The performers of Renée and Polvilho, Shi Menegat and Gahbi stand out in a soap opera that boasts one of the most diverse casts in television history
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Heloisa Noronha
Shi Menegat and Gahbi: soap opera debut, marking a historic milestone in television representation
Photo: Divulgação Globo (Léo Rosario)/Reproduction Instagram @gahbioficial
The remake of Globo’s “Elas por Elas” is a milestone in soap opera representation on Brazilian television. In addition to being the first film to feature a trans woman as the protagonist, Maria Clara Spinelli’s Renée, the film also features a strong Black cast and features debutant nonbinary artists who have become popular with viewers: Shi Menegat and Gahbi.
Shi Menegat
Shi is 29 years old and plays Renée at a young age before she moves on. “It’s really cool to see how a soap opera can follow in this way and help create and show new narratives that make the audience identify and examine their questions and ideas,” he commented in a recent Interview with “Extra”.
Shi also said that he is using all pronouns at the moment. “I really like thinking fluidly about my gender. “It’s very liberating,” he admitted.
He has acting training at the Casa de Teatro de Porto Alegre (2019), a bachelor’s degree in social communication from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), a master’s degree in semiotics and communication cultures and is a member of the Teatro da Matilha. In addition to acting, he also works in the areas of cultural production, production direction, executive production and project management.
This week Shi Menegat premiered Lucia Murat’s film The Messenger at the Rio festival. In the film, which takes place during the military dictatorship, he plays a soldier and plays Cris from “Elas por They” alongside Valentina Herszage.
Gahbi
Gahbi, 34, is not only an actor, but also a communicator, drag queen, comedian, influencer and activist. Until he adopted the neutral stage name when he identified himself as a nonbinary person, he used Gabriel Borges. “Until I was 33, I identified as a gay man. But I always had the feeling of being a stranger in this world, in the family, school and religious context,” he told the “Metrópoles” portal.
Gahbi was the first person to obtain the correction of gender on documents as nonbinary in an individual lawsuit in federal district court. The success occurred in December 2022.
At the end of September, the actor spoke about the process in an interview with the Heloísa Tolipan website: “Although I had received the judge’s permission for gender correction, I still have not received my certificate. They delayed the process. I did it.” “Don’t change the name, the certificate continues Gabriel.” Although he doesn’t have the documents at hand, Gahbi stands out in “Elas por Elas” as Polvilho, a friend of Maria Clara Spinelli’s character.
7 hits from “Elas por Elas” presented
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