What is the best thing that I love about my work? The freedom and the impossible ability to be wrong or do wrong. There are so many possibilities when bringing a story to life, so much space for imagination and creation. And in these possibilities, some may not work as well as others, but that does not mean that you are wrong.

What is my idea of happiness? Being in complete peace. A state where even if it all goes wrong… everything is fine. We live in a world where everybody is so desperate and so ambitious and with that, making mistakes and things not going our way creates immense anxiety and I believe a lot of people can relate to that. Being in a state of peace with yourself, the world and what happens must be extremely freeing.

What is my greatest fear? To live a life full of regrets. I can be adventurous in some topics and I enjoy doing unique things for the simple sake of creating memories and trying them – while being responsible and respecting my limits and boundaries.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I am an overthinker in every aspect of my life. I rarely go with the flow, there is always preparation behind the scenes. Even for plans I am unsure I will get close to starting to achieve, I will plan for every possible detail and scenario that will come with it now and in the future. There is a good side to it, of course, but it makes me feel anxious and sometimes, depending on the situation, immense frustration.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Fernanda Montenegro, Letícia Colin, Viola Davis, Kate Winslet, Zendaya and Florence Pugh. These women are absolute legends and I hope to get to meet them someday. Even if the closer we get is meters apart in the same room and even if they do not look at me, I will feel accomplished and happy.

What is my greatest extravagance? When studying a character and creating when necessary, I will imagine countless scenarios for them. Where they grew up, who they grew up with, who they admired and why, their favorite color, their safe space… the list goes on. For some people, it can feel overwhelming and I admit, an actor’s work is a lot of work, but extremely worth it and valid. By doing this, I can be certain of who that person I am stepping to actually is and tell their story with deserved justice.

On what occasion would I lie? For protection, anytime. The world is getting more and more dangerous everyday and we can never be too careful and safe, which upsets and worries me deeply. Mostly on the internet, you never know who that person behind that username actually is and how far the posts you make on social media can go.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? There are many layers to this. To the profession itself, I wish people would take us more seriously when we say we want to become actors and our profession entirely, rather than just when we win notable awards and star in prestigious movies and TV shows. Industry wise, we are progressing in it, but there is still a lot to work on when it comes to representation and how to actually represent life in entertainment, and that means showing the ugly and the uncomfortable parts of being a human being – minorities and majorities. Working, I wish it could be more consistent, because truth be told, we are always unsure of when we will get to work again, for one day or for months. In addition to that, there is the meeting and working with different people every time – it can be a blessing too, to get to work with so many amazing artists, but as we only work for a short period of time, sometimes we wish we could be around them for longer.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? I had two moments, a play and a film. The play was ‘Tatê O Quê?’ (Tate What?, in English) and I played Angel, a key character to the story. Through that, I started looking at myself as an actress differently, it helped me see my value and my worth as an artist. The film was ‘Left Alone’ and it was my first lead role on screen. It was a remote project and I was responsible for filming the scenes, for, picking the outfits, choosing the best shots, editing, acting and now promoting. I transformed my home into a movie set, my phone into a cinematic camera, my wardrobe into costumes and I realized that I am more capable than I ever thought. It was hard but it showed me a world of opportunities.

If I could, what would I change about myself? Nothing. Because then it would be a completely different person. I won’t lie and say that I have never looked at myself and wish that I looked differently in some aspect or even wishing to be a completely different person – even switching lives -, but then it wouldn’t be me. All the unique things that make me who I am would be gone, because a simple detail such as my eye color, for example, has a reason and a story behind it. Changing it would change everything.

What is my greatest achievement in work? Being recognized for my qualifications and for what I do. Everytime I receive a compliment on my work, an opportunity to promote it or a chance to audition for a project, to mention a few, it brings me immense joy and gratitude.

Where would I most like to live? This is a tricky one. Professionally talking, I would love to live in Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver or London. But a part of me wants to live in a small village in the middle of nowhere and appreciate nature and simplicity of life. I hope to get to experience the best of both worlds.

What is my most treasured possession? My first blanket that I was given to as a baby. It helps me to feel grounded and safe when I need it. It also reminds me that one day I used to laugh and smile at the most simple things of life and that there is always space to appreciate and celebrate small developments in life.

What is my most marked characteristic? My personality. I have been told many times that I have a strong presence, one that cannot go unnoticed. I balance that with being independent, focused, determined, private but also compassionate, loyal and reliable.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? My grandparent’s farm. It is not exactly inspirational itself, but whenever I am there, I feel my mind getting silent from all the worries and problems and I can simply enjoy the moment. From there, the inspiration will come.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city? The local ice cream shop. It is the heart of town and one of the reasons we attract people from other cities and convince them to visit us. I will never turn down ice cream, let alone the best one in the world.

What books influenced my life and how? As a child, ‘A Bailarina’ (The Ballet Dancer, in English), because it was through a school project, where we picked a book to make a performance at the local theater that I had my first contact with the stage and acting. Unfortunately, I do not remember the author’s name. Recently, ‘ Achieve The Impossible’ by Peter J. Bone – the name speaks for itself and I definitely recommend it.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day? ‘Here’, a song I wrote when I was sixteen years old. It is about the story of my life and it is not a wish of mine to get it released. It would make sense to listen to it on my last day on Earth.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Cinderella. The live action starring Lily James changed my life, mainly the quote ‘have courage and be kind’. I consider this my mantra in life.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My family. No explanation needed.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? The Twilight saga. It is almost impossible not to fall in love with the aesthetic of the movie and the soundtrack. Everytime I watch it or even listen to the songs featured in the film, I cannot help but to wish I lived in that world.

What role play stories in my life and work? Stories are my work. My profession would be unexistent if it were not for them. It is an honor, a privilege and a great responsibility to bring words on paper to life and to make people be seen and feel represented.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me? It means that we have two options and I will use a skier’s example to explain it. Life is similar to a ski track in the aspect of, in the middle of trees there is a path and it will lead us to our destination. If we only focus on the trees in our way, we will only see trees and obstacles, making it harder to see the path and keep going. But if we focus on the path, that is all we will see and even though the obstacles are still there, shifting our focus makes things easier and clearer when times are tougher.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My mother. Again, no explanation needed.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? It would be my honor to work alongside the six women I previously mentioned. Besides them, I would love to be directed by Greta Gerwig, Kathryn Bigelow, Tim Burton and Shawn Levy someday. They are brilliant directors and I am a big fan of their projects.

What project am I looking forward to working on? Currently, I am working on the ‘Multinational Triologue’ series alongside the amazing Kalite Rodi and Celine R. Chapuís. There are a few more episodes in the making and I am extremely excited for them to come out. I am also working on a Christmas film that will be released this season and a few other projects that I cannot share right now.

Where can you see me or my work? The ‘Multinational Triologue’ I previously mentioned is now available on Kaliste Rodi’s YouTube channel. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4g_mmgntIA&t=2s)

For the other projects, I am always promoting and announcing them on my official social media platforms – including where you can watch them whenever they come out.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? Passion is a feeling and feelings do not age. That flame will always burn inside of me until my last day. To me, it is this flame, this passion for whatever it is, that keeps people going and living even when times are difficult. Passion is beautiful and immortal.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story? Sil Iizuka, Kaliste Rodi, Celine R. Chapuís, Tabitha Wells, Lauren Carver, Louise Anderson-Scott, Georgina Minter-Brown, Valery Ortega and Sophie Way.

How can you contact me?

For work enquiries, you can email me directly at tacylladebora@gmail.com

On social media, my Instagram accounts are @deboratacylla and @dtacting (acting posts only) and @DTacylla on Twitter.