Isabella Santoni: “The war on drugs is also being fought in the countries that produce them”

After many years in the entertainment industry, Isabella Santoni shares what ‘Dom’, her recent Prime Video series, meant for her in terms of her international debut.

After more than 10 years as an actress, Isabella Santoni premiered her first streaming project in 2021, the series ‘Dom‘, with Prime Video. The series closely addresses the issue of drug trafficking, a topic that the actress considers very necessary, especially in her case as a woman raised in a Latin American country: “The war on drugs is not only fought within its own borders but also in the countries that export them. It is intrinsically linked to the violence in our region; we cannot ignore it or pretend it doesn’t exist. We need to broaden the conversation and recognize that, in the end, we all seek the same thing: a just, safe, and prosperous nation for its people.” Despite this, the actress acknowledges that this is not an easy debate and requires listening to experts on the topic. She also states that ‘Dom’ opens a much-needed conversation about a problem that requires more attention and the consequences it entails, especially regarding the harms caused by drugs, thus preventing their romanticization. “Another point we should mention is that ‘Dom’ offers an internal perspective by showing how a family faces this issue. So, we not only look at it from the global perspective of this enormous problem but also from a local perspective,” the actress adds.

The series concluded in 2024, and after five years playing her character, Viviane, it’s clear that the Brazilian actress has gained many insights from filming: “I had never played a character for such a long time, and I learned a lot from her, especially about my limits. Viviane only thinks about herself, and that made me reflect on my own choices. Personally, I’ve learned to say ‘no’ without feeling guilty. And, as an actress, I learned that I don’t have control over my character’s ending, as the way things turned out for her surprised me a lot.”

‘Dom’ is another addition to the long repertoire of series that deal with drug trafficking, such as ‘Narcos’ or ‘The Sopranos‘. However, Isabella tells us that it is not exactly like the other series on this theme: “One of the standout features of ‘Dom’ is its exploration of family relationships and the emphasis on the importance of positive role models in our lives, as we observe a young person’s descent into drug trafficking due to a cocaine addiction, while being raised by a father heavily involved with a paramilitary organization.” What also distinguishes ‘Dom‘ is that it shows the Brazilian perspective, according to Santoni: “It’s rewarding to see the excellence of Brazilian storytelling showcased through such a captivating story, one that, despite its tragic elements, is very, very real and present.”

The actress has recently returned to the stage with the play ‘O Cravo e a Rosa‘, which tells the story of a complicated romance between a feminist and independent woman and a man with outdated macho ideals. Isabella shares that she has greatly enjoyed playing Catarina, especially because, as with every time she takes the stage, it has allowed her to discover new facets of herself and has provided her with the opportunity to get to know herself better.

Isabella Santoni made her acting debut at 18 with the independent film ‘Visceral‘, and to this day, one thing is clear: the actress has learned a lot. Most importantly, she emphasizes the need to stop and take a break from time to time: “I have always been very intense, and I still am, but I have learned that it’s better to wait and make thoughtful decisions than to rush into doing everything just to be active or to let people know I’m working. I no longer let others guide me; I’m learning to say no and maintain peace in my heart.”

As an actress, it’s evident that characterization, fashion, and makeup are factors present in Isabella’s daily life. Fashion has become a very important part of her life, as she considers it a tool for communication and art that goes beyond just clothing. For her, acting and clothing are forms of expression. The main difference is the medium; one is a person, and the other is an object. The actress even stated that acting is a bit more active than fashion, which, on the other hand, can be both active and passive. “When we look at clothing beyond just being pieces of fabric, we can see the background and the decisions behind them. Like a character that reflects the person. We think about its historical context, how and when it was created, what the environment was like, who created it, what material it was made from, and, of course, what it really meant for your self-image.”

Despite dressing comfortably in her daily life with basic and sporty outfits, Isabella Santoni claims that her favorite style is tailoring, which allows her to feel elegant and timeless, and she loves to break this style with tailored shorts, short blazers, or sneakers. She draws a lot of inspiration from social media, from people on the internet she admires, and from runways, although she doesn’t strictly follow all the trends she sees. Additionally, she confesses that one of her favorite activities is exploring the history of collections and learning more about the inspirations behind designers: “This knowledge not only deepens my appreciation for fashion but also enhances my personal style in more meaningful ways.”

Santoni shares that she enjoys trying out different looks and that, fortunately, her profession allows her to do so. The actress has had to undergo significant image changes to portray different characters, even shaving her head completely on one occasion. And although it may seem risky, the Brazilian explains that it excites her and does not intimidate her at all: “It’s an opportunity to experiment, to truly embody the character and do things that I would never do in my personal life. I live by the motto: ‘Hair grows, but character is forever.’ The only transformations that scare me, in a way, are changes in weight because they impact my health. I have faced the challenges of losing a significant amount of weight for a role in the past, during which I felt weak and unable to do the sports I love.”

In addition to being an actress, Isabella Santoni is actively raising awareness about the environment on her social media and is an ambassador for the NGO Canal Novo Mundo. After experiencing the consequences of climate change in Brazil, such as wildfires, polluted air, prolonged droughts, or excessively hot days, Isabella takes more seriously than ever the task of proclaiming the importance of caring for our planet: “Sustainability is extremely important for us to have a healthy future. The government needs to pay attention to this issue by creating laws that reduce our environmental impact, and we, as citizens, must do our part too, by consuming consciously and recycling.” Besides environmental issues, Santoni is also a firm advocate for true equality in society: “I firmly believe that our goal should be to create an inclusive environment that embraces all people and adapts to reintegrate historically marginalized groups into the spaces from which they have been previously excluded.“

Credits:
Photo: Thales Côrtes
Styling: Jean Marcio
Make & Hair: Zuh Ribeiro