Amaury is surprised by his friend’s statement). Homophobic gays are the most common in the world! It’s not normal, but it’s common. Just like a sexist woman. He declared himself gay to his family when we were already together, his friends knew that. There was the stereotype of the normal man, you know? When I started pulling myself together, putting on makeup and appearing in high heels, he coped very badly. He said aggressive, horrible things to me. We separated and didn’t speak to each other for a long time. He left Rio, went abroad to study and came to me after about two years. We talked a lot and today he is a free person. It doesn’t even look like that.
Ramiro is a murderer, and his love for Kelvin has not yet redeemed him: he continues to commit crimes. Why do you think you gained public sympathy?
A: The public likes transformation. He realized that deep down this man is a product of his environment. It’s not bad, there’s just something there. Lacking affection and needing to survive, he ends up committing violence. People think: “Ramiro is a murderer, but he wants to change.” I will support him.” And there is humor in everything. This is a way to talk about the most difficult topics in a light way and make people think. I’m confident that Walcyr will write Ramiro’s Metamorphosis because he deserves it. I don’t think I’ll be an angel. We humans are constantly good and bad. But you have to stop killing.
The dream scenes that Ramiro has with Kelvin are a chapter in themselves, truly super productions. What do these shots look like?
D: They have dreams that take a long time to make. In this case mine. Because Amaury just puts on a shirt and leaves. I’m the one who suffers from the characterization.
A: Diego always records behind the scenes and edits them for the broadcasters. In other words, you can go back to the “video show” with his talk (laughs).
D: I’m doing this right now because the “video show” doesn’t exist anymore. I loved! I’ve always been waiting for Our Fault… People love to know!
Do you also dream a lot when you are in love?
D: I generally dream a lot. When we’re in love, we end up developing a strong bond with each other, so that’s normal.
A: I dream about Ramiro 24 hours a day. I am in love with him. I sleep with him and wake up with him, have lunch and dinner with him. I dreamed of forgetting the lyrics, being yelled at, coming to the recording at the wrong time and place…
Who is your dream crush?
D: Today I can’t say it. But as a kid, my biggest crush was Ricky Martin. This man was and is an event: cat, singing, dancing…
A: I have a crush on Susana Vieira. When we recorded together I was nervous, I thought she was going to scold me. But she hugged me afterwards and asked, “Did you feel horny?” I said yes and she said, “Me too! That’s the most important thing.” I also have a crush on Tony Ramos. Beautiful, friendly… As he leaves the scene, he holds his hand behind the camera and helps us find the best angle. And Gloria Pires? I’m thinking of calling Walcyr and asking him to make us lovers. But my first crush was a preschool teacher.
And what is your biggest nightmare?
A: I cannot make a living from my work in this country. I have huge nightmares about not being able to pay my bills the only way I can.
D: I also have the nightmare of not being able to be who I am. Today (October 10, the day of this interview) the chamber passed a bill banning samesex marriage. It is frightening to know that such a proposal was even adopted. I have the right to be myself. It’s a nightmare to lose it.
A: That’s why I think we can make small revolutions with soap operas. If we deepen the debate about whether two men can have a family, we are getting involved in political issues, in this absurd backlash.
Do you dream of getting married and having children?
D: Do you know that I don’t know? I’m a Taurus… Sometimes I feel like this; sometimes it passes. But I want to have a child, raise an adopted child. As a child, I wrote an essay in which I said I wanted to adopt. I had many good examples in my family. My grandmother adopted, a cousin of mine adopted, I had an adopted friend…
A: I want to have many children, at least three. My concern is that I’m almost 40. The older I get, the less fun I’ll find it.
Do you know friends, do you know each other’s families?
A: Within the first ten minutes my mother calls me and wants to know something about me. Then he immediately asks about him: “And Diego, are you okay? Feed? He works just like you.” She keeps insisting that he go to Niterói because she wants to make him lunch. She is in love with Kevinho, Jussara (Tatiana Tibúrcio) and Tony Ramos. Imagine Tony eating my mother’s food (laughs)…
D: I tease Amaury all day on Instagram stories. My mom also says, “You don’t think he’s had enough, do you?”
A: Our professional relationships are also personal. One program ran a quiz to find out how well I knew Diego. I answered all the questions correctly: food preferences, clothing, color… For these characters to be so true, we must be united.
Do they have nicknames they call each other?
D: He calls me Diego Moraes and I call him Arilzon Lorenzo.
A: We went to São Paulo and they left me a message at the hotel like this: “It is a great pleasure to welcome you, Arilzon Lorenzo” (laughs).
D: And he has a personality when he’s really tired. It becomes slower than it already is and Julinho appears, who must be around 7 or 8 years old, with a thin voice.
Amaury was already seen crying in a video on Instagram thanks to the hashtag #teamamosamaury. Why were you so emotional?
A: Ah, at the beginning of the soap opera I had a problem behind the scenes, I even thought about quitting. They almost convinced me that I wasn’t good enough. Then we became successful. I’m very committed, a perfectionist, like any good shooter. Recently they said I was blinded and wanted to leave Ramiro to do “Irmãos Coragem”, check it out! I cried so much… In the stories, someone asked me if I was happy with the character and I said: “Ramiro is with me wherever I go.” I didn’t give up on him because he didn’t give up on me has. It’s magical, spiritual. Then people uploaded this hashtag loving me. I was touched, I still get goosebumps.