EXCLUSIVE| Bold and Beautiful: Maia Hazel Talks Overcoming Barriers, Activism, and Pushing Boundaries in Entertainment

In today’s interconnected world, the power of art transcends language barriers, proving that creativity knows no borders. Whether you speak one language or many, what truly matters is your ability to express, evoke emotion, and connect through your craft. The global stage now celebrates artists from every corner of the world, and one such artist is Maia Hazel. Born in the peaceful countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Maia has achieved international recognition through a journey marked by both ambition and resilience. She never let difficulties stop her from doing what she loved and broke barriers through her art.

Today, Maia is a force to be reckoned with and has made a name for herself in every part of the entertainment world. Be it music, acting, or modeling, Maia has stayed true to herself, using her unique voice and vision to inspire and leave a lasting impact on people’s minds. The multi-talented artist made her debut in Hollywood in Patty Jenkins’ WONDER WOMAN and became the first Brazilian actor to be a part of a DC feature film. Since then, she has never looked back and shattered all the barriers to become a renowned figure in the industry. But things haven’t been easy for Maia, and she has overcome several obstacles in her life to reach where she is today. Coastal House Media journalist Aayush Sharma caught up with Maia Hazel to discuss her life journey and what it means to be an artist. Moreover, she opened up about how she never backs down from a challenge and never lets negativity enter her life.

Here’s the full interview:

Aayush Sharma: Your career spans such distinct artistic realms—film, theater, music, and modeling. How do you maintain creative authenticity while navigating the expectations and aesthetics of each industry?

Maia Hazel: I mean, every part of my work as an artist it’s complementary. Like, you know, the music goes with the visual. And when I am on the stage, I kind of feel so connected with the audience, with the people. Because when you’re in a theater, doing a play, there are no mistakes— you can make mistakes, like in life, but you need to come up with something in that moment, so the audience doesn’t realize that you made a mistake on stage. So it’s different when I do cinema, or when I’m producing, or doing a music video. Like, you know, I have more power to direct, to see the exact image that I want. I mean, art—everything that I do—it’s what saves my life. And yes, I can’t separate it. It’s the combo. Everything comes together.

Aayush Sharma: You’ve trained at prestigious institutions around the world—from Juilliard to Estúdio Corazza. How has this global, multilingual training shaped your approach to embodying characters across cultures?

Maia Hazel: I mean, like, I think that is the key. You know, we are living a dystopic reality right now in the world. So I try to be connected all the time, to learn something new, because I think the actor’s work, the actor’s studies, never is going to end. We’re going to study for our whole lives. What are the instruments of my work? It’s the mind, it’s the voice, and it’s the body. So all those three elements, three instruments, need to be updated, especially the mind. We are living in this dystopian world, so all the time, things change—and change fast. So I try, all the time, doing some course, some workshop, being in contact with the human being, with that eye exchange. Because it’s crazy where we are living now, this dystopic world, like the machine world—the AI is trying to get my job. So yes, I think studying is the key. You always update your mind.

Aayush Sharma: In HBO’s Todxs Nós, your character Lorena is part of a groundbreaking narrative on gender and identity. How did that role challenge or deepen your understanding of representation in media?

Maia Hazel: That was, like, you know, I was working with Vera Egito. She’s one of the biggest directors that I know in Brazil. She’s so talented. She’s so generous. And being in this HBO show, playing Lorena—there was a teacher and also an entrepreneur—it was super fun, but a challenge. Because, you know, my character is like a businesswoman, but she’s also a teacher. So I tried to navigate it and find the balance between both sides. Because, you know me, I’m more joking all the time, all the time happy. So to play this character, I tried to bring more consistency and more seriousness, like, you know, this businesswoman, this teacher—so I could connect with the audience, with the public. My mother was a teacher for many years, so it’s a beautiful job, and a big responsibility to play this character. But it was so much fun, and I had so much fun playing Lorena on HBO.

Maia Hazel (Image Courtesy: @mmaia/Instagram)

Aayush Sharma: You’ve released over 30 recordings and five original music videos. How do you decide what stories are best told through music rather than acting or writing?

Maia Hazel: I mean, I should figure out how to decide it. I haven’t decided yet. (laughs). I grew up listening to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Cartola, and Legião Urbana. And, like, you know, this mix of references—rock, jazz, pop, you know, Madonna, Britney—it comes from when I was a teenager. So I grew up with really good music because, you know, Italy, Brazil—we have very rich musical culture. So, when it comes to my music. Sometimes I’m just doing groceries, just walking the streets, or going for an audition—and then suddenly it comes to my mind, and I say, I need to write it. So I stop everything that I’m doing, and then I take my notes and I start to write down some verses. That’s how I work my creative process into songwriting. And I think music and movies—it’s like, you know, what is a movie without a soundtrack? One complements the other.

Aayush Sharma: What are some of the social or political themes that you consciously incorporate into your lyrics, and how do you ensure they remain personal yet universally resonant?

Maia Hazel: Yeah, some rap in my songs is very political. Because, I mean, I have for myself what kind of artist I want to be, what kind of message I want to send to those who need a little, you know, a little power, a little motivation. That’s what I want to do with my music. Because I come from nothing, and I built an empire. Like, you know, I’m still building, I’m still fighting, and I’m a fighter. So that’s what I want my fans, my fan base, and my Maya lovers to feel when they’re listening to my music. Like, you got the power, so go fight your dreams. Because if you don’t fight, nobody’s going to do it for you. So yeah, I try to put that in my music.

Aayush Sharma: You’ve often blurred the line between art and activism. Has there ever been a moment where that fusion felt risky—personally or professionally?

Maia Hazel: I could get canceled, too, because I did a metaphor. And then I ask myself sometimes, is the ignorance going to speak louder than your work? Because these days, in this utopian digital environment that we are living now, everyone wants to talk. Everyone wants to talk and point the finger, like, you know, at what I say. But nobody can say I’ve been canceled since I came to this world. So yeah, you can’t cancel me. So bring it up. Cancel me. I believe in my art. I believe in what I’m doing here. So if you don’t like it, do it better—or you can go away from my comment sections, because I’m going to block you. I don’t give attention to negativity in my life. I try to protect my space, my peace, and be positive always.

Maia Hazel (Image Courtesy: @mmaia/Instagram)

Aayush Sharma: Looking back on your first major acting job to now, what is something you’ve unlearned that was once central to your artistic philosophy?

Maia Hazel: So I always learn with you, you learn with me. I learn with the next. I mean, in this profession, we always learn, and we are always surprising ourselves. Life is unpredictable, you know, and being an artist, we know that. So we don’t suffer that much. But I mean, I learn many things, but I’m going to tell you—I keep trying to learn. But it’s hard for me. Like, you know, sometimes when I do a big character—like when I was playing a goddess—it was a tough time for me. Because getting out of the character was hard. Like, you know, sometimes it’s really hard for us to get out. For me, I can speak for myself—get out and, like, you know, how am I going to come back to the real world now? I love the fantasy. I love being on the set. I love doing that. That’s my passion. That’s my everything. But how do I come back to the real world? Because the fantasy is more fun when we are playing a character. So I leave like, you know, an empty balloon. I keep trying, but I think that’s the toughest part. I think I didn’t learn that yet. So I always take that to the therapist, like, how to come back to the real world?

Aayush Sharma: Is there a medium or project type you haven’t explored yet that you’re hungry to dive into—maybe directing a feature film, writing a memoir, or designing a fashion line?

Maia Hazel: I’ve been thinking about the fashion line for many years, but now I’m just in the process of finishing my book. There are some opportunities and some things that I can’t tell now, but I can say that on the 9th of next month, my next song is coming out—yeah, with my next music video, where I’ve been doing the art direction. I’ve been working with Fabio, who’s a really good director. He’s worked with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, the whole crew here, and now he’s working with me on that song “B**ch Please.” Yesterday I saw the image—it’s crazy. It’s so political, but it’s fun. The music makes you bounce, you know, and makes you dance. I’m very excited for this one.

Maia Hazel’s next track, ‘B**CH PLEASE,’ is releasing on Friday, May 9th.