Actress Laura Cardoso dies at age 98 in São Paulo

Actress Laura Cardoso died at the age of 98 in São Paulo. The information was confirmed this Tuesday (18) on its official profile on the social network Instagram.

The wake began at 8am and continues until 2pm at the Funeral Home, located at Rua São Carlos do Pinhal, 376, Bela Vista neighborhood, in the capital of São Paulo.

Born Laurinda de Jesus Balleroni, Laura Cardoso would have turned 99 in September. Throughout her career, she played more than 60 characters on television, including Dona Izaura, in the soap opera Mulheres de Areia, Guiomar, in A Viagem, and Sinhana Coragem, in Irmãos Coragem.

Laura's last appearances on television were as Dona Sinhá, in Sol Nascente, and as Caetana de Souza, in O Outro Lado do Paraíso, at the age of 90.

Awards

Having worked in cinema, television and theater, Laura Cardoso received several awards for her performances.

As a supporting actress, she won the Grande Otelo award on three occasions for her performance in Copacabana (2002), O Outro Lado da Rua (2005), De Onde Eu Te Vejo (2017).

He received the APCA award, from the São Paulo Association of Art Critics, on five occasions. On television, she was awarded Best Actress for Os Apostolos de Judas (1977) and Irmãos Coragem (1995). In cinema, she won the Best Actress award for Through the Window (2001). Finally, she won the APCA as Best Actress in Theater for Vem Buscar-me que Isso Sou Teu (1990) and Vereda da Salvação (1993).

For her work as a whole, she was honored with the Guarani Honorary Award, in 2021, and the Oscarito Trophy, at the Gramado Festival, in 2023.

She was also twice awarded the Press Trophy for Best Actress for her performance in The Eternal Night (1963) and Moulin Rouge, the Life of Tolouse-Lautrec (1964)

Tributes

On social media, several names in Brazilian dramaturgy mourned Laura's death and paid tribute to the actress's career.

“Laura was gigantic, compulsive and had a talent that didn’t fit into her small body,” wrote actor Miguel Falabella, posting a photo next to the actress.

Actor Ary Fontoura referred to the actress as a “dear friend” and “companion on so many journeys”. “That light, that smile and that shine will never be forgotten.”

Actress and singer Zezé Motta posted a photo of Laura and highlighted that Brazilian art says goodbye to “one of its greatest ladies”. “Laura was great, she was whole, she was eternal.”