Chapter 6 – The Youngest Actor Nominated for an Oscar
The news spread like wildfire.
Within minutes, Gustavo Salles' nomination for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor dominated headlines around the world.
"Brazilian sensation Gustavo Salles makes history at the 2025 Oscars!" – The New York Times
"The young talent who conquered Hollywood: Gustavo Salles is the youngest actor nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award." – The Hollywood Reporter
"The Brazilian phenomenon: Gustavo Salles makes Academy history as one of the youngest nominees ever." – Variety
But what really surprised Gustavo was the impact in Brazil.
The country was celebrating.
Brazil had already had historic moments at the Oscars, but never four nominations in the same year. It was unprecedented. Newspapers ran headlines praising the national cinema, and TV shows ran special coverage of the feat.
On Twitter, the trending topics were filled with his name:
#OscarForGustavo
#I'mStillHereAtTheOscars
#OrgulhoDoBrasil
The commotion was so great that the president of Brazil made an official statement congratulating the nominees.
But Gustavo still couldn't believe it.
He was on the terrace of Walter's apartment in Rio de Janeiro, watching the sunrise, when he picked up his cell phone and opened the videos that were starting to go viral.
In an interview on the red carpet of an event in New York, a journalist asked Robert De Niro about the Oscar nominees.
"Mr. De Niro, Gustavo Salles, just 19 years old, has just been nominated for an Oscar. What do you think of this Brazilian phenomenon?"
The legendary actor smiled, crossing his arms.
"I watched the movie. The kid is impressive. He has a presence that is rare to see in such young actors. Totally deserved."
Gustavo let out a nervous laugh, running his hands over his face.
Robert De Niro had just finished praising him.
He continued to scroll through the videos.
Tom Hanks, when asked, replied with a smile:
— Oh, I saw "I'm Still Here". Gustavo is incredible. I remember my first Oscar nomination, and I can imagine how he feels now. I hope to meet him at the awards ceremony.
Gustavo felt his heart race.
It was surreal. Actors he grew up watching were talking about him.
Another video appeared on his screen. Margot Robbie, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, was speaking at a press conference:
— He's very talented. I watched the movie a few weeks ago and I was impressed by his intensity on screen. Definitely a revelation.
Margot Robbie.
Tom Hanks.
Robert De Niro.
They knew who he was. They had seen his work.
It was only then that he realized the magnitude of it all.
Gustavo's phone kept ringing.
During the day, he gave interviews to newspapers around the world. CNN Brasil did special coverage of the nomination. Jornal Nacional opened the edition with the phrase:
— Brazil makes history at the 2025 Oscars!
That night, he and the cast of Ainda Estou Aqui were invited to a special program on Altas Horas.
Serginho Groisman opened the program with a big smile:
— Ladies and gentlemen, we are facing one of the greatest achievements in Brazilian cinema! Gustavo Salles, the youngest actor nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Actor, is here with us!
The audience cheered and applauded when Gustavo entered the stage.
He was still a little embarrassed by so much recognition, but he smiled and waved to the audience.
Serginho greeted him and looked at him curiously.
— Gustavo, tell me… has it sunk in yet?
He let out a low laugh, running his hand through his hair.
"I swear I haven't yet. It feels like someone's going to wake me up at any moment and tell me it was all a dream."
The audience laughed.
Serginho smiled.
"Did you expect to be nominated?"
"No way." — Gustavo shook his head. — I was already excited just because the film was nominated. When they said Fernanda's name, I was so happy. But then Best Picture came up… and then my name. Man, I was shocked."
The camera focused on Fernanda Torres, who smiled and nodded.
"He stood there for about three seconds in disbelief," she said, laughing. "I had to shake him."
Serginho turned to Walter.
"Walter, did you imagine your brother would get to this point?"
Walter took a deep breath, looking at Gustavo with pride.
"I knew he had talent. But what really surprised me was his dedication." He threw himself into the character in an impressive way. This nomination was not luck, it was deserved.
The audience applauded standing up.
Gustavo looked at his brother, moved.
After the recording, Gustavo left the studio and went straight to the balcony of the dressing room, taking a deep breath.
The night breeze hit his face. He looked at the illuminated city and finally accepted reality.
He was no longer just a beginner actor.
He was an Oscar nominee.
And the whole world was seeing it.
Chapter 7 – Brazil in Hollywood
The studio was packed. The audience clapped excitedly as the colorful lights shone on the iconic Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage.
Los Angeles was buzzing with awards season, and I'm Still Here was the center of attention. Gustavo Salles and Fernanda Torres had spent the last few weeks in interviews, photo shoots, and exclusive events. But tonight was special.
Standing on the side of the stage, Gustavo smoothed the lapel of his jacket. He wore a well-fitted black suit, no tie, his hair casually slicked back. Despite his apparent calm, he felt a slight anxiety. After all, being on the most-watched talk show in the United States was a big deal.
Fernanda, next to him, smiled at him.
"Ready for this?"
He took a deep breath.
"I was born ready."
She laughed, and then the show's iconic jingle echoed through the speakers.
— Please welcome Oscar nominees Fernanda Torres and Gustavo Salles!
The audience erupted in applause and cheers.
Gustavo walked in next to Fernanda, smiling and waving to the crowd. Jimmy Kimmel greeted them with a warm handshake before they sat down on the couch.
— Welcome!
— Thank you! — Gustavo replied, his English so fluent he sounded like a native.
Fernanda smiled.
— It's a pleasure to be here.
Jimmy looked at Gustavo, crossing his arms playfully.
— Okay, let's get straight to the point. Gustavo, you're 19 years old and you're already nominated for an Oscar. That's ridiculous! — The audience laughed. — When I was 19, my greatest accomplishment was being able to park without going up on the sidewalk.
Gustavo laughed along.
— Well, I have my parking difficulties too.
— Really?
— Yes. But that's because I'm usually parking a plane or a helicopter.
The audience laughed and applauded, and Jimmy's eyes widened, feigning shock.
— Is that true?
Fernanda intervened, shaking her head.
— It's true. This kid can drive cars, motorcycles, planes, helicopters, jet skis… What else, Gustavo? A submarine?
Gustavo laughed.
— Not yet. But you never know.
Jimmy picked up a card with notes and shook his head, impressed.
— Okay, I did my homework, and you, Gustavo, are practically an action movie stuntman. You fly, skydive, shoot at shooting ranges… Are you preparing to be the Tom Cruise of the new generation?
The audience burst into applause and cheers.
Gustavo threw up his hands, laughing.
— Hey, if Tom Cruise wants to call me for a "Mission: Impossible" role, I'm in!
Jimmy laughed.
— I'd love to see that. You could do the dangerous stunts instead of him, because seriously, this man has been risking his life for too long.
— Just give me a helicopter and a tall building and we'll make it happen!
The audience laughed and applauded again.
Jimmy turned to Fernanda.
— Now, Fernanda, you're already a legend in Brazil. But I heard that Gustavo calls you "Nanda". Is that allowed?
Fernanda smiled.
— He has that privilege. But only because I like him.
— Hey, so if I call you "Nanda", you won't like it?
— I might consider it — she said playfully.
Gustavo leaned over to Jimmy, whispering:
— Don't tempt fate.
Jimmy laughed.
— Okay, okay, understood!
The conversation moved on to I'm Still Here, the film that brought them there.
— The film is beautiful and powerful — Jimmy said. — And, Gustavo, this was your film debut. What was it like acting alongside legends like Fernanda and Selton Mello?
Gustavo smiled thoughtfully.
— It was surreal. On the first day of filming, I was shaking. I looked at Fernanda and Selton and thought: what am I doing here?
The audience laughed, and he continued:
— But they were amazing with me. I learned a lot. Fernanda guided me, Selton made me relax, and Walter, my brother, challenged me the whole time.
— And now you're nominated for an Oscar.
Gustavo made an exaggerated face of astonishment.
— Yeah. Something went wrong. I'm still waiting for someone from the Academy to call me and say: Sorry, man, we got mixed up!
The audience laughed and applauded.
Jimmy smiled.
"Confusion or not, Gustavo, you deserve to be here."
Gustavo felt a wave of gratitude.
"Thank you, Jimmy. That means a lot to me."
Jimmy looked at the two of them, smiling.
"So, if you win… Brazil will go crazy, right?"
Fernanda nodded.
"Brazil is already going crazy!"
Gustavo laughed.
"I'm afraid the country will stop working on the day of the awards ceremony."
Jimmy laughed.
"I heard that if Gustavo wins, Brazil will declare a national holiday the next day. Is that true?"
"I support that idea!" Gustavo joked, raising his hand.
"Let's make it happen!" Jimmy exclaimed, and the audience erupted in applause.
When the show ended, Gustavo and Fernanda walked off the stage to a standing ovation from the audience.
Backstage, a producer from the show approached them.
— Gustavo, Tom Cruise saw the interview and sent you a message.
Gustavo's eyes widened.
— What?!
The producer laughed and showed a message on his phone:
"This boy has a future. I want to meet him soon." — Tom Cruise
Gustavo almost dropped his phone.
Fernanda laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
"There, now you're really going to jump off a building."
Gustavo couldn't stop smiling.
Hollywood really knew who he was now.
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