Remarkable moments of the Queen of Pop in Rio
“Once, a fan took an album with photos of me and Madonna to the hotel where I was staying, in Florianópolis. I saw an image of her without makeup, all sweaty, looking down, and I threw the album away, scared. Because I knew it wasn’t me there, and at the same time it was. I was disconcerted to realize how much alike we really were.” The story is by Regina Restelli, from São Paulo based in Barra da Tijuca, a neighborhood in the West Zone of Rio, and a holistic therapist, aged 63.
Anyone who watched the soap opera “Barriga de Rental”, originally shown on TV Globo in 1990, must remember this name well. Working as an actress, at the time, Regina became known as the Brazilian Madonna, due to her physical resemblance to the Queen of Pop. In Gloria Perez’s story, she played the cabaret dancer Rosa Aimée, characterized as the international singer. And now, just a few days before the international singer’s arrival in Rio for the megashow on Copacabana Beach, the question “where is Madonna’s look-alike?” has appeared on social media.
— My slogan now is “I am the Brazilian Madonna and I can help you on your journey of self-discovery” (laughs) — says Regina, owner of a soft voice and calm personality, saying: — I lead a quiet, simple life, I hardly leave the house . I have a daughter in her early 30s, who is a psychologist and works in partnership with me, and I have been separated for over ten years. It’s really nice to be at this stage of life, having time for myself.
Currently a reference in the Ho’oponopono philosophy and meditation, contributor to the Personare website, Regina states that she stopped acting “due to a natural movement in life”.
— One day, during a play in São Paulo, I looked at the audience, and a wing of my brain asked: “What are you doing here?” That didn’t make sense to me anymore. In the last performance of this season, I remember that Sandy and Júnior were watching me. I cried sobbing! I didn’t understand why there was so much emotion. Today I know: it was my last time on stage. I never went back — she remembers, adding: — I started taking courses, to find myself. I discovered that my purpose in life was to teach people the things I know and study. I have been fascinated by human behavior since I was a teenager.
His last appearance on TV was in 2019, in a special appearance in “Malhação: todos forma de amar”.
— I was very happy as an actress, but I don’t miss acting. Sometimes I miss the creative moments that came from spending time with other artists. They were fun, delicious, full of laughter…. Today I’m very lonely, right? I live and provide online consultations alone.
‘Madonna perfume’, smell of success
As soon as “Surrogacy” ended, Regina took advantage of the buzz surrounding her appearance to star in the show “Perfume de Madonna”.
— We used a smoke machine with perfume. The entire theater environment had a sensual smell. Without fear of heights, I would step onto a scaffold, a light cannon would be pointed at me and people would scream. It was an indescribable feeling. People spoke to me in English, pulled my hair, wanted to tear off a piece of my clothes… This hysteria was scary. I spent almost three years on display. In the South, we filled a house with 900 seats in an extra session — she recalls, who became an expert on Madonna: — She sold the idea of sex, with men, women and whatever. I studied Madonna’s way of doing media, of putting on makeup, of behaving. I admire her on a master level, as an exceptional artist, strong woman, mother, activist. Doing this tour at the age of 65, all healed up, is not easy, no!
If she is invited to a more reserved area of the Copacabana sands, Regina guarantees that she will be present at the show.
— I went to her performance at Maracanã (in 2008). It rained absurdly. Still, I was impressed by the artistic competence. Hats off. As I have already been part of this universe, I know the difficulties we go through to make everything work well. If I have to watch it from home, on TV, this time, I’ll die of heartache. Holy shit! I think I deserve to be there… I’m advertising for it now like I did before (laughs).
Regina says that she saw her former lookalike up close, and that Madonna knows about her existence. But the two never came face to face:
— If I had the opportunity to talk to her, I would say: “Thank you very much”. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have had the chance to demonstrate so many talents.
