Globo director did not forgive actress who left soap opera: “Desequilibrada”

Known as one of the most beautiful and sought-after faces on Brazilian TV in the 1990s and 2000s, Ana Paula Arósio surprised everyone by suddenly leaving the vehicle.

The actress was cast as Marina, protagonist of the soap opera Insensato Coração (2011), when she decided to leave the team, on the eve of the first recordings.

What happened caused real chaos behind the scenes. Those involved with the plot that Globo aired at nine, such as artistic director Dennis Carvalho, did not forgive Ana Paula for her unprofessional behavior.

Withdrawal

Everyone involved in the soap opera by Gilberto Braga and Ricardo Linhares was ready for the initial takes, in Florianópolis, when they were surprised by the absence of Ana Paula Arósio, then the protagonist.

Globo caught the attention of the actress, who didn’t care. In the same week, she requested to break her contract. This episode took place in October 2010, but the story was only confirmed by the broadcaster in January of the following year.

Ana Paula was incessantly sought out by the press at the time. The artist’s sole position guaranteed that she had made “a personal resolution of a private nature” that she “would not comment on”.

Other setbacks

The authors and the artistic director had to search for a replacement. Paolla Oliveira accepted the invitation, joining the production in record time.

It is worth noting that the villain, then in charge of Fábio Assunção, also changed interpreters.

In the process of recovering from drug addiction, Fábio left Insensato Coração after filming the first scenes. Gabriel Braga Nunes took on the role, Léo, marking his return to Globo.

Director’s grief

Dennis Carvalho spoke about Ana Paula Arósio’s untimely departure from the serial in an interview with the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, on the occasion of the premiere of Insensato Coração.

“[…] The case of that lady who left the soap opera, I don’t even know her name… We were in Florianópolis, at the beginning of the recording. Of course it was tumultuous, terrible, a surprise. Everyone is there waiting and, suddenly, she calls and says ‘I’m not coming’. It was the most unprofessional attitude I have ever seen in my life,” she said.

“It’s unbalanced. She never gave a justification”, she highlighted in an article for Veja magazine, in November 2013.

The artistic director revealed the difficulty of finding a replacement, as there were not many names available.

“All of this was very stressful, and I was there, in Florianópolis, resolving everything over the phone. […] Until we agreed with Paolla. I’m loving working with her, she’s lovely and has a great character. This for me is the most important thing. I locked her in a hotel room for three days, memorizing the chapters,” she reported to Estadão.

Authors’ disappointment

Gilberto Braga and Ricardo Linhares also spoke during the period.

“This is a subject that I don’t like. She was unprofessional. What I can say is that I’m very happy with Paolla’s casting,” Gilberto told Istoé magazine.

“I’m sad and amazed, I really wanted to work with her. She was very excited, super excited about the character. We were together three weeks ago to read the text. She didn’t tell anyone she would be absent. In the end, Dennis, the director, is the one who makes the decisions, with our support, of course”, added Linhares.