
Leona Cavalli
Biography
Alleyona Canedo da Silva ( Rosário do Sul , November 6 , 1969 ), better known as Leona Cavalli , is a Brazilian actress and theater director . She is the winner of several awards, including an APCA Award , two Brazil Quality Awards , a Shell Award , and a Guarani Award , as well as having received nominations for three Grande Otelo Awards . Leona made her debut in professional theater at the age of 16, participating in a production of Waltz No. 6 . After studying theater at PUC in São Paulo , she took part in other productions of classic plays, such as Farsa by Inês Pereira and Auto da Barca do Inferno . [ 2 ] She received critical acclaim for her performance in the film Um Céu de Estrelas (1996), where she played hairdresser Dalva, who lives in a dark and violent relationship with her husband. For her work, she won the APCA Award for Best Actress in Cinema , the Candango Award for Best Actress at the Brasília Festival , as well as receiving her first of four nominations for the Guarani Award . [ 3 ] In 2000 she began playing Geni in the play Toda Nudez Ser Castigada , a play written by Nelson Rodrigues in 1965 , for which she won the Shell Award for Best Actress . In 2002 she was praised for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the play A Streetcar Named Desire , selling the Prêmio Qualidade Brasil for Best Actress in a Drama Play. [ 4 ] Cavalli made her television debut in a special appearance in the series Os Normais , on TV Globo , in 2002. In the same year, she acted in the film Amarelo Manga , directed by Cláudio Assis . For her performance, she again received critical acclaim, winning the Guarani Award for Best Supporting Actress and being nominated for the Grande Otelo for Best Actress . [ 2 ] Her performances in the films Carandiru (2003) and Contra Todos (2004) earned her nominations from the Brazilian Cinema Academy for Grande Otelo for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress , respectively. In 2007 she played Justine in the miniseries Amazônia, from Galvez to Chico Mendes , her first prominent role on television, for which she won the Brazil Quality Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries . She also stood out in the character of the prostitute Zarolha in the soap opera Gabriela (2012) and in the role of the villain Glauce in the prime time soap opera Amor à Vida (2013). [ 5 ] In 2019 she played Teresa in Orphans of the Earth .
Movie Appearances

Carandiru
as Dina
2003

Olga
as Maria
2004

Mango Yellow
as Ligia
2002

A Starry Sky
as Dalva
1996
Anna K.
as Joana / Anna K.
2014

Cafundó
as Rosário
2005

Golden Oldies 2
as Laurinha
2013

Aparecida - O Milagre
as Sônia
2010

Através da Janela
as Simone
2000

Up Against Them All
as Cláudia
2004

What Is It Worth?
as Clara
2005

The Tenants
as Fátima
2009

As Doze Estrelas
as Dolores Ferrão
2011
Desequilíbrio
as Prostituta
2004

Circular Capital
as Garota de Programa
2004

Antônia
2007

Water Pigs
as Debora
2020

Luz, Câmera, 50 Anos: Dalva e Herivelto, Uma Canção de Amor - O Filme
as Margot
2015

Desire Machine: 60 Years of Teatro Oficina
as Self
2021

Poemaria
as Self
2024
TV Appearances

The King of TV
as Íris Abravanel
2022

Gabriela
as Risoleta (Zarolha)
2012

A Grande Família
as Rebeca/Vanessa
2001

The Life We Lead
as Dr.ª Celina Gusmão Macedo
2011

Total Dreamer
as Gilda de Assis Machado
2015

Shades of Sin
as Young Edilásia
2004

Começar de Novo
as Lucrécia Borges (jovem)
2004

Os Normais
as Luna
2001

Pé na Jaca
as Miranda
2006

Belíssima
as Valdete Pereira
2005

War and Peace
as Miréia
2007

Amazônia: De Galvez a Chico Mendes
as Justine
2007