Sônia Braga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sônia Braga
Braga in 2016
Born	Sônia Maria Campos Braga (1950-06-08) 8 June 1950 (age 75) Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
Citizenship	Brazil United States
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–present
Spouse(s)	Arduíno Colassanti ​ ​ (m. 1970; separated 1976)​ Antônio Guerreiro ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1988)​
Relatives	Alice Braga (niece)

Sônia Maria Campos Braga (born June 8, 1950) is a famous Brazilian actress. She is known around the world for her roles in movies like Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) and Moon over Parador (1988). Her work in these films earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award.

Braga has also been nominated for a BAFTA Award for the movie Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands and an Emmy Award for the TV film The Burning Season. She has appeared in many other popular movies and TV shows, including The Cosby Show, ... and the City, Wonder, and Luke Cage. In 2020, The New York Times named her one of the 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century.

Early Life and Family

Sônia Braga was born in Maringá, Brazil, to Hélio Fernando Ferraz Braga and Maria Braga Jaci Campos, who was a costume designer. She has four siblings. The family moved first to Curitiba and later to Campinas. When Sônia was eight years old, her father passed away. After his death, she went to school at a convent in São Paulo.

Her niece, Alice Braga, is also a well-known actress.

Career Journey

Starting on Stage and TV

As a teenager, Braga worked as a receptionist. At age 14, she began acting in children's television shows. She later joined a theater group and, at 17, appeared in her first play, George Dandin. In 1968, she was cast in the first Brazilian production of the famous musical Hair.

In the early 1970s, she acted in several soap operas, called telenovelas in Brazil. She became a household name in Brazil after starring in the children's TV series Vila Sésamo in 1972, which was the Brazilian version of Sesame Street.

Becoming a Star in Brazil

In 1975, Braga starred in the telenovela Gabriela. The show was a huge success in Brazil and in other countries, making her a major star. She also played the main character in the 1976 movie Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands. This comedy was one of the most successful movies in Brazilian history.

She continued to star in popular telenovelas, including Dancin' Days in 1978. In this show, she played a mother trying to reconnect with her daughter, played by actress Gloria Pires.

Hollywood and International Fame

In the early 1980s, Braga decided to focus on making movies. Her role in the 1985 film Kiss of the Spider Woman, alongside actors William Hurt and Raul Julia, brought her international attention. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and opened the door for a career in the United States. She moved to the U.S. and became an American citizen in 2003.

Melanie Griffith, Robert Redford and Braga promoting The Milagro Beanfield War at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988

Braga was the first Brazilian to present an award at the Oscars. She was nominated for another Golden Globe for the TV movie The Burning Season (1994), where she played an activist. This role also earned her an Emmy Award nomination.

Recent Work

Braga has continued to act in both American and Brazilian productions. In 2001, she appeared in the movie Angel Eyes with Jennifer Lopez. She also had roles in TV shows like Alias and Royal Pains.

In 2016, she played Soledad Temple, the mother of Rosario Dawson's character, in the Netflix Marvel series Luke Cage. That same year, she received great praise for her role in the film Aquarius, which was shown at the famous 2016 Cannes Film Festival. More recently, she appeared in the heartwarming movie Wonder (2017) and the action film Shotgun Wedding (2022).

Personal Life

Braga became a naturalized U.S. citizen and has lived in New York City since 1990. She also keeps homes in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói in Brazil.

During her life, she was married to actor Arduíno Colassanti and later to photographer Antônio Guerreiro. She also had well-known relationships with actor Robert Redford and musician Caetano Veloso.

Selected Filmography

Braga has appeared in dozens of films and television shows. Here are some of her most notable roles.

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Sônia Braga para niños