At the age of 11, child actor Miguel Venerabile is already standing out as one of the greatest talents of his generation. Known for his role as Joca in the soap opera Mar do Sertão (Globo), Miguel has received critical acclaim, earning top marks in the columns of Patrícia Kogut (O Globo) and Jean Bravo (Extra). In addition to shining on television, the young actor has an impressive resume, with appearances in soap operas, series, films, dubbing for major studios and plays. His versatility and charisma have made him a promising name in Brazilian entertainment.
At the age of 11, you already have such an impressive and diverse career. What was it like for you to play the character Joca in “Mar do Sertão” and what was the most memorable part about that role?
The character Joca was a gift! A funny, entertaining, smart character, and I loved doing the northeastern accent too! I love doing comedy, I love joking around and making jokes for my friends, laughing, laughing out loud, and naturally I bring that to comedy characters. I really like playing this type of character because I can let myself go as I please, the way I like, I feel at home.
Your performance was highly praised by critics and audiences. How do you deal with this recognition at such a young age? What does it mean to you?
I love it when people see my work and compliment me, say they liked it… That’s very special to me! I LOVE being recognized on the street, at the mall, I love it! It makes me so happy! My dream is to be famous, with everyone asking me for autographs when I go out.
In addition to television, you also have experience in theater, voice acting and even music. How do you manage to balance all these activities? Which of these areas do you like the most?
It’s not easy to juggle everything, but I manage because I study in the morning, and not every day there’s recording, rehearsal or dubbing. There are phases: sometimes in one month everything happens at the same time, but in other months there’s no recording or play, and I’m left only with dubbing, which is more relaxed. On the weekends, I spend the whole day in the building’s playground playing ball, tag, or in the pool. Sometimes I go to birthday parties or go on trips. My mother always pays attention to my leisure time.
In “Inexplicable”, you play a very challenging and exciting role. How did you prepare to play this character in such a delicate and real story?
Making the film Inexplicável and playing the character Gabriel was another gift. A feature film with such an intense and real character! I never imagined something like that in my wildest dreams. I loved making it, I loved filming it. I learned a lot as an actor, especially by watching Letícia Spiller, Eriberto Leão and André Ramiro during the filming. I also learned a lot from the director Fabrício. Seeing these giants on stage was a privilege. I had just finished filming Mar do Sertão, playing Joca, a comedic character, and in three months I was already preparing to play this delicate, real and powerful story – a completely different drama. But that’s what being an actor is! I haven’t seen the results of the filming yet, but I’m confident that it turned out beautifully!
I prepared myself by watching a lot of movies on the subject, reading and learning about the disease. I also read the book that inspired the movie and met the royal family. We talked, I met Gabriel, and it was all very special.
You are also involved in the podcast ” Podcenas Kids”. What motivated you to start this project and what is it like to share this experience with your friend Felipe Melquiades?
Felipe and I are very good friends! We play together a lot! When we get together, no one can stop us! It’s great! He’s super cool. Doing the podcast with him is incredible, first because we’re friends and, second, because we complement each other. He’s more correct when it comes to asking questions, more responsible. I like to improvise, ask questions and say whatever comes to mind, so you get the idea, right? But it always works out, because we balance each other out, we help each other out!
What was the experience like voicing iconic Disney characters like Winnie the Pooh and others in “Me and Winnie The Pooh”? Do you prefer acting in front of the camera or voice acting?
When I passed the audition and met Carla Pompilio, the director, it was wonderful! She is so nice and sweet! This was one of my first voice acting jobs, so it was a real gift! My little cousins, Vitória and Luca, watch the series all the time, they repeat the same episodes a thousand times and say: “It’s Miguel!” It’s so cute! I sing the little songs to them, and they love it! Since then, I’ve been called for many other voice acting projects! I love voice acting, but I also love acting in front of the camera. I miss it when I go too long without recording.
With so many projects in the works, how do you see the future of your career? Is there a specific role or genre that you dream of playing?
I want to continue doing movies, soap operas and series. I’ve never done a musical, but I’d like to have that experience. I’ve played a villain in the theater, in the play “Brinquedos Consertados”, but I’ve never played a villain on TV or in the movies, and I think it would be an interesting experience. I like challenges, different characters, and being able to deliver good performances.
For other young people who also want to pursue a career in acting, what advice would you give? What do you think is most important for starting out in this profession at such a young age?
For those who want to start, I recommend taking a theater or TV course. After the course, sign up with a reputable agency. Record a presentation video and a monologue, in a well-lit environment and with your cell phone camera horizontal. Take good quality photos and send them to your agency. If you take part in an audition and don’t pass, that’s okay. Sometimes it wasn’t your profile, or you need to improve on something. It’s part of the process. Don’t get discouraged. Passing auditions takes time. I’ve taken several auditions myself and didn’t pass.
Another important thing is to study. Study Portuguese to communicate better, with a more elaborate language, and learn words that are not common. In the texts, you will find many different words. I read a lot and it helps me, even so, there are many words that I do not know.
It’s not enough to have a dream, you have to dedicate yourself. Reality is different from the dream. You can have the greatest talent in the world, but if you’re lazy and not willing to put down the video game after school, don’t even try. Because you’ll have to balance school with filming. You’ll also have to set aside time to memorize the texts.
There are people who just want to be famous and rich, but I think the most important thing is to be happy doing what you love. Sometimes, people who aren’t born with a lot of talent but have a dream, take courses, dedicate themselves and have a much better chance of being successful. You have to love what you do! I love it a lot!
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