Brazilian Actress Fernanda Torres Has Always Been Here

You might have seen her in a black tulle dress on the Bordeaux floor of the Golden Globes last Sunday. Then, stepping on stage and receiving the award for Best Actress in a Drama Picture for her moving, poignant and sorrowful role as Eunice Paiva in Walter Salles's cinematic production ‘‘I’m Still Here’’. While she may seem like a breath of fresh air in the realm of Hollywood, for Brazilians, Fernanda Torres is no stranger to the spotlight. After all, she was born in it. 

Daughter of Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegro — who was also nominated for a Golden Globes and Oscars in 1999 —  and actor Fernando Torres, the star who has been critically acclaimed grew up in the artistic world. At thirteen, Torres made her stage debut in Maria Machado's play ‘‘Um Tango Argentino’’, while studying at Escola de Teatro Tablado, in Rio de Janeiro. A child of the theatre, Torres continued in it with roles in such as ‘‘Duas Mulheres e um Cadáver,’’ ‘‘The Flash and Crash Days,’’ and the highly acclaimed monologue ‘‘A Casa dos Budas Ditosos,’’ until she moved to television, appearing in Globo series such as ‘‘Aplausos’’ and ‘‘Baila Comigo.’’ Venturing into films too, the star became a central figure in the Brazilian culture — age just 19, Torres won the Palme d'Or for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for the film ‘‘Eu Sei que Vou te Amar.’’

But it's not just her unrivaled performing skills that fascinate. With a brilliant sense of humor — which has recently generated gems such as ‘‘I feel like Pikachu’’ and ‘‘Go, bitch’’ — Torres is not only Brazil's favorite actress, but also a smashing success in comedy. When she entered the world of comedy in the '90s, Torres' Vani in ‘‘Os Normais’’ marked her career and established her as a lady of wit. From 2011 to 2015, she starred as Fátima in ‘‘Tapas & Beijos,’’ a hilarious sitcom that mixes deadpan humor, messy relationships and an iconic duo.  

With writing experience as a columnist, the actress published her debut book ‘‘Fim’’ in 2014, which underlined her innate talent and exceptional versatility. With other books such as the collection of chronicles ‘‘Sete Anos’’ and the romance ‘‘A Glória e Seu Cortejo de Horrores,‘‘ she became a breakout star in Brazilian literature.

And in cinema, she’s never been a stranger. In productions such as ‘‘A Marvada Carne,’’ ‘‘Terra Estrangeira,’’ and ‘‘Casa de Areia,’’ her skills as an actress always came to the fore.

Her most recent role as Eunice Paiva in Walter Salles’ adaptation of Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoir Ainda Estou Aqui (aka I’m Still Here) was nothing short of extraordinary. 

The biographical drama that was awarded with Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival follows the Paiva family in the midst of Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, after Rubens Paiva (played by actor Selton Mello), a former congressman and outspoken critic of Brazil's newly installed military dictatorship, is taken from his home and disappears.  

With five children, a house under surveillance, and military harassment, Eunice had to reinvent herself while trying to find out the truth about what happened to her husband. To this day, his body has not been found, and Paiva's memoir represents the strength and resistance of an entire family and Brazil during such a dark time.

With a critically acclaimed performance, Torres made history as the first Brazilian to win a Golden Globe, representing a Latin America celebrated and recognized — not to mention the power of art in difficult times. 

Critics say she may have a shot at the Oscars — avenging her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who was snubbed in 1999. With the Academy Award nominations to be announced on January 19, Brazilians and Latin Americans have their fingers crossed that Fernanda Torres will bring home another nomination — and potentially a prize. An award that means a lot, not only to a community that is constantly neglected in the entertainment and artistic spheres, but also to a country that for four years lived under a government that applauded all the horrific events of the dictatorship.