Actress Solange Couto, 69, has been confirmed as a participant in the Camarote group for BBB 26, premiering on January 12, 2026. Known for roles in soaps like O Clone, she faced financial hardships during the pandemic and lived at Retiro dos Artistas for two years. Ahead of confinement, Couto expressed anxiety and sought public support.
Solange Couto, a 69-year-old actress from Rio de Janeiro, was announced as the first member of the Camarote group for Big Brother Brasil 26 during a break in the first episode of the Globo soap Coração Acelerado on January 12, 2026. The reality show premieres the same day, featuring celebrities invited by the production.
Before entering the house, Couto sent a video message to Fábia Oliveira's column at Metropoles, emphasizing the importance of external support. “It's great to have support, backing. I like you a lot, I respect you a lot. You know where I am. I'm counting on you out there, with the support you have, that your audience has,” she said. The actress did not hide her anxiety: “I'm eager, help me?”.
Couto gained national fame with the character Dona Jura in the 2001 soap O Clone, known for the catchphrase “It's not a toy, no.” Her most recent work was in Garota do Momento, aired in 2024.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the actress faced a financial crisis after moving from Pernambuco to Rio de Janeiro for professional projects that were canceled due to social isolation. Unable to pay rent, she accepted an invitation from Retiro dos Artistas, an institution that supports arts professionals. “I had rented a place, but I couldn't pay anymore. I spent my savings as far as I could,” she recalled in a 2022 interview on Melhor da Tarde, from Band. Along with her mother, she lived there for about two years. “I stayed as long as I needed. They welcomed me in the best possible way, at the time I needed it. I can only thank them,” she added.
Retiro dos Artistas celebrated her participation on social media: “Our partner and former temporary resident of Retiro. She already has our support.”
