Deco Almeida He’s experiencing his first major acting breakthrough with a double dose on TV: he’s part of the cast of the HBO Max series Ângela Diniz: Assassinada e Condenada, and also appears in the TV Globo soap opera Dona de Mim, in flashbacks acting alongside Suely Franco. At 29, the Rio de Janeiro native—former drummer for the band Dônica, with appearances at Rock in Rio and Lollapalooza, and a graduate in Gastronomy—celebrates this career shift as he swaps the stage and kitchen for the set, highlighting the power of true crime narratives made responsibly and the experience of debuting on Globo alongside a heavyweight cast.
You entered the world of drama at a time when many people still recognized you for your music and gastronomy. What really made you “turn the page” and pursue acting as your main career path?
This turning point happened when I left gastronomy and started immersing myself in acting and voice acting studies, and I haven’t stopped since. I am immensely grateful to my agent, Dell Santhos, who has always believed in me and has been giving me invaluable advice on this journey we are undertaking together. I am very happy with everything that is happening and eager to know what the next chapters of 2026 will bring!
You mentioned that you almost couldn’t believe it when the call for the test came and you rushed from Juiz de Fora to Rio. What do you remember most clearly from that day—and what changed in you right after you got the “you passed”?
At that moment I froze a little, but luckily I was with Virginia Van der Linden, a dear professor from CAL, who gave me a shake and sent me running to the test haha. I felt so happy to have been called for a test for such a large and intense project.
You mentioned that you weren’t very familiar with Ângela Diniz’s story before the project and were impacted by the Praia dos Ossos podcast. How did this immersion influence your relationship with the series and the theme it addresses?
The Praia dos Ossos podcast was a turning point for me. From then on, I stopped seeing the case as something distant and began to understand the human and social impact of that violence. This completely changed my relationship with the series. It wasn’t just a job; it was participating in a narrative that needed to be told with great care and responsibility.
You mentioned “discomfort” as a driving force for transformation in true crime series. What was the most powerful conversation this production sparked in you off-set—with friends, family, or yourself?
For me, the main responsibility was being aware of the place I occupied within this story. I knew I was part of a project that addresses a real and very significant violence, and unfortunately one that is still very present. It was essential to treat the subject with respect, to understand the weight of what was being told, and to remember at all times that this is not pure entertainment; it is memory, it is reflection, it is denunciation.
Behind the scenes, you highlight Marjorie Estiano’s generosity on set. What did you learn from observing her work, and how did this exchange impact your experience on set?
I learned a lot about listening and being present. Marjorie has enormous generosity on set. Seeing how she arrives prepared, yet open to the moment, was a daily lesson. This exchange made my experience on set even more special.
In Dona de Mim, you play Josef in the past, a character linked to the story’s emotional memory and to Suely Franco’s inner circle. What attracted you to this character and to this debut in soap operas?
Josef appealed to me precisely because he exists in the emotional memory of the story. He’s not in the present of the plot, but he’s fundamental to understanding who that family was. Working with that past, alongside Suely Franco and Amara Hartmann, was very delicate and beautiful. And debuting in a telenovela with this type of character was incredibly special, I loved it so much.
His artistic background includes music and gastronomy before acting. How do these experiences still influence his work as an actor today?
Music taught me to listen to and understand rhythm, things I use a lot on stage. Gastronomy brought me discipline, attention to detail, and teamwork. Even today, while acting, these experiences remain very present in my way of working; they help me to be more attentive, more available, and more organized on set.
Looking ahead, you talk about writing screenplays, delving deeper into theater, and even dreaming about Star Wars. What kind of artist do you want to become from this pivotal moment in your career?
I want to be a curious, ever-evolving artist. I intend to move between theater, TV, streaming, writing… and continue studying and taking risks. I want to tell stories, to create, to collaborate. And if one day that leads me to a Star Wars, great, haha. But the main thing is to keep building with authenticity.
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