Fernanda Torres is just days away from attending the Oscar awards gala in Los Angeles, a situation she never imagined she would experience and which has completely changed the course of her life. The actress is the second Brazilian to achieve a nomination in the Best Actress category, an accomplishment that fills her with emotion and gratitude.
The film for which she is nominated, "I'm Still Here," has received three Oscar nominations in total: Best Picture, Best International Feature, and Best Actress. Fernanda Torres feels honored to be among the five nominees for Best Actress at the Oscars and describes this experience as a sense of mission accomplished.
The story of the film is based on the life of Eunice Paiva, a prominent figure in the resistance against Brazil's last military dictatorship. After her release, Eunice dedicated her life to seeking justice for the victims of state terrorism, a path that led her until her passing in 2018. Torres's performance as Eunice Paiva has been praised by critics and the public for its depth and emotionality.
Fernanda Torres shares that an actor's natural reaction to tragedy is to show strong emotions, but portraying Eunice Paiva in "I'm Still Here" took her to a completely different approach that changed her perspective as an actress. After the awards season, she plans to take a well-deserved break and enjoy the moment peacefully.
The film, which premieres on February 20th in theaters in Mexico, has received international recognition for its cinematographic quality. It was named one of the five best international films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, won the Best International Feature award at the Palm Springs Film Festival, and received the Goya Award for Best Ibero-American Film. The Oscar nomination is an unprecedented milestone for Brazilian cinema and an achievement that makes the entire team involved in the project proud.
In Fernanda Torres's words, the goal from the beginning was for this film, so Brazilian and spoken in Portuguese, to have a global impact. She emphasizes the importance of addressing sensitive topics like the military dictatorship to raise awareness and understanding among the public. The story of Eunice Paiva and her fight for justice has touched many viewers and contributed to broadening the perspective on a dark period in Brazil's history.
The actress concludes the interview by sharing that she still cannot fully grasp the success of the film and feels grateful for the positive response she has received. For Fernanda Torres, portraying Eunice Paiva has been an emotional and artistic challenge that has deeply marked her, reminding her of the importance of telling stories that leave a mark on the audience.
