Liniker Previews ‘September Mornings’ and Talks Representation on Television [Interview]

Amazon Prime’s newest series September Mornings focuses on the journey of a trans woman who leaves her past behind her and doesn’t allow anyone to stop her from living a free life.

Cassandra (Liniker) leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams of being an independent woman. She has her own apartment, her boyfriend Ivaldo (Thomas Aquino), and a singing gig that she wouldn’t dare give up for the world.

Everything seems to be going well for Cassandra until an old flame, Leide (Karine Teles), shows up at her doorstep with a ten-year-old son, who she claims is Cassandra’s.

I had the chance to speak with Liniker about her role as Cassandra on September Mornings, how she prepared, and why music is the connection between her and the character.

This is Liniker’s first significant acting role, so preparation was vital when narrowing down the character’s personality. One person who helped her with her character in a substantial way was a casting director.

“We had René Guerra, who was a casting coach; he’s amazing. I had to go back to the past and build where she was coming from and the place she was headed to; that was very important. It was very meaningful to play that character, giving her life, and making her whole. All the prep work was extremely important to get to the end result,” she said.

“It was hard work because Cassandra is a very complex character with a lot of nuances, but it was also very rewarding at the end of the process looking at the character and seeing how much she changed. Not just the character but the whole cast. How important it was to see that character becoming bigger, relating to the story, and transforming with it,” Liniker continued.

Liniker hopes that the show can open the eyes of the audience to the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. “I would like people to look at LGBTQIA+ people in a more humane way, with more respect, so that our journeys can be seen as a social responsibility.”

Before Liniker began acting, she started her music career. In 2015, Liniker formed a band, Liniker e os Caramelows, with a few friends and began touring in Brazil.

They have since toured internationally, having performed in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the United States. In 2019, their album Goela Abaixo (Down My Throat) was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album.

The band announced their breakup in early 2020, with Liniker now pursuing a solo music career. Liniker has been around music for almost her entire life, which allowed her to connect with Cassandra on a deeper level.

“I think we both have music as a place to dream and have access to different journeys. I think Cassandra reminds me of when I left my own home at eighteen to study drama, and music was my guiding star. She’s a character who sings, she’s very loyal to what she believes in, and one of the things she believes in is her passion for music.”

While music will forever play a significant role in her life, acting is a new area that she wants to explore further.

“I want to keep acting, and I also want to continue making music. I hope I’m invited for future projects, not only in Brazil but in other countries speaking different languages. That would be really cool. I would love to do that,” Liniker said.

When asked about what advice she could give to upcoming trans actors trying to break into the industry, she instead looks at the people in charge.

“Actually, I think it’s advice for those who are at the forefront of those industries. You know, white people who lead big media. My advice would be to hire us, believe in what we can do, believe in our strengths, believe in difference, and not say you defend and advocate for diversity, but not mean it.”

“Make sure trans people, black people, and LGBTQIA+ people can be included in projects and occupying meaningful positions. I think that would be a great change, and for that to happen, people would have to open their eyes,” Liniker continued.

Whether there will be a second season for September Mornings is still up in the air, but Liniker would be interested in returning. “I think it would be really cool if there were a second season. But, just doing the first one and seeing how complex these characters are, I’m already happy. But I hope so. Let’s root for it.”

Sneak Peek Clips from September Mornings:

 

Be sure to catch Liniker as Cassandra on September Mornings on June 25^th, when the first season will be available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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