Maria Lucélia dos Santos (born 20 May 1957) is a Brazilian actress, director and producer. She received international acclaim for her leading role in the 1976

Rede Globo TV Globo (stylized as tvglobo; , ), formerly known as Rede Globo de Televisão (; shortened to Rede Globo) or simply known as Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air television network, launched by media proprietor Roberto Marinho on 26 April 1965 ...

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar Drama (film and television), drama genres around the w ...

'' Isaura, The Slave Girl'', broadcast in over 80 countries."Escrava Isaura (1976) - Trivia"
at the IMDb.

Biography

Maria Lucélia dos Santos was born in

Santo André Santo ('saint' in various languages) may refer to: People * Santo (given name) * Santo (surname) * El Santo, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta (1917–1984), Mexican wrestler and actor * Bob Santo or Santo, stage name of Ghanaian comedian John Evans Kwad ...

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

, to Maurílio Simões dos Santos and Maria Moura dos Santos. Her parents were both blue collar workers.Lucélia Santos biography
at fan site ''Arquivo Lucélia Santos'' She has two siblings: Maurílio Wagner and Cristina Santos, also an actress. At age 9, Lucélia heard actress Cacilda Becker on the radio calling children to do an audition for a role in one of her plays, but her mother did not allow her to perform. She had developed a taste for performing arts since she had seen the play ''A Moreninha'', starred by Marília Pêra, in a school trip. Lucélia was completely fascinated by the show and decided that she would be an actress for the rest of her days.

Career

She made her stage debut at the age of 14, in the children's play ''Dom Chicote Mula Manca e seu fiel companheiro Zé Chupança'', replacing actress

Débora Duarte Débora Susan Sanches Duke (born January 2, 1950) best known as Débora Duarte, is a Brazilian actress. Early life Débora was born in São Paulo, Brazil. She is the daughter of actress Marisa Sanches with the American musician, Douglas Duke. ...

, which had moved to

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

in order to star in the Rede Globo telenovela ''Bicho do Mato''. She was then invited by Eugênio Kusnet to participate in his intensive two-year performing arts course. After the course, Lucélia acted in a production of ''

Godspell ''Godspell'' is a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set t ...

'', which was presented in a

circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicy ...

tent in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of

Botafogo Botafogo (local/standard alternative Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: ) is a beachfront neighborhood (''bairro'') in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of M ...

. She finished

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

in Rio, where she took the

vestibular The Vestibular (from , "entrance hall") is a competitive examination and is the primary and widespread entrance system used by Brazilian universities to select the students admitted. The Vestibular usually takes place from November to January, ...

test for

Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

by an imposition of her father. She failed to enter in the University, since she was already deeply involved with her acting career. Lucélia worked as a receptionist in a weight-loss clinic. before starring in productions of the plays ''

The Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror genres from the 193 ...

'' and ''Transe no 18'', Lucélia Santos article at the

Portuguese Wikipedia The Portuguese Wikipedia () is the Portuguese-language edition of Wikipedia (written Wikipédia, in Portuguese), the free encyclopedia. It was started on 11 May 2001. Wikipedia is the nineteenth most accessed website in Brazil and the tenth mo ...

. Due to her early stage success, Lucélia was invited to star in the film ''Paranóia'' in 1976, at the age of 19. After three other small roles in unsuccessful films, that same year she landed the leading role in '' Escrava Isaura'', which tells the story of the struggle of a white-skinned black slave to find happiness during the

Brazilian Empire The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and Uruguay until the latter achieved independence in 1828. The empire's government was a representative parliamentary constitutional ...

. The telenovela, based on the novel of the same name by 19th century abolitionist writer Bernardo Guimarães, is the most dubbed program in the history of world television, according to a research conducted by ''

Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'', often abbreviated as ''GMA'', is an American breakfast television, morning television program that is broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends wit ...

''. Prior to being invited for the leading role by writer Gilberto Braga and director Herval Rossano, Lucélia had been turned down by Globo several times. She even landed a role in ''Estúpido Cupido'', but that was wrapped up due to financial reasons. '' Escrava Isaura'' achieved worldwide success. It became the most popular program in the history of Polish television at the time of its original broadcast, reaching more than 81 percent of share. It was the first show starred by a non- Chinese leading actress broadcast in the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, in addition to being the first telenovela shown in the former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, where it had a broad appeal. The word "fazenda" () jokingly became a synonym for the small land properties given by the government through its

perestroika ''Perestroika'' ( ; rus, перестройка, r=perestrojka, p=pʲɪrʲɪˈstrojkə, a=ru-perestroika.ogg, links=no) was a political reform movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) during the late 1980s, widely associ ...

economic program. In the show, "fazenda" is used as a synonym for

plantation Plantations are farms specializing in cash crops, usually mainly planting a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Plantations, centered on a plantation house, grow crops including cotton, cannabis, tob ...

. In 1980, in an attempt to break with the image of "Brazil's sweetheart", acquired with her role in the telenovela, she posed nude for the Brazilian version of ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

''. The April issue of the magazine sold extremely well. It was, however, in the movies that her attempt would succeed. Controversial playwright Nelson Rodrigues invited Lucélia to star in the film adaptation of his play ''Bonitinha mas Ordinária''. Knowing that was the perfect chance to break the good girl stigma, she accepted. She would later act in two other adaptations of Rodrigues' plays: ''Engraçadinha'' and ''Álbum de família''. In 1981, Lucélia posed naked for ''Playboy'' again, in order to promote the film '' Luz del Fuego'', which tells the story of the eponymous ballerina which shocked the Brazilian society of the early 1950s by founding the a

naturist Naturism is a lifestyle of practicing non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms a ...

political party and creating the first clothes-free area in Brazil at an island in Baía de Guanabara. The film is one of the favorites of

Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba, president ...

, who owns a VHS copy of it. After the success of ''Escrava Isaura'', Lucélia continued making popular Rede Globo telenovelas, such as ''Locomotivas'' (1977), ''Dancin' Days'' (1978), ''Água Viva'' (1980), ''Ciranda de Pedra'' (1981), ''Guerra dos Sexos'' (1986), ''Vereda Tropical'' (1984), and ''Sinhá Moça'' (1986). She also starred the network's series ''Ciranda Cirandinha'' (1978) and miniseries ''Meu Destino é Pecar'' (1984), also based in Rodrigues' work. In 1987 she left Globo to star as the titular character in Rede Manchete's ''Carmem''. In 1990, Lucélia starred in SBT's ''Brasileiros e Brasileiras''. She also took the lead in the network's ''Sangue do Meu Sangue'' in 1995. In 1996 she decided to take the lead role in SBT's controversial telenovela ''Dona Anja'', about a brothel owner in a small

Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...

town during the military dictatorship. In 1997 she directed the television documentary ''O ponto de Mutaçâo da China Hoje'' about life in current China, which was aired in Manchete. In 2001, she returned to Globo for the 2001 season of teen series '' Malhação''. Also in 2001, after the Independence of

East Timor Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...

, Lucélia directed the documentary ''Timor Lorosae - O Massacre Que o Mundo Não Viu'', which investigates the killings of political activists by

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

n forces. It was banned from the Jakarta International Film Festival. In August 2007, Lucélia started playing Suzana Mayer in '' Donas de Casa Desesperadas'', the Brazilian version of the ''

Desperate Housewives ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created by Marc Cherry, and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a tota ...

'', broadcast by

RedeTV! RedeTV! (, also Rede TV! or RTV! or TV Ômega) is a Brazilian television network owned by Amilcare Dallevo and Marcelo de Carvalho. It is the newest television network, among the five major networks in Brazil, being a relaunch of Rede Manchete ...

. Her most recent role is as

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known Mononym, mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist and former metalworker who has served as the 39th president of Brazil since 2023. A mem ...

's primary teacher in ''

Lula, o filho do Brasil ''Lula: Son of Brazil'' (, ) is a 2009 biographical Brazilian film based on the early life of President of Brazil, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Directed by Fábio Barreto, the film was released on January 1, 2010. Folha de S. P ...

''.

Personal life

She was married to classical

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and conductor John Neschling, whom she divorced. Their son, Pedro Neschling (born June 28, 1982), is also an actor. Lucélia has always been a friend of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, since her parents' house was located in front of the Santo André labor union headquarters, where then metallurgist Lula began his political career. Her involvement with the

Workers' Party Workers' Party is a name used by several political parties throughout the world. The name has been used by both organisations on the left and right of the political spectrum. It is currently used by followers of Marxism, Marxism–Leninism, Maoism ...

emerged in the late 1970s, when some outlawed from the military regime began to return to Brazil and continues until the present day. She was engaged in all of Lula's presidential campaigns. In addition to her support of the Workers' Party, Lucélia was also one of the first artists to support the

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...

, raising awareness to the problems of

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal and destruction of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. Ab ...

. She has also supported Diretas Já and

breastfeeding Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the process where breast milk is fed to a child. Infants may suck the milk directly from the breast, or milk may be extracted with a Breast pump, pump and then fed to the infant. The World Health Orga ...

.About Lucélia's involvement with breastfeeding campaign "Amigas do Peito"
at fan site ''Arquivo Lucélia Santos''.

Filmography

As an actress

Motion pictures *1976: ''Um Brasileiro Chamado Rosaflor'' *1976: ''O Ibraim do Subúrbio'' *1976: ''Já Não Se Faz Amor Como Antigamente'' *1976: ''Paranóia'' as Lúcia Riccelli *1977: ''A Ordem Natural das Coisas'' as Ciça *1980: ''Romeu e Julieta'' as Julieta *1981: ''Bonitinha Mas Ordinária'' as Maria Cecília *1981: ''Engraçadinha'' as Engraçadinha *1981: ''Álbum de Família'' as Gória *1982: '' Luz del Fuego'' as Luz del Fuego *1982: ''O Sonho Não Acabou'' as Lucinha *1983: ''Alice & Alice'' as Alice Maria *1985: ''Fonte da Saudade'' as Bárbara/Guida/Alba *1986: ''Baixo Gávea'' as Clara *1986: ''As Sete Vampiras'' as Elisa Machado *1989: '' Kuarup'' as Lídia *1993: ''Vagas Para Moças de Fino Trato'' as Lúcia *1993: ''Menino de Engenho'' as Clarice/Maria Menina *2001: ''Três Histórias da Bahia'' *2003: ''O Ovo'' *2008: ''Um Amor do Outro Lado do Mundo'' as Luiza *2010: ''

'' as a teacher of Lula *2023: '' The Erection of Toribio Bardelli'' Television *1976 '' Isaura, The Slave Girl'' (

) as Isaura dos Anjos/Elvira *1977: '' Locomotivas'' (Rede Globo) as Fernanda Cabral *1978: '' Dancin' Days'' (Rede Globo) as Loreta *1978: ''Ciranda Cirandinha'' (Rede Globo) as Tatiana *1979: '' Feijão Maravilha'' (Rede Globo) as Eliana *1979: '' Malu Mulher'' (Rede Globo) as Josineide (episode "Ainda Não é Hora") *1979: ''Plantão de Polícia'' (Rede Globo) as Marcela (episode "Despedida de Solteiro") *1980: '' Água Viva'' (Rede Globo) as Janete *1981: '' Ciranda de Pedra'' (Rede Globo) as Virgínia Prado *1983: '' Guerra dos Sexos'' (Rede Globo) as Carolina *1984: ''Meu Destino é Pecar'' (Rede Globo) as Helena Castro Avelar *1984: ''

Vereda Tropical ''Vereda Tropical'' is a 1984 Brazilian telenovela created by Carlos Lombardi, and starring Lucélia Santos. Plot Silvana ( Lucélia Santos) is a simple girl, raised by her grandmother Da Paz since she was a small child, when she lost her pare ...

'' (Rede Globo) as Silvana Rocha *1986: '' Sinhá Moça'' (Rede Globo) as Maria das Graças Ferreira *1987: ''Carmem'' ( Rede Manchete) as Carmem *1990: ''

Brasileiras e Brasileiros ''Brasileiros e Brasileiras'' is a Brazilian telenovela that was in some schedules for SBT between November 5, 1990, and May 14, 1991. The show was written and directed by Walter Avancini. The show was a co-production of the Miksom. Plot In t ...

'' ( SBT) as Paula *1995: '' Sangue do Meu Sangue'' (SBT) as Júlia *1996: ''Dona Anja'' (SBT) as Dona Anja *2001: '' Malhação'' (Rede Globo) as Jackeline Lemos *2006: ''Cidadão Brasileiro'' ( Rede Record) as Fausta Gama *2007: '' Donas de Casa Desesperadas'' (

) as Suzana Mayer *2008: '' Casos e Acasos'' (Rede Globo) as Lucila *2011: ''Aline'' (Rede Globo) as Débora Theater *1974: ''

'' *1976: ''Transe no Dezoito''

As a director

*2001: '' Timor Lorosae: The Unseen Massacre'' (

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

) *1997: ''O ponto de Mutaçâo da China Hoje'' (television miniseries)

Awards and recognitions

Lucélia has won numerous awards inside and outside of Brazil. In Brazil, she won the Brasília Film Festival Candango trophy for Best Actress for her performances in the films ''Engraçadinha'' (1981) and ''Vagas Para Moças de Fino Trato'' (1993). In 1982 she won the Kikito trophy for Best Actress for her performance in ''Luz del Fuego'' at the

Gramado Film Festival The Gramado Film Festival () is an international film festival held annually in the Brazilian city of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, since 1973. In 1992, the festival began to award Latin American films produced outside of Brazil. It is the biggest ...

. In 2002, her documentary ''Timor Lorosae'' received the Audience Award at the Recife Film Festival. In addition to becoming the first actress to receive the Golden Eagle Award for Best Foreign Actress in China, in 1985, Lucélia was honored with the Jewel of China medal in 2004 for her efforts in bringing together the Chinese and Brazilian cultures. She was in

Fernando Henrique Cardoso Fernando Henrique Cardoso (; born 18 June 1931), also known by his initials FHC (), is a Brazilian sociologist, professor, and politician who served as the 34th president of Brazil from 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2003. He was the first Brazi ...

's presidential entourage to China, where she was warmly greeted by Prime Minister

Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping also Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Teng Hsiao-p'ing; born Xiansheng (). (22 August 190419 February 1997) was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and political theorist who served as the paramount leader of the People's R ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Lucelia 1957 births Living people 20th-century Brazilian actresses 21st-century Brazilian actresses Actresses from Santo André Brazilian film actresses Brazilian telenovela actresses Brazilian Buddhists Brazilian film directors Brazilian stage actresses Brazilian emigrants to Portugal