Joana Kannenberg talks about her experience in the series “Pedaço de Mim” and a remarkable situation involving the character in contrast to the real world

Luca Moreira
7 Min Read
Joana Kannenberg
Joana Kannenberg

Actress Joana Kannenberg celebrates a significant milestone in her career by playing Patrícia in the Netflix series “Pedaço de Mim”, which reached the top of the platform’s global ranking in the non-English language series category, with highlights in more than 20 countries . In addition to her success on TV, Joana already has new projects underway, including her participation in the play “Where the Barbarians Live”, by Chilean playwright Pablo Manzi, directed by Patrick Sampaio and scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2025.

What was it like for you to play the character Patrícia in “Pedaço de Mim” and contribute to the global success of the series on Netflix?

It was an incredible and challenging experience. As an actress, I always dreamed of being able to tell a story with national relevance and Patrícia delivered that to me. Unfortunately, cases like hers happen every day in the country we live in. I hope that the series helps to highlight the issue of sexual abuse in Brazil and that victims can fight for justice.

What was your reaction to seeing “Piece of Me” reach first place in the global Top 10 in the non-English language series category?

I was very happy, it was a pleasant surprise. I always believed in the strength of the project, but I never imagined that not only Brazil, but several countries around the world, would also be enchanted by the story.

Joana Kannenberg
Joana Kannenberg

In what aspects do you most identify with Patrícia, and how did this identification influence your performance?

Patrícia is a very free, young girl who wants to have new experiences. I was also like that a lot. I haven’t been through a traumatic situation like hers, but I admire the character’s courage in denouncing the attacker, even though the complaint initially didn’t have the effect she expected.

As soon as the producers called me to play this role, they made it clear that her story was dense and difficult, so I was aware of the challenge. I had to find this anger, this pain, of someone whose youth was interrupted by trauma, within me.

How did you prepare for the role of Patrícia, and what were the biggest challenges in playing this character?

I had the support of my partner, Patrick Sampaio, who is an actor and casting coach. We talked a lot about the scenes, what it would be like to deal with the pressure on set, and what it would be like to do the sexual abuse scene. I arrived on the day of recording confident and even had the help of an intimacy choreographer on set. Nowadays, many series hire a professional to be present in sex and nudity scenes. I felt super safe and respected.

Joana Kannenberg
Joana Kannenberg

What can you tell us about your role in the play “Where the Barbarians Live”? How are you preparing for this new challenge?

My character is called ”Europa”, she is the head of an NGO that seeks to democratize regions in conflict. She seems well-intentioned, but she is full of contradictions and hypocrisies, just like the other characters in the play. We’re still in the character study phase, but it’s been a delightful challenge to investigate her.

What expectations do you have for the premiere of “Where the Barbarians Live” and how do you see this new project standing out in your career?

The play, by Chilean playwright Pablo Manzi, is extremely current, acidic and interesting. We did a dramatized reading of the show at Base do @labo.art.br, a multidisciplinary arts space (located in Botafogo, RJ). The place is managed by Patrick Sampaio and I am one of the initiative’s supporters. The public’s response to the readings was incredible and this encouraged the team to continue with the installation. The premiere is scheduled for the first half of next year. For me it is a great pleasure to return to the stage. The last play I was part of was before the pandemic and I missed doing theater, the place where I started.

Joana Kannenberg
Joana Kannenberg

With the success of “Pedaço de Mim”, how do you see the impact of national production on the global stage, and what does this recognition represent for you as an actress?

As an actress, I consider it a huge milestone in my career, an opportunity to showcase my work on a global scale. I hope to get more challenging and impactful work like this in the future.

What are your upcoming plans and future projects? Is there anything in particular you would like to explore in your career going forward?

In addition to the play in which I will be cast, I am also a screenwriter. I wrote a short film called ”Noturna” that was selected for the Rio Festival last year. Cinema is an area that interests me a lot. I want to continue developing my skills in this medium and I plan to write a new script soon, in partnership with my writer friend Júlia Portes (nominated for the Jabuti Award as new author 2023.)

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