Rafaela Goncalves
- Actress
- Producer
- Production Designer
Rafaela Gonçalves was born and raised in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, where she developed a strong interest in the arts from a young age. She published her first novel at the age of 15 at one of the largest book fairs in Latin America, and she was honored to be one of the Olympic torchbearers representing her city during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Shortly after graduating from high school, Rafaela moved to Los Angeles with the initial goal of pursuing a career as an actress.
She graduated with honors from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Hollywood with a bachelor's degree in acting. She then pursued a master's degree in production, aiming to become a film and television producer, and graduated with honors again in 2024. Her final thesis project was a short film based on her book, which also serves as the concept for a feature film currently in development.
Throughout her nearly eight years in California, Rafaela has acted in and produced several projects. Some of her notable achievements as an actress include her lead role in the feature film "I Watched You Become Death," which has won awards at film festivals and is currently in negotiations for distribution. She also appeared in a commercial for the 2022 World Cup produced by Fox Sports and Volkswagen, and she played a supporting role in the film "Blow for Blow," directed by Rigan Machado. This film featured notable names such as Paulo Costa, Cezar Galvão, André Lima, and other Machados. In addition to starring in "Blow for Blow," Rafaela co-produced and served as the first assistant director. The film premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on April 28, 2025, and was officially released on Amazon Prime on September 28, 2025.
Continuing her collaboration with Rigan Machado, Rafaela will once again take on the roles of both actress and producer in the Jiu-Jitsu champion's next feature film, which is set to be shot later this year. She is also dedicated to her own film projects, which she produces through her official production company, Half N Rafa Productions. One of these projects, "If the Shoe Fits," is a short film that has already won eight awards worldwide. Additionally, Rafaela is in pre-production for various freelance projects, including two feature films scheduled to be filmed in the first half of 2026-one in the United States and the other in her hometown of Ribeirão Preto.
Rafaela has always aimed high, and now that she has officially embarked on her career as an actress and producer in the U.S., she aspires to work around the globe, as both actress and producer.
She graduated with honors from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Hollywood with a bachelor's degree in acting. She then pursued a master's degree in production, aiming to become a film and television producer, and graduated with honors again in 2024. Her final thesis project was a short film based on her book, which also serves as the concept for a feature film currently in development.
Throughout her nearly eight years in California, Rafaela has acted in and produced several projects. Some of her notable achievements as an actress include her lead role in the feature film "I Watched You Become Death," which has won awards at film festivals and is currently in negotiations for distribution. She also appeared in a commercial for the 2022 World Cup produced by Fox Sports and Volkswagen, and she played a supporting role in the film "Blow for Blow," directed by Rigan Machado. This film featured notable names such as Paulo Costa, Cezar Galvão, André Lima, and other Machados. In addition to starring in "Blow for Blow," Rafaela co-produced and served as the first assistant director. The film premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on April 28, 2025, and was officially released on Amazon Prime on September 28, 2025.
Continuing her collaboration with Rigan Machado, Rafaela will once again take on the roles of both actress and producer in the Jiu-Jitsu champion's next feature film, which is set to be shot later this year. She is also dedicated to her own film projects, which she produces through her official production company, Half N Rafa Productions. One of these projects, "If the Shoe Fits," is a short film that has already won eight awards worldwide. Additionally, Rafaela is in pre-production for various freelance projects, including two feature films scheduled to be filmed in the first half of 2026-one in the United States and the other in her hometown of Ribeirão Preto.
Rafaela has always aimed high, and now that she has officially embarked on her career as an actress and producer in the U.S., she aspires to work around the globe, as both actress and producer.
