We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Claudio Olegario. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Claudio below.
Hi Claudio, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2023 to further my studies in theater and cinema. Back in Brazil, I had an agent and understood how the Brazilian artistic market operated. Leaving everything behind meant taking a risk: I would have to start all over again, from ground zero. And even more challenging than that: I would have to express emotions and convince audiences that everything I experience on stage is real. At first, I spoke my lines in English, but my mind was screaming in Portuguese. It took nearly a year for me to find the balance of the language barrier. For an international actor, the greatest challenge is feeling 100% authentic in a culture that isn’t their own.
Claudio, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Claudio Olegario, a Brazilian actor, rose to fame in Brazil through his roles in “Run Away for Your Lives” (TV Globo) and the international Emmy-winning show “The Last Hangover.” (Netflix). He began his theater studies in 2013 in the City of São Paulo, showcasing his talent and dedication to the craft. By the age of 28, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and achieved the highest accomplishment for an actor in Brazil: he signed a 2 year contract with biggest TV company in there, Rede Globo.
Currently, he’s recently captivating audiences with his performance in the feature film “Tinted Glass” by Pedro Varela.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the best part of being an artist is having the opportunity for a second chance at life. What do I mean by this? As an artist, I have the ability to rewrite stories from a different perspective – an artistic, playful, imaginative perspective that evokes emotions, communicates, and holds a mirror up to the audience. It’s this connection, this encounter that art provides, that motivates me to keep going. For a long time, I felt like a victim of certain life situations and circumstances. When I understood my role as an artist, I rewrote my pains and gave them new meaning in the most poetic way possible: through a script, a play, a character, a life that wasn’t mine but had my soul and my understanding woven into it.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
When I left everything behind in Brazil—family, friends, my dog, loves, memories—I knew that my greatest mission and objective were to honor my history, my journey, and all the support I received from everyone I knew. Moving to a new country without knowing anyone, speaking a language that isn’t your own, is one of the most intimidating challenges a human can face. I want to creatively honor all the pain, beauty, and poetry of not fully belonging to a place but feeling within yourself that this is home, that this is where you were destined to be. Los Angeles holds the magic of dreams, especially for us actors: we feel like we’re just one step away from a “yes” that could change our lives. I believe I have a lot to contribute to the industry with my experience as a Latino actor arriving in American lands.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiolegario/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudio.olegario/
Image Credits
Roberta Sampaio Sérgio Santoian Mess Santos