Nívea Maria

While working as a model, she was discovered by director Walter Avancini at age 17. Avancini helped Nívea land her first role in the soap opera in A Outra Face de Anita, aired by TV Excelsior of São Paulo in 1964.^[1]

In more than forty years was uninterrupted presence on television.^[2] Participated in numerous successful soap operas, with important characters, such as Gabriela, A Moreninha (1975), Dona Xepa (1977), Maria, Maria (1978), Coração Alado (1980), the miniseries Anos Dourados (1986), Brega & Chique (1987), Meu Bem, Meu Mal (1990), Pedra sobre Pedra (1992), O Clone (2001),^[3] the miniseries A Casa das Sete Mulheres, Celebridade (2003), O Profeta (2006) and Caminho das Índias (2009). Recently, he made a very special involvement in the novel by Gilberto Braga, Insensato Coração (2011).^[4]

In 2006, Nivea Maria participated in the reality show, Dança dos Famosos, the program Domingão do Faustão, and Rede Globo.

Maria took over the role of Maude in the 2022 relaunch of the theatre play Ensina-me a Viver based on the 1971 American film Harold and Maude, replacing actress Glória Menezes.^[5] Menezes had previously led the lead role of Maude in the original debut of the play in 2007 and in a second edition in 2015.^[6][7] Both in the plays with Menezes as well as with Maria, the actor portraying Harold was Arlindo Lopes.^[5]

She was cast in the soap opera Aquele Beijo.^[8][9] She also acted in the novel Salve Jorge Isaurinha, the family matriarch Alcântara Vieira.^[10]

She is the sister of actress Glauce Graieb. She was married to actor Edson França, with whom he had two children: Viviane and Edson, and divorced director of the nucleus of the Rede Globo soap operas, Herval Rossano (1976–2003) with whom she had daughter Vanessa (1980).