Bete Mendes

Bete Mendes (born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira; 11 May 1949) is a Brazilian actress and politician.

Biography Early life

Bete Mendes was born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira in Santos, São Paulo. She is the daughter of Osmar Pires de Oliveira, a Sub-Lieutenant of the Brazilian Air Force, and Maria Mendes de Oliveira. She acted in school plays since she was 5.

However, her artistic career really began at age 15, in her hometown of Santos, in the role of bunny Naná in the play A Árvore que Andava, by Oscar Von Phull.

Mendes has a degree in performing arts by the University of São Paulo (USP), and was pursuing a degree in Sociology when she was arrested by the political police of the military dictatorship.

She performed by the first time in theatre with the play A Cozinha (The kitchen) on 1968. At that same year, she had a prominent role in the popular TV Tupi soap opera Beto Rockfeller.

Arrest

On 1970, Mendes was arrested by the DOI-CODI, being held as prisoner for four years. Between September and October 1974, she was once again detained, this time being tortured. She was acquitted by the Superior Tribunal Militar (Superior Military Court), being released after spending 30 days in prison. Upon her release, she decided to quit the Sociology School.

Political career

Mendes actively participated in several social movements, such as for the professional regulation of artists (achieved in 1978) and the movement for the amnesty. She supported the strikes of metalworkers in the ABC Region, where she became familiar with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, then a growing figure in the Brazilian political scene. Along with Lula, Mendes was one of the founding members of the Workers' Party, by which she was elected Congresswoman for the 1983-87 term.

On 15 January 1985, Mendes was expelled from the Workers' Party for having voted, in the Electoral college (indirect election system), for Tancredo Neves as President. She was re-elected for the Congress by the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, but this time she was a member of the National Constituent Assembly. Mendes was also Secretary of Culture in the state of São Paulo between 15 March 1987 and 21 December 1988, and president of the Fundação de Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Arts Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro) in 1999.

Brilhante Ustra case When exercising her second term as congresswoman, Mendes joined the entourage of President José Sarney on an official visit to Uruguay. On 17 August 1985, she discovered that among the officers of the Brazilian Embassy in Uruguay were Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, the man who tortured her in prison.

Filmography Film 2006 - Brasília 18% 2004 - Vestido de Noiva 1981 - Eles Não Usam Black-tie 1980 - Insônia 1980 - J.S. Brown, o último herói 1979 - Os Amantes da Chuva 1974 - As Delícias da Vida 1968 - Sandra Sandra

Television

2024 - Garota do Momento as Arlete 2017 - Tempo de Amar as Irmã Imaculada 2013 - Flor do Caribe as Olívia Soares 2012 - Gabriela as Florzinha Reis 2011 - Insensato Coração as Zuleica Alencar 2009 - Caras e Bocas as Piedade Batista 2008 - Faça Sua História as Iracema 2008 - Casos e Acasos as Hilda 2007 - Sítio do Picapau Amarelo as Dona Benta 2006 - Páginas da Vida as Sister Natércia 2005 - América as Fátima 2004 - Seus Olhos sa Edite 2003 - A Casa das Sete Mulheres as Dona Ana Joaquina 2000 - Aquarela do Brasil as Olga 1999 - Terra Nostra as Ana Esplendore 1998 - Brida as Diva 1996 - O Rei do Gado as Donana 1994 - Pátria Minha as Zuleica 1994 - Memorial de Maria Moura as Maria Moura's mother 1994 - Quatro por Quatro as Fatima 1993 - O Mapa da Mina as Carmem Rocha 1992 - Anos Rebeldes as Carmem Damaceno 1990 - Lua Cheia de Amor as Emília 1989 - Tieta as Aída 1985 - O Tempo e o Vento as Maria Valéria Terra 1985 - De Quina pra Lua as Patrícia 1981 - Floradas na Serra as Elza 1980 - Dulcinéa Vai à Guerra as Jerusa 1980 - Pé de Vento as Terezinha 1978 - Sinal de Alerta as Vera 1977 - Sinhazinha Flô as Flor 1976 - O Casarão as Vânia 1975 - Bravo! as Lia di Lorenzo 1974 - O Rebu as Sílvia 1973 - Divinas & Maravilhosas as Carolina 1973 - A Volta de Beto Rockfeller as Renata 1972 - A Revolta dos Anjos as Stela 1972 - Na Idade do Lobo as Carina 1971 - Nossa Filha Gabriela as Catarina 1970 - O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima as Godóia 1970 - Simplesmente Maria as Angélica 1969 - Super Plá as Titina 1968 - Beto Rockfeller as Renata 1966 - Águias de Fogo