When FENIX TV hosted the Emmy’s Celebrity Gifting event, there was a woman in a floor-length bright yellow couture gown. She was a showstopper. She would have easily won best-dressed. Her name is Tatyana Figueiredo and on entrance, you know she is a star.
Working on blockbuster films like Suicide Squad, Tatyana, a Brazilian actress, scored an opportunity to train in Hollywood after completely dominating a scene without even being able to understand English at that time. Since then, she has begun to build her acting career in America including great opportunities with Suicide Squad.
Tatyana began acting as a child and will graduate to producer with two films next year.
Tatyana, thank you so much for gracing the cover of FAME Magazine. Tell us, how did you begin pursuing acting?
I started acting as a young child and I got inspired to become an actress by watching actors perform on TV and on stage. As my passion grew throughout the years, I decided to attend a four-year theater college in Sao Paulo called Anhembi Morumbi and a three-year acting course for TV and Cinema, known as Wolf Maya.
My life changed paths when I attended a workshop run by Margie Haber back in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She did a workshop teaching her acting technique for auditions over the course of 3 days. On the last day, she held an audition where she would select one person to come to Hollywood and do her intensive course for free. When I was taking her classes, I had to use a translator to understand what she was saying, as I had not learned English yet. Some of the actors got a chance to do the exercises directly with her because they could speak English, but not me.
On the last day for the audition, I performed my scene in Portuguese and tried to use her technique on my personal acting process. I wasn’t expecting to be chosen because I wasn’t even able to speak English at all. After a couple of weeks, they announced the winner. Between 160 or more candidates, I was chosen. I was the one who could come to America and have the chance to study with her in Hollywood for free.
What do you love most about your work?
I pursued an artistic career because it is a way to express myself to the world in a way that people would want to see or hear. Being an actress allows you to escape and be characters or people you otherwise would never be. You can find the strength or even the weaknesses inside yourself and bring that to the surface in an artistic and captivating way, giving a sort of emotional release. And having others feel inspired by your work or feel an array of emotions about it can be very fulfilling.
You seem to be very well-traveled and we love following your adventures on IG, what has been the most memorable travel experience for you?
The most memorable travel experience was definitely the first time I went to Hawaii. It was always my dream to go to Hawaii and being on Big Island was an unforgettable experience. Big Island is not a big tourist island like the others, so we found the most beautiful beaches that were completely empty and were able to fully soak in every moment of being on the Island.
What’s next for you? Anything new you’re allowed to share?
I am most excited to produce 2 films next year of my own. I have partnered with some amazing writers and directors and can't wait to get started on them.
Tell us about your work on Suicide Squad, what was the best part about working on such a prominent film?
When it was time to shoot my scene a very funny situation took place. I never received so much attention and care at the same time. I was waiting for the crew to set up the cameras and one guy, who was in charge of taking care of me, asked me if I wanted some water and I said yes. He left right away to get it for me. Next the stunt man of Adam Beach (Slipknot in the film), the actor who I interact with, asked me if I wanted water and I said that someone was already getting some for me, but he left to go get some for me as well. Then, another man who was an assistant camera man came and brought me a couple bottles of water. Seconds later one by one everyone was coming to me and giving me bottles of water! haha It was so funny because I had so many bottles of water on set that I had to hide them in different places in the scene so they did not not show on camera! And because my scene takes place in my bathroom, the the assistant camera man and I were playing around saying that we could fill up the bathtub just with the water everyone had brought me! I definitely wasn't thirsty anymore!
The shooting of the scene went very smoothly, Adam Beach (Slipknot) was very nice and friendly and so was his stunt man. I felt so comfortable on set that I completely forgot that I was in a really huge production with such amazing well-known actors. I had a blessed time that day. I will never forget that moment and how well I was treated. Every single person involved in that movie got my attention, my respect and my admiration. I would love to say thanks to everyone involved with Suicide Squad for such an amazing experience!
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