Fernanda Montenegro

Acknowledged as one of Brazil's foremost actresses, Fernanda Montenegro has been an infrequent presence in cinema. Like Britain's Judi Dench, this performer has instead chosen to concentrate on a stage and TV career but when she deigns to act in movies, the results are usually more than worthy. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Montenegro began her career in 1950 as a radio performer before segueing to the boards, where she enjoyed her first real success in the title role of "Jezebel" by Jean Anouilh. Additional success came with roles in such diverse classics "A Flea in Her Ear," "A View From the Bridge" and "The Imaginary Invalid." Moving to features, she was featured in "A Falecida/The Deceased" (1965), about a woman who is convinced she's dying and plans an elaborate funeral. As the matriarch of a wealthy family coming apart through infidelity, incest, homosexuality and suicide in "Percado Mortal/Mortal Sin" (1970), Montenegro kept her dignity and grounded her character in reality. At the 1970 Moscow Film Festival, she received the Best Actress trophy for her leading role in "Em Familia."