Rio de Janeiro mourned the loss of the iconic actor Ney Latorraca, who passed away at the age of 80 on October 26, 2023, leaving behind memories not only of his illustrious career but also of his five-year marriage to actress Inês Galvão. Their relationship, which began on the set of the popular telenovela "Eu Prometo" in the early 1980s, was marked by love, fun, and significant challenges, primarily stemming from the influential presence of Latorraca's mother, Dona Nena.
The couple first crossed paths during rehearsals for the novela which aired under the renowned writer Janete Clair. "I was playing a character who dressed like a boy, and he said he was like a Shakespearean actor dating a punk actress," recalls Galvão, now 65 years old. Despite their 15-year age difference, the two bonded and enjoyed what Galvão describes as a "very cool" relationship. She reflects on the lessons learned from Latorraca and hopes she contributed to his life as well.
Despite the affection they shared, the marriage faced difficulties exacerbated by the living arrangement with Dona Nena. Galvão candidly shared, "We lived together, and it was complicated. There were issues, but they weren’t between Ney and me. We always had affection and love between us. It was just hard to coexist with his mother." Inevitably, the culmination of this stress led to their separation, which Galvão attributes to what she describes as "interference" from Latorraca's mother.
The final straw came during Latorraca's 40th birthday. Galvão had painstakingly planned a surprise dinner at the esteemed restaurant Plataforma, inviting 40 of their closest friends, including notable names like Tarcísio Meira and Marília Pêra. "I left it all to Dona Nena to bring him to the restaurant. But she simply didn’t bring him!" Galvão explains. Instead, Latorraca went out with friend Laurinho Corona, leaving Galvão waiting alone at the restaurant. "At some point, I said to myself, 'That’s it.' I ended it with him," she recounts, expressing the heartbreak she felt at the moment.
Even after the marriage ended, the two maintained their friendship throughout the years. Following her divorce from Latorraca, Galvão married football player Gaúcho, with whom she was for 25 years until his passing. Nonetheless, throughout her life, Latorraca remained involved, witnessing significant milestones including the birth of Galvão’s children.
"Ney followed my life all the time," she said. "The surprising part is how we would speak regularly, until recently. It was just this year since his birthday when we lost touch." The news of Latorraca's fatal illness and subsequent death took Galvão by shock, as she hadn't been aware of his decline. "I sent him some messages, but he didn’t reply. Ney had this way of isolatings himself when he felt down or faced with problems," she observed.
Throughout his interviews, Latorraca often spoke fondly of his time with Inês. He remarked on the lessons of love and companionship they shared, and how, had he intended to have children at any point, he would have wanted to do so with her. Their connection, whether romantic or platonic, marked his life significantly.
Ney Latorraca’s funeral is on now the minds of friends and loved ones as they reflect on his legacy. Galvão’s recounting of her time with him serves as both homage to the fondness they shared and reminder of how life's paths can twist and turn. What originated as love blossomed not only through marriage but also through enduring friendship, weaving their lives together for decades.
