Glória Menezes

Nilcedes Soares de Magalhães (née Guimarães; 19 October 1934 – 18 August 2026), better known as Glória Menezes, was a Brazilian actress. She began her television career in the 1950s and rose to prominence as the lead in several successful telenovelas, becoming part of the first generation of professionals in the genre in Brazil. Among the awards she received were an APCA Award, three Troféu Imprensa awards and three Prêmio Qualidade Brasil awards. She was also honoured with the Oscarito Trophy at the Gramado Film Festival and the Mário Lago Trophy in recognition of her artistic career. Menezes began her training at the School of Dramatic Arts, where she founded the Jovens Independentes group and took part in her first stage productions. Her first professional role earned her a newcomer award at a theatre festival. In 1959, she made her telenovela debut in Um Lugar ao Sol, produced by TV Tupi. The following year, she made her film debut in O Pagador de Promessas, a film nominated for an Oscar and regarded as one of the highlights of Brazilian cinema. She subsequently rose to prominence on television by starring in several telenovelas alongside Tarcísio Meira, to whom she was married for 59 years, until his death in August 2021. Their professional partnership began at TV Excelsior in 2-5499 Ocupado, regarded as the first daily telenovela on Brazilian television. Among the couple's best-known productions are A Deusa Vencida (1965), Sangue e Areia (1967), Rosa Rebelde (1969), Irmãos Coragem (1970), O Semideus (1973) and Cavalo de Aço (1973). From the 1980s onwards, Menezes broadened her television work, appearing in telenovelas by various writers and also exploring comedy. She acted in Jogo da Vida (1980), Guerra dos Sexos (1983) and Brega & Chique (1987). In 1990, she played her first villain, Laurinha Figueiroa,...