Pedro Urizzi’s sweet return to acting

After years away from acting, he accepted the invitation to Meu Amigo Pinguim. And the result couldn’t be better!

The film My penguin friend is coming to streaming, rentable on Prime Video and already available with an Apple TV+ subscription. In September it was the film’s turn in Brazilian cinemas, with a premise that couldn’t be cuter: a fisherman, João (Jean Reno/Pedro Urizzi), saves an injured penguin at sea and takes care of him for a few months. After releasing the bird into the wild, he amazingly spent seven years returning to visit every year. Inspired by a true Brazilian story, the film was recorded in English and directed by Brazilian David Schurmann. Pedro, who is also an audiovisual director, had been away from his acting career for years when an invitation from David, his friend, made him reconsider his decision. He spoke with the TV guide about these and other stories. Check!

How were you chosen for the role?

“First, having worked as an actor with David Schurmann in 2010 and having fluent English were important. Furthermore, there were coincidences. I have known David for 15 years and he always commented on my resemblance to Jean Reno, and he joked: ‘If one day I make a film with Jean Reno, you will make the young version.’ And the funny thing is that this was just speculation, as he was invited to direct the film for many years afterward. The magic of things, the moment and the right film aligned. The end result fills me with pride, but this also reflects the exceptional nature of the film.

What attracted you most about the character? Did you talk to João in real life about what he thought?

“The opportunity to play a character very far from my reality was challenging: bringing to life a fisherman and family man in Brazil 40 years ago. In addition to building the character, I had to incorporate the acting style of Jean Reno, the protagonist of the film, to create continuity between the two interpretations of the same character, separated by four decades. As for Mr. João, I met him during our trip to Los Angeles, on the way to the premiere.

We talked a lot and he was deeply moved by the film, almost unable to believe what he was seeing. David paid a beautiful tribute throughout the campaign, demonstrating admirable respect and tenderness. Mr. João heard this every day and was moved by every session. He became a star, loved by the public. At one point, he commented on how something so simple (but just as powerful) brought him to Hollywood. His kindness created an unlikely friendship that lasted years and turned into cinema.”

Any favorite behind-the-scenes stories from the film?

“The day I met Jean Reno, we attended the first reading of the script with the entire cast and crew of the film, in Ubatuba. At the end, the director David Schurmann introduced us and invited me to lunch. We spent the whole afternoon talking We talked about the character, but we also discussed topics such as theater, cinema and literature. At one point, Jean shared a nightmare that had tormented him for years: ‘I, Jean Reno, have been fired by the director of the play. in front of the entire cast for being a bad actor’. This dream only disappeared after the release of The professional (1994). Knowing this brought me even closer to him and helped me accept insecurity as part of the creative process. It was a memorable day. That’s when I knew: I was ready.”

Did the responsibility of it being your first international performance weigh on you?

“My nervousness was inevitable. But fortunately when I watch the film I don’t see myself on the screen; I see the character, and this is essential. I prepared intensely. I believe that the comfort zone can be the enemy of dedication and creativity, and this repeats itself in every new project. In this case, the variables were many, and I needed to incorporate the style of Jean, an artist of the highest level in a more economical way, overflowing with emotions eyes of unspoken words, which is It was a huge challenge for me: develop the character, mirroring Jean’s style and attributing these artistic layers to the high technical level required by the set.”

Who came first: Pedro the director or Pedro the actor?

“Pedro, the actor. I have always been passionate about the word. I started with poetry readings at school, which led me to the theater. Then, I started making small appearances in the cinema and, before I knew it, I had already found my class. Becoming a director was a natural consequence of my desire to act, so I started producing and directing short films to create opportunities to play roles force pulling the other, and when I have it seen, he was already there for 10 years as a director. In 2022 I returned to acting, thanks to David’s invitation.”

Now, with the release of the film, what are your new projects?

“As a director, I have two releases for 2025: the documentary series Architecture today!on the contemporary architecture of the southern hemisphere and its dialogue between Africa and Brazil, and the documentary Vlavians, Reason and Impulseabout the Greek sculptor Nicolas Vlavianos, who created his works in metal. As an actor, I am in the cast of the film By a threadalso directed by David Schurmann.”

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.