Bete Mendes (born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira; 11 May 1949) is a Brazilian
actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
.
Biography
Early life
Bete Mendes was born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira in
Santos,
São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
. She is the daughter of Osmar Pires de Oliveira, a
Sub-Lieutenant of the
Brazilian Air Force, and Maria Mendes de Oliveira. She acted in school plays since she was 5.
However, her artistic career really began at age 15, in her hometown of Santos, in the role of bunny Naná in the play ''A Árvore que Andava'', by Oscar Von Phull.
[Bete Mendes biography](_blank)
contigo.abril.com.br; accessed 30 April 2016.
Mendes has a degree in performing arts by the
University of São Paulo
The University of São Paulo ( pt, Universidade de São Paulo, USP) is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian public university and the country's most prestigious educational institution, the bes ...
(USP), and was pursuing a degree in
Sociology
Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of empirical investigation an ...
when she was arrested by the
political police
Secret police (or political police) are intelligence, security or police agencies that engage in covert operations against a government's political, religious, or social opponents and dissidents. Secret police organizations are characteristic of a ...
of the
military dictatorship.
She performed by the first time in theatre with the play ''A Cozinha'' (''The kitchen'') on 1968. At that same year, she had a prominent role in the popular
TV Tupi
Rede Tupi (; in English, Tupi Network) was a Brazilian television network free-to-air. Its parent broadcaster, located in the city of São Paulo, was the first TV station to operate in the country, being inaugurated on 18 September 1950 by journ ...
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
''
Beto Rockfeller
''Beto Rockfeller'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced by TV Tupi and aired from November 4, 1968, to November 30, 1969. It was created by Cassiano Gabus Mendes, written by Bráulio Pedroso and directed by Lima Duarte and Walter Avancini.
Plot
B ...
''.
Arrest
On 1970, Mendes was arrested by the
DOI-CODI
The Departamento de Operações de Informações - Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna ( en, Department of Information Operations - Center for Internal Defense Operations) was the Brazilian intelligence and political repression agency during ...
, being held as prisoner for four years. Between September and October 1974, she was once again detained, this time being
torture
Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons such as punishment, extracting a confession, interrogational torture, interrogation for information, or intimidating third parties. definitions of tortur ...
d. She was acquitted by the Superior Tribunal Militar (Superior Military Court), being released after spending 30 days in prison. Upon her release, she decided to quit the Sociology School.
Political career
Mendes actively participated in several social movements, such as for the professional regulation of artists (achieved in 1978) and the movement for the
amnesty
Amnesty (from the Ancient Greek ἀμνηστία, ''amnestia'', "forgetfulness, passing over") is defined as "A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power offici ...
. She supported the strikes of metalworkers in the
ABC Region, where she became familiar with
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist, and former metalworker who is the president-elect of Brazil. A member of the Workers' Party ...
, then a growing figure in the Brazilian political scene. Along with Lula, Mendes was one of the founding members of the
Workers' Party, by which she was elected Congresswoman for the 1983-87 term.
On 15 January 1985, Mendes was expelled from the Workers' Party for having voted, in the
Electoral college (indirect election system), for
Tancredo Neves
Tancredo de Almeida Neves () (4 March 1910 – 21 April 1985) was a Brazilian politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur. He served as Minister of Justice and Interior Affairs from 1953 to 1954, Prime Minister from 1961 to 1962, Minister of Financ ...
as President. She was re-elected for the Congress by the
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party
The Brazilian Democratic Movement ( pt, Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, ...
, but this time she was a member of the
National Constituent Assembly. Mendes was also Secretary of Culture in the state of São Paulo between 15 March 1987 and 21 December 1988, and president of the Fundação de Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Arts Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro) in 1999.
Brilhante Ustra case
When exercising her second term as congresswoman, Mendes joined the entourage of President
José Sarney
José Sarney de Araújo Costa (; born José Ribamar Ferreira de Araújo Costa; 24 April 1930) is a Brazilian politician, lawyer, and writer who served as 31st president of Brazil from 1985 to 1990. He briefly served as the 20th vice president of ...
on an official visit to
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
. On 17 August 1985, she discovered that among the officers of the Brazilian Embassy in Uruguay were Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, the man who tortured her in prison.
Filmography
Film
* 2006 - ''Brasília 18%''
* 2004 - ''Vestido de Noiva''
* 1981 - ''Eles Não Usam Black-tie''
* 1980 - ''Insônia''
* 1980 - ''J.S. Brown, o último herói''
* 1979 - ''Os Amantes da Chuva''
* 1974 - ''As Delícias da Vida''
* 1968 - ''Sandra Sandra''
Television
* 2017 - ''
Tempo de Amar
''Tempo de Amar'' (English title: ''A Time to Love'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by Rede Globo. It premiered on 26 September 2017, replacing ''Novo Mundo'' and concluded its run on 19 March 2018, being replaced by '' Orgulh ...
'' as Irmã Imaculada
* 2013 - ''
Flor do Caribe'' as Olívia Soares
''Com Olívia, Bete Mendes quer transmitir a delicadeza da mulher nordestina''
/ref>
* 2012 - ''Gabriela Gabriela may refer to:
* Gabriela (given name), a Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian feminine given name
* ''Gabriela'' (1942 film), a Czech film
* ''Gabriela'' (1950 film), a German film
* ''Gabriela'' (1983 film), a Brazilian film
* ''Gabriela' ...
'' as Florzinha Reis
* 2011 - ''Insensato Coração
''Insensato Coração'' (''Irrational Heart'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by Globo that first premiered 17 January 2011, replacing '' Passione'' and ended on 19 August 2011, followed by ''Fina Estampa''. It is created and wr ...
'' as Zuleica Alencar
* 2009 - '' Caras e Bocas'' as Piedade Batista
* 2008 - ''Faça Sua História Faça Sua História is a TV series of Brazilian TV Globo Network, aired from April to December 2008. The series pilot was led by Stepan Nercessian, aired on December 27, 2007. Later on 6 April 2008 the series debuted with Vladimir Brichta as the pr ...
'' as Iracema
* 2008 - '' Casos e Acasos'' as Hilda
* 2007 - '' Sítio do Picapau Amarelo'' as Dona Benta
* 2006 - ''Páginas da Vida
''Páginas da Vida'' (English: ''Pages of Life'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by Globo from 10 July 2006 to 2 March 2007 in 203 episodes.
It stars Regina Duarte, Lília Cabral and Fernanda Vasconcellos in the lead roles.
L ...
'' as Sister Natércia
* 2005 - '' América'' as Fátima
* 2004 - ''Seus Olhos
''Seus Olhos'' ''(Your eyes)'' is a Brazilian soap opera produced by SBT from 18 May 2004 to 4 December 2004, comprising 173 episodes. Based on the Mexican telenovela '' La Gata'', written by Inés Rodena, it was adapted to the Portuguese langu ...
'' sa Edite
* 2003 - ''A Casa das Sete Mulheres
''A Casa das Sete Mulheres'' (English title: ''Seven Women'') is a 2003 Brazilian miniseries.
It was written by Maria Adelaide Amaral and Walther Negrão, with collaboration of Manfredi and Vincent Lucio Villari, based on the novel of the same ...
'' as Dona Ana Joaquina
* 2000 - ''Aquarela do Brasil'' as Olga
* 1999 - '' Terra Nostra'' as Ana Esplendore
* 1998 - ''Brida'' as Diva
* 1996 - ''O Rei do Gado
''O Rei do Gado'' (English: ''King of Cattle'') is a Brazilian telenovela written by Benedito Ruy Barbosa and directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho that was produced and broadcast on TV Globo, from 17 June 1996 to 15 February 1997, totaling 209 epi ...
'' as Donana
* 1994 - ''Pátria Minha
''Pátria Minha'' (English: ''My Homeland'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo. It premiered on 18 July 1994, replacing ''Fera Ferida
''Fera Ferida'' (''English: The Injured Beast'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced a ...
'' as Zuleica
* 1994 - ''Memorial de Maria Moura'' as Maria Moura's mother
* 1994 - ''Quatro por Quatro
''Quatro por Quatro'' ( en, Four Lives, Four Loves) is a Brazilian-produced telenovela, shown at seven o'clock PM on the TV Globo. It began on 24 October 1994 and ended on 22 July 1995. It consists of 233 episodes. It was written by Carlos Lombard ...
'' as Fatima
* 1993 - '' O Mapa da Mina'' as Carmem Rocha
* 1992 - '' Anos Rebeldes'' as Carmem Damaceno
* 1990 - ''Lua Cheia de Amor'' as Emília
* 1989 - ''Tieta
''Tieta'' ( Portuguese: ''Tieta do Agreste'', lit. "''Tieta from Agreste''") is a novel written by the Brazilian author Jorge Amado, published on August 17, 1977. Set in the 1970s, it narrates the return of Tieta to the remote village of Santan ...
'' as Aída
* 1985 - '' O Tempo e o Vento'' as Maria Valéria Terra
* 1985 - ''De Quina pra Lua'' as Patrícia
* 1981 - ''Floradas na Serra'' as Elza
* 1980 - ''Dulcinéa Vai à Guerra'' as Jerusa
* 1980 - ''Pé de Vento'' as Terezinha
* 1978 - ''Sinal de Alerta'' as Vera
* 1977 - ''Sinhazinha Flô'' as Flor
* 1976 - '' O Casarão'' as Vânia
* 1975 - ''Bravo!'' as Lia di Lorenzo
* 1974 - ''O Rebu'' as Sílvia
* 1973 - ''Divinas & Maravilhosas'' as Carolina
* 1973 - ''A Volta de Beto Rockfeller'' as Renata
* 1972 - ''A Revolta dos Anjos'' as Stela
* 1972 - ''Na Idade do Lobo'' as Carina
* 1971 - ''Nossa Filha Gabriela'' as Catarina
* 1970 - ''O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima'' as Godóia
* 1970 - ''Simplesmente Maria'' as Angélica
* 1969 - ''Super Plá'' as Titina
* 1968 - ''Beto Rockfeller
''Beto Rockfeller'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced by TV Tupi and aired from November 4, 1968, to November 30, 1969. It was created by Cassiano Gabus Mendes, written by Bráulio Pedroso and directed by Lima Duarte and Walter Avancini.
Plot
B ...
'' as Renata
* 1966 - ''Águias de Fogo''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendes, Bete
1949 births
Living people
People from Santos, São Paulo
Brazilian film actresses
Brazilian television actresses
Brazilian torture victims
Brazilian Democratic Movement politicians
Workers' Party (Brazil) politicians
Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from São Paulo