As published in CLAUDIA

In the Desejos S.A. series, available on the Star Plus platform since the end of March, strangers have the possibility of making wishes come true – from the most banal to the most dangerous – for less than 10 reais, but the price, of course, comes with some surprises. A thriller defined as a comedy, it features an eclectic cast, and a stitched and interesting narrative with good Brazilian content, another success from Star Plus, in fact.

I won’t go into details because it’s essential to know as little as possible to enjoy the series’ twists even more, but I spoke to actress Carol Castro, one of the highlights of the season and who lives an episode that many women could say is every day. Suspicious of the time her husband spends online and on the phone, she wants to discover his password to clandestinely enter the circuit and find out who he has been talking to so much and why. She knows the “he who seeks finds?”, yes, but it is much worse than we could anticipate.

In the exclusive chat with CLAUDIA, Carol was extremely excited about the series, which awakened her concern and discovery of a dangerous universe on the Internet and one of the greatest dangers of online predators. For example, have you ever heard of “grooming”? Unfortunately, the conversation brings some SPOILERS, but they are all contextualized.

CLAUDIA: What was your reaction like when you read this script for Desejos S.A.. for the first time?
CAROL CASTRO: I was amazed. It’s really nice when you get that good trigger
of challenge. I like. My character’s theme is interesting, so delicate, necessary, and little known. And I also liked the whole ending. It’s intelligent and intriguing, it’s different, but of course, I’m biased!

CLAUDIA: It is very common in Brazilian content to highlight dramas or comedies, but not so much suspense and a non-linear plot that is so well tied…
CAROL CASTRO: But do you know that it’s a comedy on the platform? [laughs] There are hints of comedy, yes, but it’s much more like drama and suspense, I completely agree with you. That’s why I found it so curious. Maybe it’s a cultural thing.

CLAUDIA: And it debuted really well!
CAROL CASTRO: Yes, it’s going really well out there. Here it entered the top ten series on the platform and I loved it because I think it’s bold and intriguing. The series is directed by José Alvarenga Jr (with whom he had already done Maldivas and Cilada) and Mariana Youssef, who highlight all the subtleties of the text and everyone’s interpretation.

CLAUDIA: Does the female gaze behind the camera make a difference?
CAROL CASTRO: Yes, a lot and you know, I – as the director you come here – [laughs] like to observe the whole process, even when I’m not filming. When I heard “Mari’s set is going on in the parking lot” I went there, to talk to Mari and also to observe. I like watching behind the scenes.

CLAUDIA: I’m going to talk a little more openly with the spoiler, trying to avoid too many details. But confess: have you ever looked at a partner’s cell phone or wanted to look? Or do you know friends who have been through this?
CAROL CASTRO: I know. But look, I’ll tell you, as a good Pisces woman that I am, I won’t say that I was never curious in some cases and had that intuition that something was going on, but I didn’t do it. No cell phones or Instagram. I don’t even follow which photo the person liked. I stay in my universe because I am very sensitive.

CLAUDIA: But in the series, your character can’t handle it, even though she apparently has a great relationship. What is it like when distrust is aroused?
CAROL CASTRO: I think it was female intuition. We women have a power that comes from our ancestors too. Our ancestors. And in the case of Desejos S.A., it was intuition because we are talking about a very empowered woman, who works in a very masculine universe and who is in a leadership position. But you see that she doesn’t have everything because she had a click, which I call intuition, where she felt: ‘Wait a minute. There’s something wrong. He’s spending a lot of time on video games, and a lot of time on his phone. Are you cheating on me with another woman?’

CLAUDIA: And the discovery is of something even more sinister…
CAROL CASTRO: We’re talking spoilers here! [laughter]. She realizes that something is wrong with her.

CLAUDIA: Yes, because you manage to discover the password, go in and discover the worst and what do you do with the information?
CAROL CASTRO: But in the case of Flávia [Carol’s character], she preferred
that it was no one or just another woman. If that were the case, she would end the marriage because she is a practical woman. ‘Bye Love. She’s not working out,’ but in fact, she has a history of pedophilia. And inside the world, a universe where he pretends to be another child. It’s beyond sick, right? I do not know what I would do. I think maybe I wouldn’t even be able to stay by his side for even a second, which is what ends up happening. She wants to run away in the car and he wants to talk to her. Flavia doesn’t even respond. Ali has probably already called the police, he’s thinking “Wait, you’ll see when the time comes”. Arma, that celebratory dinner and we have that epic ending.

CLAUDIA: It was completely unexpected
CAROL CASTRO: In my opinion, Flávia is one of those who has a deliverance from this whole story.

CLAUDIA: Did you know this would be the theme? Have you ever heard of ‘grooming’? (Note: The word “grooming” is the original English term used to define the grooming of minors via the Internet, intending to seek sexual benefits).
CAROL CASTRO: For me, it was very important, because I am a mother of a girl and I
raised an alert. I also had this feeling that it was a mission to tell this story because everyone needs to know, be aware, and be aware. Because this universe of telephones, this universe of keeping the phone in your hand, this universe of playing video games. Do you know how far these people go when they are talking to their children while someone guarantees that it is another child?

CLAUDIA: The narrative of Desires Inc. reminded me of David Fincher’s film The Game and Strangers on a Train, where strangers help make a wish come true and question what people do when they want something …
CAROL CASTRO: I love it! I need to see it again. Those who watch it also think it reminds them of Black Mirror because many stories intersect, right? I find it interesting because it shows our society in a very short way. Six characters and six episodes create a web and show that no one is completely good. No one is completely villainous. Everyone has two sides, intimate and dark, and with their weaknesses.

CLAUDIA: Do you have any complex desires to fulfill? What would you do to accomplish it?
CAROL CASTRO: Do you know what’s crazy? When you are a mother, it is no longer your wish, but everything includes your daughter. That’s why my wish, which I could fulfill with my daughter, would be, like, to have a tree house. Banal. But the tradeoff for trying to build our treehouse and not telling anyone! [laughter]

CLAUDIA: And your next projects?
CAROL CASTRO: I just filmed O Jogo Cruzado in January, another series also on Star Plus that will probably only premiere in 2025. In May, the feature film Férias Trocadas and also the film that talks about the Dictatorship, Somos os Mesmos, should premiere in theaters, inspired by a true story that takes place in the Argentine consulate in Chile. It’s a very strong story and it’s a film for which I’m also an associate producer it won best film at the Toronto Independent Festival, and it’s been following a really cool path. And I’m dying to see it in full because I haven’t been able to watch it yet. In June I will be honored at the Santos Film Festival, but I don’t even know how to say it without blushing! [laughs] I’m glad I’ll be together with Júlia Resende, a wonderful director who I’ve known for 20 years because I made a film with Marisa Leão, her mother, in 2004. I’m extremely honored.

CLAUDIA: There are many cool projects! How can you breathe?
CAROL CASTRO: Trying to divide me. [laughs] I always bring my daughter because I can’t stay away. But yes, I am in a great moment, of renewal, rebirth, and recovery, also experiencing mourning of the loss of my father, who has always been the greatest reference for me. My Best Friend. But getting stronger every day. It’s a very, very unique moment.

CLAUDIA: Very good. Much success, much success!
CAROL CASTRO: Thank you. I’m making my way! Always looking for roles that challenge me, that shake my structure, or that are stories to raise awareness about a topic.

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