My first character was born in my mother's wardrobe; I'd dress up in her clothes and knock on the front door as Lucia, a posh lady visiting from somewhere far away. I never stopped chasing that feeling of freedom; I just took me the long way back to it. I left Brazil at fifteen, collected degrees across Oxford, Geneva, and London, and did the responsible thing: finance. It worked on paper, but not for me. So I did the other responsible thing — quit, packed four suitcases, and moved to LA to chase acting (have you heard this one before?). Two years later I stepped onto my first paid stage, published my first book, and my life was never the same. But all roads led me to the city that has my heart — New York.

I love what I do, and I don't take that for granted. Every part I take, I bring what I brought to that front door as a kid; curiosity, nerve, and a refusal to play it safe. Lucia would be proud. As for my family... still recovering!