In Central Station, Fernanda Montenegro shines as Dora, a retired teacher who helps a young boy search for his father in Brazil’s northeastern region. Her performance garnered international acclaim and earned her an Academy Award nomination, making her the first Latina actress to be nominated for the prestigious Oscar. The film also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
In this acclaimed drama by Karim Aïnouz (Love for Sale), Fernanda Montenegro portrays the matriarch of a Rio de Janeiro family seeking reconciliation with her daughters. The younger version of her character is played by Carol Duarte (La Chimera), whose standout performance received widespread recognition during awards season. The film, honored at the Cannes Film Festival, delivers a poignant exploration of female liberation.
In Victory, directed by Andrucha Waddington (Rio, I Love You), Fernanda Montenegro stars in a gripping drama inspired by the true story of a woman who secretly filmed the daily lives of drug traffickers in Copacabana for two years starting in 2004. Montenegro’s portrayal masterfully captures the tension and emotional weight of the real events while delving into themes of bravery and resilience. The cast also includes actress and singer Linn da Quebrada (Tranny Fag).
Based on Giansco Guarnieri's acclaimed play, They Don’t Wear Black Tie features Fernanda Montenegro as a woman navigating class struggles and political contradictions in a compelling drama about family and society. This Brazilian classic solidified Montenegro’s reputation, delivering one of her most unforgettable roles.
Betrayal is an anthology film comprising three episodes inspired by Nelson Rodrigues' chronicles, exploring themes of infidelity and complex romantic relationships in Rio de Janeiro across the 1950s, 1970s, and 1990s. The star-studded cast includes Fernanda Montenegro, who appears in all three episodes, portraying key characters like Geraldo’s mother in Diabolical and a woman at the bar in Dog!. Montenegro’s career has been closely tied to Rodrigues’ works, having portrayed many of his iconic characters on stage. In 2023, she performed a solo play titled Nelson Rodrigues by Himself, celebrating the legendary playwright.