Natalia Oreiro reflects on career origins and motherhood

Uruguayan actress and singer Natalia Oreiro has shared reflections on her professional journey and personal life during a period of significant international recognition in film and fashion.

Reflecting on her early career, Oreiro recalled her rise to fame in the 1990s following a 1991 tampon advertisement for O.B., a brand owned by Johnson & Johnson. The campaign, designed by the agency Grey, was filmed in Uruguay when she was a minor and became an iconic commercial in both Uruguay and Argentina.

In recent interviews, the 49-year-old artist discussed her motivations for entering acting, admitting that as a child, she sought the profession “so that people would love me, so that my parents would see me.” She noted that her focus has since evolved from seeking external approval to valuing her own artistic process.

Oreiro also spoke about the challenges of motherhood and raising her teenage son, Merlín Atahualpa. She described the difficulty of learning to let go as he grows more independent, noting that being a mother involves understanding fear and supporting a child's need to develop their own perspective.