Senna: Official trailer
Actor Gabriel Leone is poised to make his mark on the international stage following his portrayal of iconic Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna.
The new Netflix drama, set to premiere on Friday (November 29), delves into the early life and racing career of the F1 legend who drove for Toleman, Lotus, McLaren and Williams in F1.
Before his tragic demise at the 1994 Imola GP, Senna had clinched three F1 World Championships, 41 victories, 65 pole positions, 19 fastest laps and 80 podiums.
Senna was hailed as a national hero in Brazil due to his generous donations to charity and was adored by countless fans. His death in 1994 triggered days of national mourning, and he is remembered as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
Gabriel Leone has received high praise for his portrayal of Ayrton Senna, but what do we know about his personal life and career?
Gabriel Leone's life and career
Born on July 21, 1993 in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian actor has been a part of the TV and film industry in Brazil since 2013, making his debut in the sitcom The Big Family and later appearing in Young Hearts.
Gabriel has enjoyed consistent TV roles and success with appearances in Hidden Truths, Dark Days, Land of the Strong, and Dom. He has also featured in several films including Piedade as Marlon Brando, Duetto and Meu Album de Amores.
Gabriel Leone's international breakthrough
In the series, Gabriel communicates in both English and Portuguese, earning praise from critics for adding depth to the portrayal of the legendary racing driver.
"He has the ability to faithfully portray Ayrton's unique personality, especially the Ayrton that we as a family knew, off the track," added Viviane Senna, Ayrton's sister.
Gabriel Leone's first international role was as Spanish driver Alfonso de Portago in Michael Mann's 2023 film Ferrari, and he also lent his voice to BrightBill in the Brazilian Portuguese version of The Wild Robot.
In March 2023, it was confirmed that Gabriel Leone would portray Ayrton Senna da Silva in the Netflix mini-series Senna. This six-part series delves into the life and career of the man who became a national hero in Brazil and made waves both on and off the Formula 1 track.
Discussing his role in Senna, Gabriel expressed: "It is a huge responsibility and also a great honour to be able to represent an icon who inspired so many people throughout his life, showing the world Brazilian sporting talent."
"Knowing that we will bring this story to millions of people in so many countries, through Netflix, inspires me to see this as one of the great roles of my career."
Who is Gabriel Leone's wife?
Gabriel Leone is currently wedded to Brazilian actress Carla Salle. The pair first crossed paths while acting in the 2010s and are believed to have tied the knot in 2024.
During an appearance on a Brazilian talk show, the 31-year-old reminisced about his first encounter with Carla: "I was with Chay when I met Carla. By chance, we were dressed as Roberto and Erasmo.
"We were in the middle of filming and went to a party dressed up, and I met her there. But we only got together much later".
The duo has since shared the screen in two TV series, Os Dias Eram Assim and Onde Nascem os Fortes.
