Priscilla Pugliese – The Stripper

By starrymag | June 22, 2020

By: Gladys Luna

 

 

Q) With over 16 million views “The Stripper” has managed to become into one of the favorite web series around the world. How were you introduced to this project and what really gravitated you towards wanting to be a part of it?

 

A) Making “The Stripper” was born from Natalie’s [Smith] desire to produce something. I thought it was crazy because we are an independent production house and we didn’t have any equipment to do it. Natalie had always wanted to make “The Stripper” until one day, while we were at a cafe in Gramado (a city located at the South of Brazil) … Something I will never forget, she said, “I really want make ‘The Stripper,’ please.” I ended up saying yes even though I didn’t know how to do it. Right there, I texted the author of the “The Stripper” and let her know about our interests of making a web series with her story and asking what we needed to do in order to obtain her authorization. Long story short, this idea came out at a cafe which in the end, has a lot to do with “The Stripper.”

 

Q) What is it about your character that really pushed your boundaries as an actress?

 

A) The biggest challenge of playing Lauren was more physical than emotional. For example, her voice is deeper. Also, I had to spend fifteen hours in a row wearing contact lenses. And although I wasn’t entirely comfortable with them, I was able to shoot without any troubles. Wearing hair extensions was also a challenge. I had to wear them a lot, so often times I would wrap the day with a massive headache. But the hardest part was her voice since it has a certain arrogance in it.

 

Q) It is well known that Lauren has been dealing with some emotional baggage that is often shown during the series. What resources did you use to build this character and what did you really tap into for your portrayal?

 

A) More than feelings or internal resources, I think it had a lot more to do with building her exterior. That place where she is that is more business-like, more superior, it’s easier to do but in order to get there, I needed to build that exterior. To reach Lauren Jauregui, the real one – the singer – the one with such hair (which is bigger than mine), to have that status as a “femme fatale” and the position of an older, more serious woman I had to create a lens where I could see her through. Her voice is thicker and powerful and for the first time I did a much more physical work than emotional. That portrayal came from how I looked externally.

 

Q) With “Ponto Ação Produções” you have managed to produce a couple of other web series including “The Stripper.” What was the process that you had to follow and the difficulties you had to face to make this show possible?

 

A) As I mentioned earlier, “The Stripper” needed a very different structure from everything that we had done before. It’s a very rich show, very rich in information but it was also expensive. The hardest thing we had to face was to build this luxurious setting having a low budget which had been entirely financed by the fans. And at the same time, we had to figure out how to display all that luxury.

 

Q) The series “The Stripper” has garnered a lot of attention from viewers. What do you think it is that has made the series such a standout and resonated with its audience?

 

A) “The Stripper” was already successful before we turned it into a web series. I respect the author Evelyn [Silva] because she created a brilliant and outstanding story that is a seduction game that makes you want to be that character and become part of the story. So, before becoming a visual success, it already was on paper. I think it managed to bring together ours and the fanfic audience and it turned into something massive that comes from her writing.

 

Q) What kind of meaning does it have to you the impact that the series has had on the audience?

 

A) The impact of the series, the magnitude of it, is something that I cannot believe! I hope that we are always able to teach something to the audience, to bring them joy through our work and through our art. I expect to be able to reach into their homes in the moment they need it the most either just for fun or, as with other series that we have made, with more serious topics like adoption, disorders that need to be addressed, etc. We also speak about homosexual couples and lesbians in a more beautiful, lighter way and with the kind of representation that needs to be transmitted. The kind of impact that I’m interested in, not only for “The Stripper” but for our other series as well, is not about the ratings but about something more meaningful.

 

Q) Besides acting you have also collaborated as a writer, director and producer, what is the facet you have enjoyed the most and what are some of the best lessons/tips you have learned in the process of each position?

 

A) I studied to be an actress, but ended up having the need to do everything. Undoubtedly, acting is what I love the most. However, writing this script, directing and producing gives you the opportunity to see the project as a whole. For example, when we play different hats within a project we have to know where the camera is, what kind of result you’re going to have, etc. As an actress, I learned to be more aware of the crew and the cameras while I’m on a scene. Something that I didn’t do often. Writing the script taught me to dig deeper into the story, to know each person better, to learn more. In the end, all of these things complement each other.

 

Q) What keeps you creatively motivated?

 

A) I love everything about art. I love the cinema, the TV shows, the series, there’s no place to run. I love being an actress, creating and also being part of the audience. What motivates me the most, what makes me to be more willing to create despite of everything, is to be able to bring a message to people. What truly draws me into a character or to wanting to produce something is a project that has something to offer to people that also challenges me and takes me out of my comfort zone. Something that can bring joy or even knowledge to the audience.

 

Q) Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us?

 

A) Yes, we have a new project, but I cannot say much about it. All I can say is that it is also a “Camren” fanfic. This project is very different from everything we have done so far and I hope the audience will enjoy it because everything is really different. It will be an amazing project along with Natalie and Rodrigo [Tardelli] and I hope the audience never gets tired of us. [laughs).