Odete Lara

Odete Lara (born Odete Righi Bertoluzzi; 17 April 1929 – 4 February 2015) was a Brazilian film actress. She appeared in 37 films between 1954 and 1994, including two films shown at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1957 she was awarded with Prêmio Saci.

Biography She was the only daughter of Giuseppe Bertoluzzi and Virgínia Righi, immigrants from Belluno, northern Italy. Her mother committed suicide when Odete was six years old, which led to her being placed in a convent orphanage. Years later, she went to live at her godmother’s house. She was deeply attached to her father, her only emotional reference, but he, stricken with tuberculosis, was forced to remain apart from his daughter. Giuseppe died when Odete was 18, also by suicide.

Her first job was as a secretary and typist. Encouraged by a friend, she took a modeling course at the Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo and participated in the first fashion show in Brazilian history, held at MASP. Her beauty impressed Otomar dos Santos, who recommended her to the then newly inaugurated TV Tupi, owned by Assis Chateaubriand.

She began her work in television as a commercial spokesperson. She then appeared in the television version of Luz de Gás, alongside Tônia Carrero and Paulo Autran, followed by Branca Neve e os sete anões, in which she played the Evil Queen.

Odete Lara became a star of TV de Vanguarda, one of TV Tupi’s biggest attractions. Some of the telenovelas in which she acted on that network were: As Bruxas, A Volta de Beto Rockfeller, and Em Busca da Felicidade. She was hired by the theatrical group of the Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC) and made her stage debut in the play Santa Marta Fabril S/A, directed by Adolfo Celi.

Her first film was O Gato de Madame (1956), alongside Mazzaropi, at the invitation of writer Abílio Pereira de Almeida. Her final film appearance was in the feature film O Princípio do Prazer (1979).

She was also a singer in stage productions such as Skindô, alongside Vinícius de Moraes (which was also recorded as an album); Eles e Ela, with Sérgio Mendes; Meu Refrão, with Chico Buarque; and Quem Samba Fica, with Sidnei Miller. She also participated in the LP Contrastes.

She published three autobiographical books: Eu Nua, Minha Jornada Interior, and Meus Passos na Busca da Paz. Following her conversion, she translated several works on Buddhism.

The film Lara (2002) was based on the story of her life.

Filmography Films

1956 – O Gato de Madame 1957 – Absolutamente Certo 1957 – Arara Vermelha 1958 – Uma Certa Lucrécia 1959 – Dona Xepa 1959 – Moral em concordata 1960 – Sábado a la noche, cine 1960 – Dona Violante Miranda 1960 – Duas Histórias 1960 – Na Garganta do Diabo 1961 – Esse Rio que Eu Amo 1961 – Mulheres e Milhões 1962 – Boca de Ouro 1962 – Sete Evas 1963 – Bonitinha, mas Ordinária 1963 – Sonhando com Milhões 1964 – Noite Vazia 1964 – Pão de Açúcar 1965 – Mar Corrente 1967 – As Sete Faces de Um Cafajeste 1968 – Câncer em Família 1969 – Copacabana Me Engana 1969 – O Dragão da Maldade contra o Santo Guerreiro 1970 – Em Família 1970 – Os Herdeiros 1970 – Vida e Glória de Um Canalha 1971 – Aventuras com Tio Maneco 1971 – Lúcia McCartney, uma Garota de Programa 1971 – O Jogo da Vida e da Morte 1971 – Viver de Morrer 1972 – Quando o Carnaval Chegar 1973 – Primeiros Momentos 1973 – Vai Trabalhar Vagabundo 1974 – A Estrela Sobe 1974 – A Rainha Diaba 1975 – Assim Era a Atlântida 1978 – O Princípio do Prazer 1986 – Um Filme 100% Brasileiro 2001 – Barra 68 – Sem Perder a Ternura

Television 1965 – Em Busca da Felicidade 1970 – As Bruxas 1973 – A Volta de Beto Rockfeller 1991 – O Dono do Mundo 1994 – Pátria Minha