Diogo Morgado -- "Entre Nós"

One of my main goals in doing this blog is for you and I to get to know Diogo better.  To that end, today and tomorrow's "Clips of the Day" are from a great, in-depth, and lengthy interview with Diogo from the SIC Mulher show "Entre Nós" ("Between Us") that aired on Friday, November 30, 2012.

After doing this interview, Diogo tweeted "Just got out of the studio where I talked with the sweet Adelaide de Sousa for the program "Entre nós."  It was a good, honest conversation, talking about things that I normally do not speak about. I hope you like it." (via Google Translate.)

I'm pretty sure you'll like it. :)  Especially thanks to our Portuguese heroine, @MsLiliana, who translated the ENTIRE interview for us.  The interview is nearly an HOUR long, so I am posting it in two parts.  Here is part one of Diogo on "Entre nós," with Liliana's translation provided right below the clip.

(clip courtesy of Anamatos25/Diogo Morgado fãs/YouTube)

"Adelaide de Sousa/AS: Hello. Welcome to Entre Nós. Our guest today is a young boy who just entered his thirties, but has a very full life with achievements that most only dream of. He practiced sports, was a model, became an actor, and in the chain of all these events … that he reached the aspired world of Hollywood. He says: It had to be… it was supposed to… but I am sure that he has done his part in all of this! And it is of that part that we are also going to talk about on this show, with Diogo Morgado.
Hello, Diogo… So! Welcome!
Diogo Morgado /DM: With an introduction like this… well there is not so much else to say…
AS: Ends like this then?
DM: Ends like this! It was a pleasure! Many thanks, I liked it a lot! There’s a cold in my stomach… like butterflies… I liked, it was nice, now I take my microphone…
AS: Wait! Wait a bit… Let us start to talk about… I know you were born in Lisbon? Or in Margem Sul (south bank)?
DM: I was born in Lisbon, at Stª Maria Hospital, in 1981, so…
AS: 31 years old! Almost 32.
DM: Almost 32… don’t talk about it!
AS: What an exaggeration… 
DM: No it’s that thing… that kind of charm talk you know… I think… Nowadays we live until 100… if you can, right?
AS: Or if you have some bad luck right? 
DM: That was a good one! I’ll take that for now!
AS: Let’s talk about happy things instead… Alentejo has for you big importance, because, I guess you have nice childhood memories…  You have a younger brother?
DM: Yes a younger brother, 6 years younger, Pedro – little kiss for Pedro.
AS: Pedro writes? He is a writer?
DM: Yes, Pedro, my brother, he as a degree in cardio pulmonology, he works in a pharmaceutical enterprise, but one of his great passions is writing.  He was always pretty good at that. He wrote a romance called “Instantes Inqueitos” (“Restless Moments.) I may be biased, but it’s a very interesting book, especially coming from a young man… talks about what haunts us, nowadays. He has all the qualities to be a great author.

(image courtesy of www.sitiodolivro.pt)

(Click the "Read More" link below to read the rest....)

AS: Are you a proud brother?

DM: Pretty much, pretty much… obviously about the people I love, but I am embarrassingly proud… 

AS: Very well! What was the sport you practiced?

DM: I started with athletics, I did 100mts barriers and high jump.

AS: Ummmm and were you good?

DM: I was not bad! Not bad… I was in a national final when I got injured, and had a muscle tear…

AS: How old were you?

DM: Like 14, 15 years old… that serious muscle tear progressed to fibrosis… and then I never got to the performances I did before, which was frustrating, so I went canoeing. I ended up federated in canoeing, I still have my card from the Portuguese Canoeing Federation. 

AS: And you still do it?

DM: No. No, because I never did as well as I did in athletics. I am a little competitive, I don´t like to lose, even if it is for beans!

AS: I see that…

DM: When I lose, I lose, so don´t tell me anything else… and I just go away!  But when I do things, I like them well-done, and I like to stay quiet because I gave it my best. If I lose, after that, well there is no problem, I even like to congratulate who won… but if I feel I could have done better, then I get really mad!

AS: At the time, did your family have any interference with your decisions? How was that managed?

DM: My parents always gave me the opportunity to experience all that I could, and obviously, athletics was one of the things I did with determination, and they were proud of that, then… I started on the artistic side, there were some concerns, we were living in our peacefulness at Margem Sul, and at the age of 15 I started travelling to Lisbon by myself every day…

AS: You stared modeling at 15, then? Such a young man…

DM: Yes, I started coming to Lisbon by bus, boat, metro… 

AS: Do you imagine you’ll let your son do that when he is 15? 

DM: I don´t know… and this might sound strange, but times are changing so fast… and I even talked about it with my brother –- the generation gap between me and my brother is huge! There were many changes in six years… so what is going on these days, I don´t know… The world is different, at that is why Alentejo has been so special for me… 

(photo courtesy of tenhosaudadesdomeualentejo.blogspot.pt)

AS: Was it a counterweight?

DM: Yes. It was the place where there were no schoolmates, people didn´t care who I was, didn´t matter what they thought… there were no goals.  I was totally free to explore and experience new things, new food, to have lunch more than one time, cause you go to someone’s home and they say: “Son, come here and eat something”… You could walk in the street without thinking about traffic… that freedom was so important for me! 

AS: And there was something left out of there….

DM: I can tell you, that I cannot live in Lisbon, just can’t. I lived there and it was suffocating for me. Time is different there… 10 minutes in Lisbon runs so fast, 10 minutes out of Lisbon seems like they stretch… I kept that until now… I can´t live in Lisbon, not that I have anything against people who live there, it’s a wonderful city, I’m proud of it… but just won’t live there. It isn’t consistent with my timing. 

AS: You lived with your parents and brother until relatively late… 

DM: Until 19 / 20 years.

AS: Well that is not that late, then…While you were taking photos of a friend that wanted to be a model, someone took some photos of you, and that made you go into the fashion world… doing what exactly?

DM: Yes. Initially taking some photos to clothing catalogs, all dandified in my suit, some of those clothes I had never worn… well, my Mom's pride -– “My boy is a man."

AS: Does she keep those memories and material?

DM: Yes, yes, she kept many of those, moreover, what I have now are things she kept, and then she said, “Take these, now!”… Time passes, and she said: “You should be the one keeping this!” 

AS: But that job made you feel at ease…

DM: Publicity did! 

AS: Then you made the crossing to the casting of “Terra Mãe”. 

DM: Yes, publicity made it possible, and I remember that was when I started to care less, that things started happening. Meaning, I am completely sure that when we want something really bad, we end up having positive energies about it, but also feed many fears… Today I really believe this – those could keep us away from what we want. When you have nothing to lose, when you do things certain that you are doing your best, and not demanding too much… being disciplined and wanting to do your very best, things happen in a natural way and with a special strength. The first commercial I did, they were closing the doors at the place, and I begged, “C’mon I came from Margem Sul… traveled by bus, and boat… please let me do this!”… So they did let me do the casting, and I said, “Thank you… I’ll never get the role, so…” Know what I mean? And then I got it! And though… wait… I didn't even care about this… 

AS: Does that attitude been a way of dealing with your challenges…

DM: Yes it does. I didn't do auditions for a long time, and returned to them due to the new contacts I made (internationally) and that is the spirit -- do my best!

AS: So you never keep that weight on your shoulders…

DM: I just forget about it! 

AS: How do you deal with rejections? 

DM: Rejections are not there! I don’t care! I do forget about it. Sometimes even my brother, or Cátia at home question me… “So, how about that audition?” and I, well maybe I didn't get the role… who cares?

AS: Next to “Terra Mãe” where you worked with Vergílio Castelo…

DM: Yes, Vergílio Castelo was the first one offered me a part…

AS: On the Biography Channel, Vergílio gave his opinion about that first experience and other works you both have done… So, after “Terra Mãe” there were other characters you did, like in “Jornalistas”, “Médico de família”…

DM: Yes, that came after… 3 months before ending “Terra Mãe”, which was for me an overwhelming experience… I mean, I came out from the suburbs, playing football in the street and doing good at school, to a guy that people know on the street… it was a little scary… At the time “Terra Mãe” was recorded for six months, then, when it was complete it aired. 

AS: Yes… there was a distance there…

DM: Yes, the series was completely recorded… which means that, when I started watching, I just went out! Meanwhile I evolved, so I was so ashamed of what I did… 

AS: You and your way of doing this well-done…

DM: I had no formation, nothing! It was pure instinct… And I had a notion… that it was a great… a great shit! 

AS: It was not THAT bad!

DM: It was not good! I was very weak Adelaide… plainly bad! Differently… when people talk to me about this new actors' generation I say, are you kidding? I'm very proud of these guys!  I wish I did that good when I started! So I have the most respect. I think that the only difference is the way we face what we do is realize this is not a 100-meter race… It's a marathon! And you have to know what to do, what to choose… that is why I made some things that were not supposed to, or for me to accept… I was for two years making “Revista à Portuguesa” (Live tragic/comic theatre), did shows like “Malucos do Riso”, presented some shows, because I didn't know… I needed to do that, so I can say, I am not good at this, or this I can do relatively well, we need to have a real notion of what is comfortable for us,  and if we are able to do it or not. Good sense!

AS: And about “Amo-te Teresa”… I said we would talk about it… 

DM: What are you talking about?! I have no idea! Amo-te…. I do not see what… 

AS: Ana Padrão, doesn't ring a bell?

DM: Ahhh I can see it now!

(photo courtesy of quinto-canal.com)

AS: The first tele-film SIC did, it was well received, people talked about it, until today people remember you at that movie… then you made “A Noiva” and “Teorema de Pitágoras”. But “Amo-te Teresa”… did it make a statement? 

DM: Yes, totally! People got to know my name.  Until then, I was like: “that´s the boy from that series…” From there, I was Diogo Morgado.

AS: You were Diogo Soares, right? That was your last name…

DM: Yes, that is my last name… we chose Morgado because Soares reminds of a former president..  But that was the great difference. To see that people (Looks at the TV... There it is!!) related to that beautiful love story, out of the ordinary. 

AS: There was a tragic part, right?

DM: There was. But I did very well with Ana, she is older and I tried to learn a lot, which was pleasurable. And there’s another thing that helped… As it was the first, I had no idea what a tele-film was, I had no idea!

AS: You didn't see you were someone that made part of something that would change Portuguese TV. 

DM: Suddenly the promos started and I thought, Wait… It’s me!

AS: So proud!

DM: And then it was fantastic!

AS: Then you made “A febre do ouro negro”, and there was when we met. 

DM: I think so.

AS: You were a English man.

DM: Yes I was Bob Cartland, with an English accent… I thought… I have to make a strange Portuguese/English accent…. I had some references, but not much… I was starting, and was afraid of playing silly. It was a serious character. 

AS: There was someone that met you at that time that did not get a great impression of you… 

DM: Who was it?

AS: You’re gonna be surprised…

DM: Ok ready…

(Vídeo)

Carla Chambel: Diogo was a cheerful boy, a little silly I thought at the beginning… but we didn´t have the chance to work together then… Years later I worked with Diogo at “Vingança” from SIC. There he was different, mature, and generous… very generous as a fellow worker. I lived the most amazing moments with him, on TV. Later on “Laços de Sangue”… the same dedicated and motivated man. There is one thing I love about him… he has concern for renewable energies… he could have the most amazing car, things man loves… but he opted for a electric transport, this is a man of the future!

(resume)
DM: So funny! I was not expecting this! 

AS: She thought you were silly??!

DM: In part I was, I was insecure… so I tried to disguise it! When I did “Febre do Ouro Negro” I was coming every day to Lisbon to a play at National Theatre, so there was some pressure at me being tired… so I was silly! Disguising! A big kiss to Carla. I so love her! She is one of the people whom I learn from all the time, it´s a pleasure to me. I like her as a person, a great artist. Kiss for her!

AS: So… you are you a eco-efficient man?

DM: Yes… I have a knock about that. Sometimes I exaggerate… When you come to my house you will see… LED lamps… white horrible lights… but, efficient!

AS: “Vingança”… Santiago such a great character and history, based on Count of Monte Cristo. Why do you think that the image of “Santiago” is so attached to you?

(photo courtesy of SAPO)

DM: I identified with Santiago easily. I think that it was a character that people would feel connected to, and it made the success for the series. I thought: If I was betrayed like that, what would I do, to make that character in a creative way…So, if the story was “at my side” what could I do to make it a “not so correct” guy. Often, we unload on people we like, people that are closer to us… there were some things that were not on paper, but that concerns to us. Not so common in series like this… and people did get clawed.  A surprise is that there were many men watching this one. Many people came to me and said: “My husband never watched a novella and now he is the first to say, c’mon hurry up let’s watch Vingança.” There were some male subjects, yes. 

AS: Another person who witnessed all that process… was Rodrigo Riccó, the director. He is on the phone!

DM: Rodrigo is on the phone???!!!

AS: Hello Rodrigo!

Rodrigo Riccó /RR: Hello Diogo Morgado!

DM: Can´t believe it! How is it Rodrigo?

RR: Hey man… I miss you! 

DM: How nice to hear you! For me Rodrigo is one of the best directors that worked in Portugal. And it´s not about you being on the phone, you know… I don’t care. Said it already, many times and we lost much when you went away…Rodrigo let us be free… and then he worked what could be more interesting in building the character. I think that, that is the way a director is supposed to be! He was always on our side, not above, and not all the directors could do it, the way he did.

AS: People miss you Rodrigo!

RR: “Thank you so much for your words Morgado, you are my eternal leading man! I am your number one fan!” He has something that most actors cannot realize… he has an instinct, he gives the audience what they want to see. He leaves people on the lookout, between giving or not giving a kiss… Morgado is the biggest charmer in Portugal, the biggest Portuguese actor, from this generation! He plays with the viewer like no one. Knows exactly what to do and when to do it! That is Morgado!

(photo courtesy of YouTube)

AS: He knows how to give himself… has that intuition.

RR: Hope I see you soon!

DM: Soon, bro, soon. 

DM: Amazing!" 

END!  Until tomorrow....

_________

A HUGE OBRIGADA to Liliana for her time and effort in translating this full interview.  So, so appreciative, amiga.  Kisses and hugs to you from all of us.

Please come back tomorrow for the conclusion of Diogo's amazing interview on "Entre nós."  Thanks, and have a great Friday. 

--Sara

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