Actress, television presenter and producer Rafa Kalimann continues to expand her career with projects that place storytelling at the centre of her work. With more than 21 million Instagram followers, she has become one of Brazil’s most recognised public figures while steadily building a reputation as an actress and producer. This year marked an important milestone with the presentation of My Dear Alice at the Festival de Cannes, where she served as both lead actress and producer, alongside another life-changing moment as she welcomed her daughter earlier this year.
By Luc Durant
In an exclusive interview for L’Officiel Monaco, Rafa Kalimann shares her thoughts on creative freedom, producing meaningful stories, balancing motherhood with an international career, and the values that continue to guide her personal and professional journey.
1. This year has brought both the premiere of My Dear Alice at the Festival de Cannes and the birth of your daughter. How have these experiences changed your perspective on success?
Success has taken on a much deeper meaning for me. Professionally, seeing the screening of My Dear Alice for the first time at The 79th Cannes Film Festival was a dream come true. Personally, becoming a mother transformed everything. It reminded me that the most meaningful achievements are not only measured by recognition, but by the love we cultivate, the values we pass on and the family we build. Today, success is about living with purpose and being present in every role life has given me.
2. What inspired you to take on the dual role of producer and lead actress in My Dear Alice?
I truly connected with this story and I knew I wanted to be involved beyond the performance. Producing allowed me to help shape the project from its earliest stages and ensure that its message remained authentic. It was a natural step in my creative journey. As an actress, you bring one character to life and as a producer, you help protect the vision of the entire film. It was a challenging experience, but also one of the most rewarding of my career.
3. The film explores difficult themes such as violence, resilience and survival. Why was this story important for you to tell?
Stories have the power to create empathy, start conversations and give visibility to experiences that are often ignored. My Dear Alice speaks about pain, but it also speaks about hope, courage and the possibility of rebuilding. I believe cinema has an important social role, and I wanted to be part of a project that could move people emotionally while encouraging reflection.
4. As your career continues to evolve, what kinds of roles and stories are you most interested in pursuing?
I’m drawn to characters with emotional complexity and stories that challenge both the audience and myself as an artist. I want to continue exploring projects that have something meaningful to say about the human experience, whether they are intimate dramas, inspiring true stories or productions that highlight important social issues.
5. Producing a film requires a different mindset from acting. What did you discover about yourself during the production process?
I discovered a side of myself that enjoys creating from scratch, solving problems and bringing people together around a shared vision. Producing taught me to see every detail of the creative process with greater respect, from development to post-production. It also strengthened my confidence in making decisions and trusting my intuition.
6. With an audience of more than 21 million people on social media, how do you balance public visibility with your private life?
I’ve never wanted people to see only the polished version of my life. The relationship I have with my audience has always been built on openness and honesty, and I think that’s why we’ve stayed connected for so many years. Whether I’m celebrating an achievement or talking about a vulnerable moment, I try to share what is real.
One of the most meaningful examples was my documentary series, Tempo para Amar, where I chose to openly share my journey towards motherhood, including my mental health struggles, the pressure to look a certain way, and everything I experienced throughout my pregnancy and during the birth of my daughter. It required a great deal of vulnerability, but I knew those conversations could help other women feel less alone.
At the same time, I’ve learned that being authentic doesn’t mean sharing everything. I’ve always been a very private person. Early in my career, I shared much more of my personal life, but over time I realised that I only want to share when there’s a genuine purpose behind it.
For me, every story should have meaning. That’s why, when I choose to open up, it’s intentional, just as it was with the documentary. It isn’t about exposing my life; it’s about telling stories that can inspire, educate, or genuinely connect with people.
7. Motherhood often changes priorities. Has becoming a mother influenced the way you approach your career and future projects?
Without a doubt, motherhood has given me a new perspective on time, purpose and responsibility. It hasn’t diminished my professional ambitions but fuelled them by giving everything more meaning. Every decision I make now considers not only the opportunities ahead, but also the example I want to set for my daughter. I hope to continue building a career that my daughter, Zuza, will one day look at with pride, knowing it was guided by passion, integrity and love.
8. Throughout your career, what has been the greatest lesson you have learned about resilience?
I’ve learnt that growth often happens during the moments of uncertainty, and that trusting the process is just as important as celebrating the results.
9. Which personal principles have helped you make important decisions, both professionally and personally?
Authenticity has always been my compass. I try to make decisions that align with my values. Respect, empathy and responsibility are principles I carry into every project and every relationship. I’ve also learned the importance of listening to my intuition. Experience has shown me that when my choices are rooted in honesty and purpose, they lead me to the right place.
10. Looking ahead, what would you like your audience to remember about Rafa Kalimann—not only as an actress and producer, but as a person?
I hope people remember someone who never stopped believing in the power of transformation. Growing up, I had a humble upbringing and I have worked for every result I have achieved and through hard work and dedication I have achieved more than I could have ever dreamed of so I hope that journey and work can inspire people to dream a little bigger, to be more compassionate and to believe that change is possible.
Credits
Photographer: Guilherme Nabhan @guilhermenabhan
Art direction Natália de Assis @nataliadeassisssss
Glam: Yanthi Brignol @yanthibrignol
Glam Assistant: João Paulo Maia @actedboy
Stylist: Carol Roquete @carolroquuete_stylist
Fashion Production: Victor Brandolin @victorbrandolin
Executive production: Gustavo Damasceno @gusttavvow
Photographer assistant: Jonas Felipe @jjonasaraujo, Guilherme Vaz @gvazguimaraes e Nicole Riotto @nicole_riotto