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Carmen Dolores
Carmen Dolores Cohen Sarmento was born in Lisbon in 1924. In her
twenties she had already appeared in films and made herself a name in stage
productions. In 1959 she gained an award for her outstanding performance in
the play "Seis Personagens à procura de um Autor". The
range of her artistic ability has taken her into classical plays by
Dostoievski, Steinbeck, Shakespeare, Strindberg, and others. In 1969 she
appeared with the Casa da Comédia in Strindberg's "Dança da Morte".
This took her to Paris where she lived until 1983. Now living back in
Portugal she continues to be actively involved in theatre, TV and radio.
João Villaret
João Henrique Pereira Villaret was born in 1913 in Lisbon and died
in 1961. His family had a long association with the stage and his brother
became a Director. He is reputed to have become the most famous Portuguese
actor of the 20th Century. His range of acting spread from high drama to
light comedy, all of which he handled with great skill. He also appeared
in many Portuguese film productions. His readings of poetry and prose were
recorded on disc and to this day they are regularly played on the radio.
Manoel de Oliveira
Born in Lisbon in 1908 and died in 2015 at the very ripe age of 106
years. Brought up in a religious family background
the talented director of films is a household name in the world of cinema.
His beginnings were slightly different in that his career was initiated as
an actor but his fascination for the screen and film production quickly
took his interest. In the 1920s he furthered his experience with experimental
short films and in 1931 he produced his first full-length feature,
"Douro, Faina Fluvial". This film was well received and
opened the door to a long career in the industry and many more successful
films. His fame extended beyond the borders of Portugal and he became a
recurring name in the Film Festival in Cannes. Manoel de Oliveira continued
working until the very last moments and his last film "O Velho do
Restelo" was released on his birthday in December of 2014.
Maria de Medeiros
Maria de Medeiros Esteves Victorino de Almeida was born in Lisbon
in 1965, the daughter of a well known music composer. Her acting career
started in France at the same time she was studying philosophy at the
University of Sorbonne. Her first film in which she appeared in a major
role was "Silvestre" in 1981. Her part in the film "Henry and
June" in 1989 won her first international acclaim. In 1993 she won the
"Gold Lion" award in the Venice Film Festival for her performance in the
film "Três Irmãos".
Raul Solnado
Born in Madragoa in 1929. It was in 1952 he made his first impact upon
the Lisbon audience when he appeared on stage with José Viana. He then
when on to make his name in variety and by 1955 he had become a popular
name. In 1977 he had enormous success on television which he continued
together with his stage appearances in both serious and comedy parts,
the later being his strongest element. He died in August of 2009.
Vasco Santana
Vasco António Rodrigues Santana was born in 1898 in Lisbon and died
in 1956. His family was from a stage background so he had no difficulty in
taking to the boards. His natural charm and sympathetic character that
passed across the lights into the audience made him famous to all Lisbon
theatre goers. With the advent of talking pictures he made several comedy
films that extended his fame into Portugal as a whole. Although these films
were made in the 1930s they are still often shown today on Portuguese TV.
His portly frame and his special voice still projects the sympathy of his
character as emphasized in "A Canção de Lisboa". Comparisons are
odious but Vasco Santana is to the Portuguese what the famous Charlie
Chaplin is to the world.
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