Actor Felipe Ricca made his first public appearance alongside girlfriend Luiza Gabus Mendes during a promotional event in Sao Paulo on Thursday, September 17.
The couple both feature in the cast of the Netflix series Habeas Corpus and posed together for photographers in Brazil's largest city. They were joined by veteran actor Tato Gabus Mendes, 73, who is Luiza's father and also stars in the production.
Ricca, 26, and Gabus Mendes, 20, met during the filming of the streaming project. The pair officially confirmed their relationship in April this year while working on set together.
Television careers and breakout roles
Ricca works as both an actor and a musician. He began earning wider recognition on television through his role in Pedaco de Mim, before joining the cast of the 2025 remake of the historic Brazilian telenovela Vale Tudo.
The original 1988 broadcast of Vale Tudo is considered a milestone in Brazilian television history, celebrated for its social critique and acclaimed ensemble cast. Joining the modern adaptation marked another significant step in Ricca's screen career.
Ricca comes from an established acting family as the son of actress Adriana Esteves, 56, and actor Marco Ricca, 63, who were married for a decade until 2004. He is also the stepson of actor Vladimir Brichta, 50, who married Esteves in 2006.
Esteves is one of Brazil's most celebrated performers, widely recognised for playing the villain Carminha in the global hit Avenida Brasil. Her former husband Marco Ricca has built an extensive career across Brazilian cinema and television.
The Gabus Mendes family dynasty
Gabus Mendes balances work as an actress, model and digital influencer. She has performed on stage in theater productions since childhood, and Habeas Corpus marks her formal television debut on the streaming platform.
She represents the third generation of one of Brazil's most respected television dynasties. In addition to her father Tato, she is the niece of screen actor Cassio Gabus Mendes, who has appeared in television dramas for more than four decades.
Her late grandfather, Cassiano Gabus Mendes, was a foundational figure in Brazilian broadcasting. As an author and television executive, he helped establish South American television before creating enduring telenovela classics including Beto Rockfeller, Ti Ti Ti and Que Rei Sou Eu?.
