Gisela Valcárcel, the veteran Peruvian television host known to audiences as "Señito," announced her return to Peruvian television after several years away from the screen. The 63-year-old presenter and businesswoman said she will join the cast of the telenovela Valentina Valiente.
Valcárcel is taking on an acting role rather than her familiar job as a host. She said she accepted an invitation from the production's general producer, Miguel Zuloaga, and will share scenes with Mayra Goñi, the telenovela's lead actress.
A telenovela is a serialized television drama popular across Latin America. Unlike a traditional soap opera, a telenovela typically runs for a fixed number of episodes, following a complete story from beginning to end.
Valcárcel has spent decades as one of Peru's best known television personalities, often called the queen of Peruvian television, building a long career hosting entertainment programs before stepping back from screens in recent years. She said the new role gives her the chance to return to acting after several decades away from performing.
A wonderful return to fiction
Valcárcel said she welcomed the offer to join Valentina Valiente with enthusiasm. She thanked Zuloaga for calling on her for the project and said she was pleased to reconnect with Goñi while joining the cast.
She described her return to fiction as wonderful, and said working alongside the telenovela's team left her feeling very happy. Her participation marks a change after recent years in which she remained away from television hosting.
Goñi is a Peruvian actress and singer who has built her career in television and entertainment, and now leads the cast of Valentina Valiente alongside Valcárcel.
On sharing a set with Magaly Medina
Medina hosts the entertainment news program Magaly TV, La Firme, one of Peru's longest-running shows covering celebrity news.
Valcárcel also addressed the possibility of appearing on a television set alongside Medina. She acknowledged that she and Medina each hold a formed perception of one another.
Valcárcel said part of that mutual image may stem from the entertainment business itself, in which both women have built their respective careers.
Her daughter's interview with Medina
Valcárcel was also asked about the interview her daughter, television host Ethel Pozo, gave to Medina. She said Pozo did not ask for her authorization before appearing on the program, adding that she considered this normal because her daughter is free to make her own decisions.
Pozo, who co-hosts the daytime program América Hoy, wanted to meet Medina in person, Valcárcel said, so that each could form her own impression of the other.
