VISUAL TALES: Hello Edison: Thank you so much for doing this shoot for Visual Tales in London. You're originally from Brazil and relocated to London, much like the character you portray in the Disney+ limited series Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. Obviously, your paths differ in many ways. What’s your story? How does life in Brazil compare to life in London?
EDISON ALCAIDE: Thank you for having me! You’ve been such an incredible team to work with. So to answer your question, I had quite a multicultural upbringing. I’m the son of a Spanish mother and a Brazilian father, so I grew up at the intersection of two different cultures. Both my parents stood out in their respective families, they were adventurous and loved to travel. That spirit definitely rubbed off on me. My dad actually lived in the UK in the 1980s, and when I told him I wanted to move to London, he was the first to encourage me.
So, when I turned 19, I made the move with the intention of pursuing a career in acting. The beginning wasn’t easy and there were many obstacles to overcome, language being the first. I remember thinking, it’ll take me at least three years to feel comfortable acting in English. But I stuck with it.
Nowadays London is and feels like home, but I try and go every year to Brazil around February (summer and carnival season in Brazil) because it is what keeps me sane and recharges me for the rest of the year. It's like I need that hug from Brazil every now and then to keep going.

VT: For those who haven’t seen the series or heard about this true event, can you share who your character Jean Charles de Menezes was and what led to his tragic fate?
EA: Jean Charles de Menezes was a Brazilian man living in London with big dreams for the future. He was working hard, chasing a better life, and completely innocent in all of this.
He was just going about his day, when everything was suddenly, unfairly taken from him. The tragedy of his story lies in how innocent he was, and yet how much misinformation continues to circulate about what really happened. The series gave us a chance to set the record straight and humanize a name many people only know from headlines.

VT: Acting is still a relatively new career for you. How did your love for it begin? And what kind of opportunities are there for actors in Brazil?
EA: I’ve dreamed of being an actor since I was a kid. Cinema was a huge part of my childhood. I remember watching Jurassic Park in 1993 when I was about four years old - and I was mesmerized. From that moment, I knew I wanted to be part of that world. The idea of stepping into someone else’s life, embodying different identities and emotions, that’s always fascinated me. And to be able to move an audience, make them feel something - it's beautifully rewarding. 
Brazil is such a culturally rich place. It’s full of extraordinary artists and creatives. I’m happy to see Brazilian talent gaining more recognition globally. I think we’re becoming more aware of our potential now than ever before. I’d absolutely love to act in Brazil at some point

VT: What was the audition process like for landing the role of Jean Charles? Given the story’s tragic nature, how did you mentally prepare for it? Did anything surprise you during the process?
EA: I got the role through my UK agent, Frances Phillips. She put me forward, and I was asked to send in a self-tape. About a month later, I was called in for an audition with our incredible director, Paul Andrew Williams. Then, another month after that, I found out I’d booked the role.
When I prepare for a role, I try to step out of my own skin and fully into the character’s world. I spent time researching who Jean really was - watching interviews, reading articles, listening to the people who knew him.  I even met some of his cousins in London for a chat.  I wanted to understand how he saw life, not just what happened to him. For me, it’s all about letting go of performance and just being present in the character’s day-to-day reality. That way, the emotional weight of the story doesn’t come from trying to feel something, it just shows up because I’m living it.
What really surprised me during the process was how much misinformation still surrounds the case. So many people still believe Jean Charles ran or acted suspiciously - none of which is true. That’s what made this project feel so important: it was a chance to finally tell the truth. We’ve never seen the story portrayed this honestly before.

VT: Upon watching the series, what message do you hope viewers take away from it?
EA: Hopefully, it gets people thinking about how individuals can be mistreated by those in power, the importance of holding institutions accountable, and how easily the truth can be distorted - or lost entirely.

VT: You worked with some phenomenal co-stars - Russell Tovey, Max Beesley, Emily Mortimer, Conleth Hill, Daniel Mays, and Laura Aikman. What was it like collaborating with them on your first major starring role?
EA: They’re all class acts. Every single one of them was supportive and generous. I really felt like they had my back from day one.
They’re all such incredible performers, and it was an honor to work alongside them. I also have to mention our director Paul Andrew Williams, writer and producer Jeff Pope, and producer Kwadjo Dajan - an incredible creative team. They trusted me and gave me space to bring Jean to life. I’m deeply grateful to all of them.

VT: Like Jean, you’re a foreigner living in the UK. Was it easy for you to fit into British culture? And if you could change something about British society—or the Metropolitan Police—what would it be?
EA: I absolutely love London - it was love at first sight. I’ve always been good at adapting to different cultures, but the challenge is doing that without losing who you are. When I first moved here, I was so eager to absorb everything and fit in that I ended up sidelining parts of my own identity.
Over time, I realized I didn’t want to do that anymore. Now, I do my best to embrace all the parts of me - Brazilian, Spanish, British. I want to carry them all with pride, and I’m not going to change any of that just to make others comfortable. Every place you live in leaves a mark on you. You carry those experiences and the people you meet with you.
As for the Metropolitan Police - what I’d change is the lack of accountability. That really matters. And it’s not just a British issue; it’s something institutions around the world need to confront. Because how can we trust them if there’s no accountability?

VT: You've received some glowing reviews for your performance. What kinds of roles or stories are you hoping to pursue next?
EA: I want to keep telling meaningful, honest stories. As an immigrant living in London, I see so many lives and stories that never make it to the screen.
And yet, people do want to hear these stories, now even more than ever. London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but that diversity isn’t always reflected in the media. We need more representation and more authenticity.
We've made progress, but there's still a long way to go. I’d love to be part of that change.

VT: We could tell from the shoot that you really enjoyed the creative process. What are some of your passions outside of acting?
EA: I absolutely loved the photoshoot! I’m very visual and I enjoy photography and fashion a lot. Fashion is a form of self-expression and an art itself. You can say so much about who you are through what you wear - or even how you wear it.
I’m also into reading, writing, and ceramics - I’ve been doing pottery for about a year now. I love books, especially physical ones. Going to bookshops and bringing one home is one of my favorite things.
I also love filmmaking in general. I have a degree in Filmmaking, I wanted to learn more about the entire creative process, even though acting is still my main love.
And apart from all that, what I love the most outside acting is probably traveling. I'm very adventurous and I love exploring, connecting with different cultures and people, that's what life really is about for me.

VT: What's the most valuable lesson you have learned so far as a individual?
EA: Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to do things - because life doesn’t wait for you to be ready. You can feel fully prepared and still fail. So fearing failure is pointless. It only holds you back. Growth comes from doing things before you feel completely confident, from showing up anyway.

VT: We always ask this question:  if there a song that best describe Edison, which song by which artist would you choose?  
EA: It would probably be Maggie’s Farm by Bob Dylan. There’s something about its spirit of non-conformism and rebellion that I’m just naturally drawn to. In Brazil, the song that would best describe me is Meu Coração Vagabundo by Caetano Veloso. Both songs reflect a kind of restless soul, someone who doesn’t quite fit into boxes - and I love that.

Random questions for Edison:

A book that you are currently reading
Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone by James Baldwin.

What's your typical "best day" is like
Lying on a hammock with some coffee and a good book. Cycling or exercising in the late afternoon. Going for a long walk with someone I love talking to. Or when I’m travelling and exploring a new city - that’s always a best day for me.

If you have the opportunity to choose a role (past and present) you would like the chance to play, what would that character or film be?
There are so many. I would’ve loved to play Patrick in Challengers by Luca Guadagnino - or Elio in Call Me By Your Name. I’m really drawn to characters with emotional complexity. And honestly, I’d love to do a Star Wars series or film. I’ve always been a massive fan of the franchise, and it would be amazing to be part of that universe. Plus, I think that galaxy could definitely use a few more Latinos. I don’t think there are any Brazilians in it yet!

A place you haven't visited but would love to go to soon?
Thailand. It's in my plans!

Your favorite actor/director
My favorite actor is probably the Brazilian legend Fernanda Montenegro. Please do yourself a favor and watch Central Station (1998), directed by Walter Salles - it’s a true masterclass in acting and storytelling. As for directors, right now it’s probably Luca Guadagnino, as you can probably tell. I’d love to work with him one day.

What's your strength and what's your weakness?
Great question. A strength of mine is probably my sense of humor. It comes in handy during tough moments or even as a way to defend myself. Let’s just say my haters aren’t always fans of my sarcastic remarks!
My weakness would be overthinking. I mean, I have been stuck on this question now for way too long thinking what the best answer is lol.
I can be quite indecisive. But maybe that has a silver lining too - sometimes overthinking helps me make more thoughtful decisions. So I guess I try to turn it into something useful.

If you can choose an item that best represent Brazil, which item would you choose and why?
For me it's a hammock. I could lie in those things for hours. Almost every house in Brazil has one. They're irresistible to me!