Giovanna Grigio: “The older I get, the more I fall in love with acting”

From Netflix’s ‘Rebelde’ to her latest projects, Brazilian actress Giovanna Grigio reflects on growing up in the spotlight, finding freedom through fashion and using art to challenge the world around her.

For Giovanna Grigio, acting has never been simply about stepping into someone else’s shoes. It is a way of understanding human nature, exploring identity and discovering new perspectives through storytelling. Having grown up in front of the cameras, the Brazilian actress has spent much of her life navigating the entertainment industry, evolving from a child performer into an artist determined to explore new creative territories. From ‘Chiquititas’ and ‘Malhação’ to Netflix’s ‘Rebelde’, her career reflects a constant process of reinvention, one that extends far beyond the screen.

Her relationship with acting began almost before she could remember. “I actually started doing commercials when I was just a baby, so being on set always felt very natural to me”, she recalls. By fifteen, Grigio was already working six days a week on Brazilian soap operas, sometimes filming thirty scenes a day while balancing her education. What initially felt like an enormous playground gradually revealed the discipline and dedication required to build a career in entertainment.

“The older I get, the more I fall in love with acting”, she admits. For Grigio, the profession has become an opportunity to explore the complexities of human behaviour, with each character offering a different way of understanding herself and the world.

From ‘Rebelde’ to a new chapter in Brazilian cinema

Her participation in Netflix’s ‘Rebelde’ marked an important moment in her international career, introducing her to audiences across Latin America and beyond. Yet the experience represented something more personal than professional visibility. As the Brazilian member of a predominantly Latin American cast, Grigio discovered a renewed connection with her cultural identity.

“Being away from home but surrounded by so many Latin American friends and ‘hermanos’ made me realize just how much we have in common, but also what makes each of us unique”, she explains. The experience strengthened her appreciation of Brazil’s cultural identity while bringing her closer to neighbouring countries.

Her subsequent projects have allowed her to explore increasingly different characters. In ‘Encontrada’, the sequel to ‘Perdida’, Grigio returns as Sofia, a modern woman navigating the consequences of her decisions within a deeply conservative society. The film explores what happens after the traditional romantic ending, when the promise of happiness gives way to everyday reality.

Meanwhile, Netflix’s ‘Os 12 Signos de Valentina’ has offered her an opportunity to embrace her comedic instincts. Having first been approached about the project five years earlier, Grigio eventually returned to the character with greater maturity and confidence. “Valentina is the kind of woman who throws herself into everything life has to offer, and playing her pushed me to take risks on screen in a way I never had before”, she reveals.

With projects including ‘Trago Seu Amor’ and the television production ‘Por Você’, the actress continues to move between cinema and soap operas. She compares the two formats to different athletic disciplines: filmmaking is a 100-metre race, while television is a marathon. Both demand commitment, although the latter requires constant adaptation as new scripts and storylines emerge.

Growing up in the spotlight and breaking expectations

One of her most challenging performances came in ‘O Maníaco do Parque’, a film inspired by a disturbing real-life criminal case. Playing Elena, a journalist whose perspective helped bring attention to the experiences of female victims, required Grigio to abandon some of the qualities that had previously defined her performances.

“I had to let go of everything I usually relied on as an actress, the humor and charisma I knew worked for me, because those weren’t what the character called for”, she explains. The experience forced her beyond her comfort zone and reinforced her interest in stories that confront difficult social realities, particularly violence against women.

Away from her characters, Grigio has also faced the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny. “It’s a strange experience to grow up with an entire country watching you and judging everything you do”, she reflects. During her adolescence, the pressure to satisfy expectations often translated into perfectionism and a constant desire for approval.

Maturity has gradually transformed that relationship. Today, she places greater importance on remaining true to her values and maintaining the connection she has built with an audience that has followed her since childhood.

“I’ve never approached my career with the idea that I had to be a role model, but I do believe in using my voice to share thoughts and perspectives that might inspire people to reflect on the world around them”, she says.

Fashion, individuality and the freedom to create

Beyond acting, fashion represents another form of storytelling for Giovanna Grigio. Drawing inspiration from unconventional figures such as Elke Maravilha, Chloë Sevigny and Monica Bellucci, she approaches personal style as an extension of her emotions rather than a response to seasonal trends.

“To me, fashion is a way of expressing myself without words and playing around with my energy”, she explains. Whether she is feeling optimistic, introspective or frustrated, her wardrobe becomes a reflection of her state of mind.

That instinctive relationship with clothing is also a declaration of independence. “I tend to stay away from trends because I never want to look like everyone else”, she admits. For the actress, individuality is not something to be constructed for public approval, but an essential part of remaining authentic.

Her artistic curiosity extends to illustration and painting, which she occasionally shares through @escondegrigio. Unlike acting, these creative practices remain deliberately separate from professional expectations.

“I create because I feel the need to, without any pressure or expectations”, she explains. Drawing allows her to explore emotions that are sometimes difficult to articulate, although much of her work remains private. She hopes to develop this side of her creativity further, perhaps eventually revealing more of the personal universe behind her illustrations.

The power of art and a generation demanding change

Grigio’s ambitions increasingly extend beyond performing. Writing and directing original stories, particularly those centred on women’s experiences, are among the creative possibilities she hopes to explore. Her interests range from everyday human experiences to surreal narratives, but they share a desire to question established perspectives.

That curiosity is closely connected to her social and political awareness. Having worked from an early age, Grigio is particularly concerned about workers’ rights, inequality and the relationship between professional demands and mental health. She challenges the perception of younger generations as disengaged, highlighting their participation in public debate and collective action.

“Most of us are workers, and we’re willing to fight for what we believe in, just like the generations of young people who came before us”, she argues.

Her concerns also extend to Brazil’s political climate. Grigio speaks openly about her opposition to authoritarianism, the growing polarisation of society and the importance of protecting democratic freedoms. She believes her country’s cultural diversity and natural resources should translate into greater opportunities and better living conditions for its population.

For the actress, the entertainment industry has a significant role to play in those conversations. “The entertainment industry holds a significant amount of power, and art itself has the power to move mountains”, she states, emphasising its ability to raise awareness and encourage audiences to imagine different possibilities.

Her vision of the future is shaped by the same principles that guide her artistic ambitions: freedom, individuality and the opportunity to create meaningful change. “Young people want a future they can believe in, the freedom to make their own choices, and a society that gives everyone a fair chance”, she reflects.

From the child who discovered acting as a form of play to the woman determined to tell stories on her own terms, Giovanna Grigio’s evolution is defined by a growing sense of purpose. And whether through cinema, fashion or her own artistic projects, she remains convinced that creativity can contribute to something greater than individual expression.

“I think art can play a real part in helping us build a better future”, she concludes.

CREDITS
Talent: Giovanna Grigio (@gigigrigio)
EIC: Ignacio Ferreyra (@nachoxmag)
Photography: Higor Bastos (@higorbastos)
Styling: Ander Oliveira (@anderoliveira)
Hair & Makeup: Kaká Oliveira (@kaka.oliveira)
Talent Management: José Sales (@salesproducoes)
PR: Bruna Brandão Comunicação & Imagem (@brunabrandaocom)
Digital Communications: Hesh (@hesh.love)
Executive Producer: Janaina Grigio (@janegrigio)
Fashion Production: Vinicius Rodalm (@viniciusrodalm)
Retouching: Caroll Ferreira (@caroullis)
Photography Assistant: Santiago Ruiz (@sant.riivas)
Hair & Makeup Assistant: Maria Tamarozzi (@matamarozzi)
Wardrobe Assistant: Marcela Gomes (@tchelagl)