Heartthrob of ‘Mar do Sertão’, Matteus Cardoso talks about the sensual scenes of the plot and the relationship with his boyfriend: ‘Give me a lap’

At the age of 34, Matteus Cardoso made the charismatic Joel Leiteiro one of the successes of “Mar do sertão”, which comes to an end this Friday. Newcomer to soap operas, the actor, born in Natal (RN), attended the Moscow State University of Cinema, Russia, where he lived from 2013 to 2016. With plans to return to the theater, Matteus takes stock of the comic character and sensual in the six o’clock plot, and talks about dating medical student Bruno Albuquerque.

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What was it like to explore Joel’s comedic and sensual side?

Joel doesn’t know he’s handsome and hot. Despite stirring up Anita’s (Julia Mendes) look, he’s stupid. The joke with the character’s name also seemed very good to me. He has a protruding side, but he doesn’t know he’s beautiful. With comedy, the scenes take on different contours.

The videos you posted exercising backstage made the networks talk…

I work out, Sergio Guizé also works out. We decided to play this game. I grew up following Carlos Lombardi’s soap operas, with the shirtless heroes. In an interview, Humberto Martins said that today everything has changed. I took barbells and dumbbells to the studios to warm up. Humberto, the new generation is there holding the same bar that you and Marcos Pasquim held (laughs).

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Have you intensified training?

I’ve always taken care of my body, but I’ve never focused so much on aesthetics. In the soap opera, I had bathing and shirtless scenes.

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Has your boyfriend always supported you in your career?

We’ve been together for four years. He saw me through the ups and downs, gave me a lap to cry on when I didn’t pass the tests. Anyone who sees me in the soap opera is seeing the close-ups, not running (laughs).

What was it like to live in Russia?

I went to study film directing there. I am delighted with the way communist governments promote art and culture. I had to learn to speak Russian in order to live and study there.

How do you deal with fame?

I’m a theater freak, but I loved doing TV. On the streets, I don’t get much recognition. But I get praise and criticism on the networks.

What are the next plans?

I’m going to put together the piece I wrote during the pandemic, “Brazilian artist’s survival manual”. We premiere online and I want to stage the text in the theater.

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