Gabriel Milane debuts on Globo as a villain in “Garo ...

Gabriel Milane , a 24-year-old actor from São Paulo, makes his debut on open TV as Topete, the bad boy in Garota do Momento, a 6pm soap opera on Globo. With a career that began at age 10 in advertising campaigns and went on to streaming – including roles in De Volta aos 15 (Netflix) and Pico da Neblina (MAX) –, the artist celebrates the achievement of a dream he had planned for the future. To dedicate himself to acting, Gabriel dropped out of college for Information Systems at USP and is now preparing to win over the public with a charismatic and controversial character.

Making your debut in a 6pm soap opera is a dream for many, but you had to make a difficult decision to get here, leaving your Information Systems course. How was it to deal with such a big change and prove to your family — and to yourself — that you were on the right path?

I was a very cheerful and outgoing child, and I always had a strong connection with music. Since I was little, I have played and sung, influenced by my grandmother, and I also spent time with friends whose parents were musicians. It was in this environment that art first called me. Later, I started working in advertising, but I always saw it as a hobby. At the time, I didn’t want to pursue this career because I didn’t know how to deal with the frustration of failing a test — something very delicate for a child. My parents helped me a lot in this process.

Despite this, what really motivated me to change my career path was the possibility of working with something that was enjoyable and interesting, where I could do what I always liked. After all, I fell in love with the feeling of being on a film set from an early age. At the end of high school, I made the decision to study Computer Science for the wrong reasons, and when I realized where I was going, I decided to change course. It was a shock for me and for my parents, who were unsure at first, but always supported me.

In the end, everything worked out. I started studying and dedicating myself even more to improving my acting, my improvisation and my positioning in front of the cameras. These were skills that I learned in practice over the years in advertising.

You mentioned that you hope people “love to hate” Topete. What was the biggest challenge in bringing humanity to a character who, in some ways, sets himself up as the villain of the story?

Topete sees himself as the hero of his own story, just like the rest of us. What he lacks, perhaps, is precisely this sensitivity towards others, since his attitudes and behaviors affect others. I believe that these issues will become increasingly evident in the upcoming chapters.

I can’t help but mention that Alessandra Poggi’s work is incredibly rich, allowing us to explore different layers of the story. My biggest challenge has been to portray this rebellious and eccentric young man in a light and fun way. At the end of the day, he’s just a young man from the 50s who wants to enjoy life, and his “villains” are the result of an internal rebellion — not only against his generation, but also against his own issues.

After playing Hugo in the series Back to 15 and Nico in Pico da Neblina, you brought completely different personalities to your roles. How did these experiences help shape your preparation to play Topete?

I have always tried to use my characteristics to compose my characters. Nico was a young man from the outskirts, responsible and bold. Hugo, a mime artist who took a vow of silence for his art. Topete is a rebellious young man from the 50s. All of them have a certain caricatured tone, some more than others.

It was through these characters that I learned to balance a more fun and exaggerated performance with light and human nuances. After all, a character can be funny and flashy, but he also needs to have feelings like anyone else — and that’s what makes him human.

You looked to artists like Jack Black, Jim Carrey and Eduardo Sterblitch to bring your character to life. What was the most fun or challenging moment when incorporating these influences into Topete?

Without a doubt, the most challenging scene for me was the bowling alley scene, when Topete has a homophobic attitude. In addition to being a fundamental part of Guto’s development, this scene also portrays how society normalized certain behaviors that never made sense — and that, today, are even more questioned.

It was a moment when I needed to let go and access a place that doesn’t come naturally to me. As an actor, we end up becoming sensitive to our own story and that of the other characters. Fortunately, Pedro Goifman maintained the tension of the scene incredibly, and the girls also shone, as always. When you work with such talented professionals, any “kick” becomes a perfect pass.

Working alongside more experienced colleagues, such as Maísa and Klara Castanho, seems to have been an enriching experience for you. What was the most important advice or lesson you received from them during the recordings?

I learn a lot every day by observing what others do and absorbing what makes sense to me. In Klara’s case, I really admire her availability and naturalness. She is always ready to step into the scene and every word she says comes from a very genuine place. Acting alongside her is an incredible experience.

Maísa is another phenomenon, an absolute star. I have so much fun with her Bia! In fact, I feel that everyone is delivering incredible work. It is a privilege to share the scene with such talented actors. I remember when I saw them on the screen and, honestly, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined acting with them — and, on top of that, in two projects! I feel immense gratitude.

You revealed your desire to experience a “rockstar” moment, inspired by the iconic scene from Back to the Future. How does music influence your performance, and have you ever thought about bringing this musical side to a project?

I come from a background in music, so I’ve always been fascinated by the power of the stage. Whenever I watched my favorite artists perform, I was always blown away by the energy they conveyed.

It is exactly on stage that I want to be showing my work and having fun on stage. I believe that the adrenaline of starting a show and performing a scene are very similar. This year, I want to invest a lot in my musical career. I feel ready and willing to take on any challenge — and this one, for sure, would be no different.

You highlighted that Topete faces the dilemma of many teenagers, seeking fun and avoiding responsibilities. How do you balance the relaxed and focused side of your personal life with the challenges of building a successful career?

For me, the key word is “balance.” I know where I am in my life and I am very focused on the soap opera. But at the same time, I like to go out with my friends, chat and play the guitar.

I feel like my obligations and my hobbies end up mixing together, because I love what I do. It’s a pleasure for me to study my scenes, discuss the plot with my colleagues and, of course, step onto the set — which is where the magic happens. With each passing day, I’m more certain that I’m living a dream.

Even with two major productions under your belt, you seem to keep your feet on the ground while dreaming big. What do you believe is the secret to enjoying the present without losing sight of future goals?

The secret to this balance, for me, is to be sure that my faith is unshakable. I know that everything will fall into place in due time, as it always has. Everything I need to learn will come through the challenges and difficulties that arise along the way.

I’m always observing myself, paying attention to what I can improve. If my intuition tells me that I should act differently in a situation, I try to adjust my behavior.

So I take it one day at a time, focusing on making better and more impactful scenes. The future will come in due time, so I prefer to live in the present. After all, this is our moment. And what sense would it make to not live it while worrying about what is yet to come?