Lucélia Santos

Acting

Lucélia Santos

Born May 20, 1957 · Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil (age 69)

Maria Lucélia dos Santos (Santo André, May 20, 1957) is a Brazilian actress, theater director, and producer. Known for starring in worldwide soap operas, Santos is one of the country's most renowned actresses.

Known For

Cute but OrdinaryCute but Ordinary · 1981
Cute but Ordinary
5.01981
MovieDramaThriller
The youngest daughter of a rich man has been raped by five black men in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, and her father arranges her marriage to one of his employees in order to save the family’s honor.
Baixo GáveaBaixo Gávea · 1986
Baixo Gávea
5.51986
MovieDrama
Clara directs the rehearsals of a theatrical play about Fernando Pessoa while constantly seeking the right man and the love of his life. One of the actresses is the lesbian Ana, who interprets the poet Mário de Sá Carneiro. She is Clara's friend and confidant with whom she shares an apartment. Clara does not perceive Ana's love for her, that always helps her to recover from the disappointments. Unlike the character Sá Carneiro, poet of decadentism, nostalgia, metaphysics and vague, Ana is the pragmatic side of Clara, who often brings a disillusioned vision as if it were Fernando Pessoa himself, who may be associated with concepts of the poet's heteronyms.
The EggThe Egg · 2003
The Egg
10.02003
MovieDrama
Writer and poet Clarice Lispector investigates and develops the old question of what came first, the egg or the chicken.
EngraçadinhaEngraçadinha · 1981
Engraçadinha
5.31981
MovieComedy
After the funeral of her father Arnaldo, who committed suicide, Engraçadinha confesses to the priest the motives. On the engagement party of her cousin Sílvio with Letícia, Engraçadinha seduces him in the library, and later she ends her engagement with Zózimo and lies to Letícia, telling that she is pregnant. Letícia decides to tell Arnaldo what happened, and he says that the child can not be born. He exposes dirty secrets to Engraçadinha, and a tragedy is announced.
PaulaPaula · 2021
Paula
2021
MovieDrama
Psuchological drama about a sucessful businesswoman who has not overcame ghosts of her past.
KuarupKuarup · 1989
Kuarup
4.61989
Movie
This epic Brazilian film was based on the equally epic novel by Antonio Callado. Set between 1954 and 1964, the film's focus is the saga of Jesuit priest Nando. Fed up with civilization, he ventures deep into Amazon country to live with and work among the Xingu Indians.
The SerpentThe Serpent · 2016
The Serpent
5.82016
MovieDrama
Two sisters live in the same house with their husbands in bedrooms separated by a single wall. One of the sisters, Lígia, is still a virgin. Dissatisfied, she wants to dissolve the marriage and thinks about suicide. To prevent her sister’s suicide, Guida offers her own husband, Paulo, for one night.
PatriamadaPatriamada · 1985
Patriamada
5.71985
MovieDrama

Filmography

Sort
Isaura: Slave GirlIsaura: Slave Girl · 1976
Isaura: Slave Girl
6.01976
SeriesSoapDrama
Set in 19th-century Brazil during the waning years of slavery, Escrava Isaura tells the story of Isaura, a white-skinned enslaved woman raised with the manners and education of a noble lady. Though treated with affection by her mistress, Isaura remains legally enslaved and becomes the object of obsessive desire by Leôncio Almeida, the cruel heir to the plantation. After the death of her protector, Isaura falls under Leôncio’s control. Despite his attempts to seduce and dominate her, she resists, determined to preserve her dignity and freedom. Her father, Miguel, helps her escape to Recife, where she adopts a new identity and meets Álvaro, a wealthy and principled abolitionist who falls in love with her. Leôncio eventually tracks her down, leading to dramatic confrontations. In the end, Álvaro rescues Isaura by purchasing Leôncio’s debts, securing her freedom and affirming the story’s central themes of justice, love, and resistance against oppression.

Isaura dos Anjos / Elvira

Ciranda de PedraCiranda de Pedra · 1981
Ciranda de Pedra
1981
SeriesSoapDrama
Set in 1940s São Paulo, the story follows Laura, a modern woman devoted to the arts who is oppressed by her husband, Natércio Prado—a wealthy man with traditional views. Amidst marital turmoil, Laura suffers a severe trauma and is even committed to an asylum by her husband. The couple separates, and the family is torn apart: Laura keeps her youngest daughter, Virgínia, while Natércio retains custody of the other daughters, Otávia and Bruna. Frail and penniless, Laura moves into the Vila Mariana home of her neurologist, Daniel. He is in love with his patient and believes her condition is physical rather than mental. Laura hides the fact that Virgínia is actually Daniel's daughter. The youngest daughter eventually returns to live with her father, where she faces hostility and harshness from the housekeeper, Frau Herta.

Virgínia

Dona AnjaDona Anja · 1996
Dona Anja
1996
SeriesSoapComedy
Dona Anja is a Brazilian telenovela produced by JPO Produções and originally broadcast by SBT from December 9, 1996, to April 26, 1997. Based on the novel of the same name by Josué Guimarães, it was adapted by Cristianne Fridman and Yoya Wursch, with general direction by Roberto Talma. The telenovela stars Lucélia Santos, Jonas Mello, Angelina Muniz, Danton Mello, Manuela Dias, Giuseppe Oristânio, Luiz Guilherme, and Sérgio Mamberti. Set in 1977 in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul, the story follows Anja Guimarães Castilhos, a woman who breaks with the conservative traditions of her town after discovering her fiancé's betrayal. Together with Colonel Quineu, she becomes the owner of a brothel and challenges the values of local society by defending women's independence and questioning social norms. Surrounded by political conflicts, rivalries, and personal disputes, Anja fights for her freedom while facing powerful enemies.

Anja Guimarães Castilhos

Meu Destino É PecarMeu Destino É Pecar · 1984
Meu Destino É Pecar
10.01984
SeriesDrama
The miniseries tells the story of Leninha, who marries Paulo due to a financial agreement made by her father, Dílson. Her life changes when she meets her brother-in-law, Mauricio, during a trip to her husband's farm in the interior of Rio de Janeiro. The two fall in love and become lovers. Leninha then begins to experience a great conflict: social and moral rules impose on her the behavior of a good wife, faithful and companion, but her desire for Maurício speaks louder. Consuelo, mother of Paulo and Maurício, realizes what is happening and begins to antagonize her daughter-in-law. Upon discovering the betrayal, Paulo starts to hate his brother. At the end of the plot, Leninha decides to stay with her husband, and the couple happily announces that they will have a child. Mauricio despairs, but later recovers in Regina's arms.

Helena Castro Avelar, a Leninha