At just 13 years old, actor and musician Arthur Monteiro is experiencing a career surge, joining the cast of the international Netflix series Man on Fire, filmed in Mexico and premiering on April 30th. Passionate about music and acting since childhood, the young artist has training in theater, television, and singing, in addition to mastering multiple instruments. In an interview, Arthur talks about the experience of acting alongside big names in international cinema and about the next steps in an increasingly promising career.
Arthur, looking at your story, it’s clear that art entered your life very early. At what point did you feel that music and acting stopped being just a hobby and became part of who you are?
It’s very difficult to answer that, because I think I’ve always been certain of this, especially in music. It’s been in my life for as long as I can remember. I learned colors from my uncle’s guitar picks. I’ve always lived surrounded by children’s stories and theater. My games consisted of telling stories with toys. But it was in 2024 that I realized I wanted to act professionally.
You started out creating stories, playing with puppets, singing, and playing instruments when you were very young. Today, when you go on stage or enter a scene, do you feel that the boy you once were is still alive inside the artist you are becoming?
Absolutely. I always feel that way. And I feel that this boy is very proud of all our achievements.
Her debut was in an international Netflix production, filmed in Mexico, alongside many well-known names. What was it like to have such a big experience so early in her career?
It was incredible. Sometimes I couldn’t even believe it. Actually, my mother and I didn’t really grasp what was happening. It only sunk in after I got to the set. But I confess I still can’t believe it all.
In Man on Fire, besides the challenge of acting, you also had the experience of filming outside of Brazil. What stood out most to you about this experience, both as an artist and as a person?
The equipment, the structure, the organization… The way people treated me. After all, I had never done anything like this before and there I was, surrounded by big names in international cinema. And everyone was treating me the same way they treated them. It was surreal.
You move through many languages — singing, instruments, dance, theater, and audiovisual media. How does one art form help another within you?
Everything complements each other. Art is art, and within me, it’s all one thing, but with ramifications. I can’t explain it. Dance and music work together in my head. When I’m dancing, the music is in my head, and often I play it mentally. Musical theatre unites all of that, and that’s what fascinates me, because it brings together everything I love. Audiovisual is a little different, but being in front of the cameras also makes my heart race.
In Emergency 53, you play a character in his childhood, knowing that he takes on another dimension in adulthood. What was it like to build this role and imagine his trajectory within the story?
Since there was nothing prior to my scene, I created the characteristics I thought he would have. And there, Evandro Mesquita, who plays my father, was wonderful and guided me in a unique way so that I could achieve a good result.
Even at a young age, your routine already involves a lot of studying and preparation. What motivates you to dedicate yourself so much, and what do you find most fascinating about this learning process?
What motivates me are my dreams. I know clearly where I want to go, and all the effort isn’t burdensome because I really enjoy the whole process: the classes, my teachers, my classmates. Even though it’s an intense routine, there’s still room for playtime. And here, my mother tries to make everything lighthearted. On the busiest days, there’s always time for a snack at a place we like, some time to stay after school playing with friends. My mother says we’re children and that it can’t all be obligation; there has to be fun too, especially.
You’ve already gained significant experience in television, streaming, and theater, but you also dream of being part of a professional musical. When you think about the future, what kind of artist do you dream of becoming?
A complete artist, who works in all areas of art. But today, I really want to do a professional musical, or be in a big soap opera, or a movie. But I know it’s a matter of time, and that what’s meant for me will happen in God’s time.
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