Minas Gerais actress Camila Santanioni , who plays Beula in the biblical series “Paul, the Apostle” — now available on the Univer streaming service The video , which is scheduled to premiere in July on Record TV, continues to rise artistically. In addition to religious productions, Camila lends her voice to the environmental audiobook “Fora de Si”, directed by actor Caio Graco, and is the author of the children’s book “Princesa Abelha e Rainha Jabuti”, released at the São Paulo Biennial in 2023. With a solid background in theater, dance and circus arts in Brazil and Europe, the actress has worked in television, theater and cinema, consolidating a multifaceted and promising career.
You play Beula in Paul the Apostle, a biblical figure mentioned in subtle ways in the scriptures. What was it like to give body and soul to a character with such delicate references and yet loaded with spiritual meaning?
It was a rewarding job. I consulted the book of Acts to understand not only the character, but also the historical concept. Beula listened to Paul’s teachings, and although she was enchanted at first, she contributed to many doubts and questions being raised about the character of Paul and Barnabas, resulting in their expulsion from the city.
In the audiobook Fora de Si, you lend your voice to a banana tree that, curiously, lived among humans. What was the challenge of playing such a symbolic character within a fable with an environmental theme?
Environmental preservation is an urgent issue, and fables are a way to give nature a voice. In “Out of Itself,” the banana tree Nanica, who grew up among humans, was replanted in the forest, and tries to explain why humans are superior to all of them. She gets lost in the explanations and rethinks. We will hear comic moments and a moving ending.
Your children’s book Princess Bee and Queen Tortoise is about imagination, friendship and overcoming obstacles. Where did the inspiration for creating the character Fifi and her adventures in the garden come from? Do you see echoes of your childhood in this story?
Yes, we can say that I wrote a children’s book based on real events, as the house mentioned really existed, as did the human and wild characters.
You have an international artistic career, having worked in Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, as well as in Brazil. How have these multicultural experiences impacted your vision of art and your way of working?
From north to south, Brazil is culturally rich. We need more theaters that are open all day long, like there are abroad and are usually full. In the Czech Republic, I went to shoot a commercial and was able to watch the country’s traditional black light theater during lunchtime. Experiences like these make our daily lives more interesting and provide us with creative inspiration.
Your show 32kg, awarded by Funarte, and your performance in S’Blood, which was nominated for the Shell award, show that you are also dedicated to intense, authorial projects. What drives you to create your own narratives and how do you choose the themes you want to explore?
I had just returned from a long trip when I produced “32 kg”, which was about a lost suitcase and the emotional memories that surround each object. Everyday life inspires me a lot, if we stop and pay attention, it is very rich in actions, dialogues, and personalities. “ S’Blood ” was a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s “Othello, the Moor of Venice”, and I played Desdemona. We never know when an unusual inspiration will strike, but I love it when it does, and I want to interpret great classics.
The series Paul, the Apostle premieres at a time when audiences are looking for stories with purpose. What touched you most personally during this project and what do you hope audiences take away from your character?
Biblical works move me deeply and I am happy to see their success! I realize that Beula represents the spiritual journey of many people. She is questioning and contributes to a crowd rising up against Paul, but she repents, recognizes the integrity of Jesus’ disciples and accepts the teachings they were to bring even after they had left the city. This shows us that while we are alive, it will not be too late to seek closerness to God.
Between theater, audiovisual and literature, you have built a career that moves through different languages, but always with depth. How do you choose your roles and projects? Is there a common thread between them that you feel is an artistic mission?
Thank you! What has made sense to me today is to talk about uplifting subjects, such as ecology and faith, which we mentioned above. Audiovisual media does a great job of reaching out, it is accessible to a large part of the population and I feel honored to have been part of such large productions. At the same time, I like to work so that theater and literature reach more people too; since October, when my book was published, in addition to the Biennials, I have also been promoting outside the traditional cultural circuit through a theater performance; many children who attend have never had access to theater before.
In addition to acting, you are currently studying for a degree in theater. What is it like to return to the classroom with such a broad background and what are you looking for when you combine artistic work with education?
Art and education go hand in hand. I really enjoy being in the classroom and I encourage people to study. In addition to being a great place to delve deeper into different subjects, it is a great space for experimentation. Many of my projects were previously developed in the academic space, including my children’s book.
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