Thiago Lacerda, Renowned for His Role as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Visits Cuba and Sparks Nostalgia Among Fans

The Brazilian actor Thiago Lacerda, fondly remembered in Cuba for his portrayal of Giuseppe Garibaldi, is currently in Havana serving as a juror at the 46th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, according to a report dated December 12, 2025.

His itinerary has included public engagements and meetings with media and organizations associated with the festival, such as a press conference held at the Hotel Nacional and appearances on television shows.

During a press briefing this Friday at the Hotel Nacional, Lacerda shared his excitement about being in Cuba and partaking in what he described as a "grand celebration of the seventh art" in the region.

In an interview with the state-run Prensa Latina, he revealed that this trip had been long anticipated and noted the "beautiful" connection the Cuban audience has with cinema.

He emphasized that witnessing "people in theaters and on the streets," interacting with fellow jury members, and experiencing Latin American films had been "an experience" and a "memorable moment" in the country.

When asked by Prensa Latina about the interplay between his television work (telenovelas) and cinema in the context of a festival that appreciates auteur cinema and regional identity, Lacerda remarked on the "beautiful" connection characters have with audiences.

During the same interaction, he mentioned plans to return with his theater show and possibly with his family "at another time."

He also expressed pride in his television work, describing it as an effective way to establish a rapport with the audience.

Lacerda spoke about Latin American cinema as a unifying space and highlighted the role of art and culture as powerful tools for "intellectual provocation" and "political discourse."

He anticipated the festival's continuation and hoped that future editions would maintain the current quality of films and Latin American cinema.

As a juror, Lacerda described himself as a "positive spectator" of his colleagues' work, stating that judging is both enjoyable and an opportunity to appreciate other creators' journeys.

In this vein, he identified himself as a "storyteller" who values meaning, surprise, creativity, and originality in his craft. While he affirmed that he was born to tell stories in front of the camera, he did not rule out the possibility of directing in the future.

When asked about taking a symbolic item from Cuba back to Brazil, he said he would take "the Cuban people's smile" and their kindness; when asked to define Cuba in a word or phrase, he replied: "Beautiful Cuba."

Lacerda also appeared this Saturday on the television show "Al Mediodía" with Marino Luzardo, where he shared a conversation "full of anecdotes."

Thiago Lacerda gained significant popularity in Cuba and other countries for his role as Giuseppe Garibaldi in the miniseries A Casa das Sete Mulheres, a historical figure that solidified his image as a heartthrob and catapulted his international career.

Throughout his career, he has successfully balanced television drama, film, and theater, participating in both commercial productions and higher-profile artistic projects.

On a personal and professional level, he is recognized for his solid training, versatile acting skills, and maintaining an active career beyond the television heartthrob stereotype that marked his early days.