Wagner Moura

Wagner Maniçoba de Moura ( ; ; born 27 June 1976) is a Brazilian actor and filmmaker. His accolades include a Golden Globe, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and five Brazilian Academy Film Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, an Annie Award, and two Critics' Choice Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2026.

After establishing himself in Brazil with a leading role as Captain Nascimento in the crime film Elite Squad (2007) and its 2010 sequel, Moura expanded into American cinema with a supporting role in the science fiction film Elysium (2013), finding himself part of the movement that seeks positive representation for South Americans in Hollywood. In 2015, he received international attention and critical acclaim for his portrayal of drug trafficker Pablo Escobar in the Netflix crime series Narcos, resulting in his first Golden Globe Award nomination.

Moura gained further recognition for his performances in the drama Sergio (2020), the animated film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), the action thriller Civil War (2024), and the miniseries Dope Thief (2025). For his performance as a former professor in the political thriller film The Secret Agent (2025), Moura became the first South American actor to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, the first Brazilian actor to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and the first Brazilian to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Moura has also expanded into directing, making his feature directorial debut with the political thriller Marighella (2019).

Early life Wagner Moura was born in Salvador and raised in Rodelas, from the capital. His father was in the military so the family, including his mother and his younger sister Lediane (who now works as a pediatrician), became used to moving around. His relationship with acting started thanks to a schoolmate who had a passion for the arts.

He became best friends with Emmy-nominated actor Lázaro Ramos during their teenage years in Bahia. Ramos reported that his friend was a great supporter of his career since their youth.

Career

Early career (1996–2005) Moura took acting classes in his teens, and started working in professional theater in 1996. Later, he graduated in journalism at the Federal University of Bahia. He had a small PR company that worked for other local actors and theater companies but the business soon went bankrupt. In the early 2000s, he was a reporter for an interview program on TV Bahia – an affiliate of Rede Globo – and covered high society parties interviewing businessmen and celebrities.

During this time, Moura continued going to auditions because he aspired to become an actor. He found some success with the play A Máquina. Receiving critical and public acclaim, the show left Bahia and went on the road to Pernambuco, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro where it continued to succeed. The hit show boosted the careers of Moura and his colleagues, now-successful Brazilian actors Lázaro Ramos and Vladimir Brichta.

In cinema, he started with the shorts Pop Killer, by Victor Mascarenhas, and Rádio Gogó, by José Araripe Jr. His first feature was Woman on Top, by the Venezuelan director Fina Torres, in which he had a small role with Ramos, whom he helped with the tests in English, since Ramos did not speak the language.

With the resumption of Brazilian cinema opening up to new faces, he got roles in several productions with important names, such as Behind the Sun, by Walter Salles; The Three Marias, by Aluizio Abranches; God Is Brazilian, by Cacá Diegues; Nina, by Heitor Dhalia; The Man of the Year, by José Henrique Fonseca; The Middle of the World, by . In Recife, during the filming of God Is Brazilian, Moura was reading the book Carandiru Station by Drauzio Varella when he found out about the auditions for the film Carandiru. Because he was busy with the recordings and unable to appear in the face-to-face auditions in another state, he asked the person in charge of the making to help him record a tape that would be sent to the production. The material was very dark, and it was only possible to hear the actor reading excerpts from the book. Some time later, Héctor Babenco would call him for a meeting in São Paulo, curious to meet the owner of the voice. The actor ended up joining the cast as the prisoner, dealer and drug addict Zico.

He debuted on television after famous Brazilian actor and his costar in God Is Brazilian, Antônio Fagundes, invited him for a small role in the popular series Carga Pesada on Rede Globo. Then came the series Sexo Frágil, which entered the network's Friday night schedule after its success as a sketch on the TV show Fantástico.

The play Dilúvio em Tempos de Seca was shown in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and ended its season at the Curitiba Theater Festival at Teatro Guaíra before an audience of more than four thousand people in the two days it was presented. With the end of the work, the actor would turn to television and cinema.

In 2005, he debuted in telenovelas with A Lua Me Disse as Gustavo Bogari Prado, the comic role was a contrast to the other characters he had played before. He also portrayed a young version of Brazil's former president Juscelino Kubitschek in the limited series JK (2006).

Breakout in Brazilian cinema and TV (2007–2012) In 2007, Moura starred as police officer Captain Nascimento in José Padilha's Elite Squad. The film won the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival and was a box office hit in Brazil, but generated controversy for its portrayal of police brutality and urban violence in Rio de Janeiro. He also had lead roles in Ó Paí, Ó, Saneamento Básico, A Máquina and Romance. He also portrayed the corrupt businessman Olavo Novaes in TV Globo's Paraíso Tropical. For his cinema and television roles, he was named "Man of the Year" in 2007 by Vogue Brazil.

In 2008, he returned to theater with Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The theatrical process was recorded by his wife, Sandra, and became a documentary. He also starred in three short films: Desejo, Ópera do Mallandro and Blackout, which premiered at the Festival de Gramado. He also resumed concert performances with his band Sua Mãe.

In 2010, he portrayed Nascimento once again in Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. Like its predecessor, the film was met with critical acclaim and became the largest box office ticket seller and highest-grossing film of all time in Brazil.

In 2011, he was honored at the Braskem Theater Award. In 2012, he was a guest vocalist for the "MTV Live: Tribute to Legião Urbana" held in São Paulo and broadcast by MTV Brasil. Moura was a big fan of the band, which disbanded in 1996. In 2013, he was elected Man of the Year by GQ Brazil in the cinema category and honored at the Gramado Film Festival.

Hollywood and directorial debut (2013–present) The film Elysium (2013) marked his Hollywood debut, portraying Spider. Moura got the role after his agents showed his work in Elite Squad 2 to the producers.

In 2014, he starred in Karim Aïnouz's Futuro Beach as a gay lifeguard from Recife who travels to Germany after falling in love with a tourist. He also starred in the anthology film Rio, I Love You, in the segment directed by José Padilha. As a director, he worked on the music video for the song "Te Amo" from the album Bicicletas, Bolos e Outras Alegrias by Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata.thumb In 2015, Moura starred as Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in Narcos. Moura learned to speak Spanish while preparing for his role. He also had to gain over 18 kilograms (40 pounds). After the second season, he decided to lose the weight through an all-vegan diet. His performance was praised by critics. For the role, Moura was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.

In 2019, he starred as Juan Pablo Roque in Wasp Network, directed by Olivier Assayas.

Wagner Moura's feature directing debut, Marighella, had its world premiere at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, and a delayed theatrical release in Brazil in 2021. The film is a biopic of Carlos Marighella, a politician and guerrilla fighter facing the heinous crimes torture and censorship during the military dictatorship in Brazil. Moura says he is sure the film was censored by right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro, though the official reason for the delay was the COVID-19 pandemic. At the 2022 Brazilian Film Grand Prix, Marighella won eight awards, including Best Film, Best First Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Moura.

In 2020, he signed with WME. He was a part of the official international fiction jury of the Sundance Film Festival. He also produced and starred as the title character in the Netflix drama Sergio, about Brazilian diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello.

In 2021, he joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood. He also directed two episodes of Narcos: Mexico's third season.

In 2022, he starred in the Apple TV+ series Shining Girls, in the role of journalist Dan Velásquez. He starred in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, voicing the Wolf. He also starred in Netflix's The Gray Man, directed by the Russo Brothers, as Laszlo Sosa, for which he lost twenty kilos.

In 2024, he played a recurring role as John Smith's agent in the Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

In 2025, he starred as Marcelo in Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent. For the role he became the first South American actor to ever win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor, the first Latin-American actor to win the NYFCC for Best Actor, and received his first Golden Globe, as well as becoming the first Brazilian actor to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Personal life Moura's native language is Portuguese, but he also speaks English and Spanish fluently. He did not speak Spanish prior to his casting as Pablo Escobar in Narcos, and spent several weeks in Medellín, Colombia learning the language to prepare for the role. He practices Transcendental Meditation, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Moura has three sons with journalist and photographer Sandra Delgado. Moura and Delgado met at university but only got involved after they graduated. At the time, he was moving to Rio and invited her to go with him. She accepted, despite the fact that they had only been dating for a short time. The couple has not formally married. The family has residences in Salvador, Los Angeles, and Rio de Janeiro.

Political views During Donald Trump's second term, Moura became a vocal critic of the administration's immigration enforcement policies, stating that he feared encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and describing the situation as a "war on immigrants." He has drawn parallels between the political climate in the United States under Trump and Brazil's experience under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2023), arguing that his firsthand experience with authoritarianism in Brazil offers a warning for American democracy. 2024 Civil War Joel 2025 The Secret Agent Armando "Marcelo" Solimões / Adult Fernando Also co-producer

The Last Day Peter The Last House Jason 2027 Filming

Post-production Raoul Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Pedrinho Episode: "Carga Perecível" 2003–2004 Edu / Magali 20 episodes 2004 Magali 1 episode 2005 A Lua Me Disse Gustavo Bogari Telenovela 2006 JK Juscelino Kubitschek (ages 18–43) 2007 Paraíso Tropical Olavo Novaes Telenovela 2013 Alex's Father Mini-series 2015–2016 NarcosPablo Escobar 20 episodes 2018, 2021 Narcos: Mexico Cameo, 1 episode, Director, 2 episodes 2022 Shining Girls Dan Velasquez Main role 2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Second Other John 2 episodes 2025 Dope Thief Manny Carvalho Main role 2026 Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Brander Lawson (voice)

Theatre

Documentary appearances Year Title Role Notes 2009 They Killed Sister Dorothy Narrator (voice)Brazilian version 2016 Entre os Homens de Bem Himself2017 Os 8 Magníficos

Awards and nominations

Film Year Awards Category Nominated work Outcome 2002 Ceará Film Festival Best Actor 2003 Qualidade Brasil Awards 2004 Cartagena Film Festival Cartagena Film Festival Best Supporting Cast São Paulo Art Critics Association Best Actor 2005 Festival de Cine Iberoamericano de Huelva Lower City 2006 Prêmio Contigo! de Cinema Nacional Prêmio Qualidade Brasil 2007 Brazilian Academy Film Awards Prêmio Qualidade Brasil Elite Squad 2008 Prêmio Contigo! de Cinema Nacional Brazilian Academy Film Awards 2009 2010 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival 2011 Brazilian Film Festival of Miami Prêmio Contigo! de Cinema Nacional Best Actor (audience award) São Paulo Art Critics AssociationBest Actor CinePort Brazilian Academy Film Awards 2012 Prêmio Contigo! de Cinema Nacional 2013 Gramado Film Festival Troféu Cidade de Gramado Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival Best Actor Father's Chair 2014 Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro Best Supporting Actor 2015 Prêmio Guarani de Cinema Brasileiro Best Actor 2019 Seattle International Film Festival Best Ibero American Film Mill Valley Film Festival Best Picture Festival Internacional de Cinema de Istambul Best Internacional Film 2020 CinEuphoria Awards Best Picture Imagen Awards Best Movie Actor 2021 Prêmio Arcanjo de Cultura Film Prêmio Abraccine 2021 Top 10 – Feature Film - Brazil Prêmio APCA Best Ensemble G1 Melhores Filmes do Ano Best Picture (audience award) 2022 Prêmio Platino 2022 Best Director FestPunta 2022 Festival Sesc Melhores Filmes Best Brazilian Feature Best Brazilian Director Best Brazilian Screenplay Best Brazilian Feature Best Brazilian Director Prêmio ABRA de Roteiro Best Adapted Screenplay (Fiction) Brazilian Academy Film Awards Best Picture Best Directorial Debut Best Adapted Screenplay CCXP Awards Best Picture (Brazil) Best Directing Brazilian Cinema Guarani Awards Best Picture Best Director Best Adapted Screenplay 2023 Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production 2025 Austin Film Critics Association Best Actor Boston Online Film Critics AssociationBest Actor Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Chicago International Film FestivalBest ActorChicago Film Critics AssociationBest Actor Gotham AwardsOutstanding Lead PerformanceLos Angeles Film Critics AssociationBest Lead Performance New York Film Critics Circle AwardsBest ActorNew York Film Critics OnlineBest Actor Newport Beach Film Festival Outstanding Performance San Diego Film Critics SocietyBest Actor San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleBest Actor St. Louis Film Critics AssociationBest Actor Toronto Film Critics AssociationOutstanding Lead Performance Zurich Film FestivalGolden Eye Award for Achievement in Acting2026Academy AwardsBest Actor Astra Film AwardsBest Actor – DramaActing Achievement Award Critics' Choice AwardsBest Actor Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama IndieWire HonorsPerformance Award London Film Critics' Circle Actor of the Year National Society of Film Critics Best Actor International Cinephile Society Best Actor Paris Film Critics Awards Best Actor Platino Awards Best Actor Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award São Paulo Art Critics Association (APCA) Best Actor Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Best Actor

Television Year Awards Category Nominated work Outcome 2005 Prêmio Qualidade Brasil Best ActorA Lua Me Disse 2006 Prêmio Contigo! de TV Prêmio Qualidade BrasilJK 2007 Prêmio Contigo! de TV Prêmio Extra de TelevisãoParaíso Tropical Troféu APCA Best Actor of Television Prêmio Quem de Televisão Best Actor Melhores do Ano 2008 Troféu Imprensa Troféu Internet Prêmio Contigo! de TV 2016 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor (Television Series Drama) 2016 Imagen Awards Best Actor (Television) 2026 Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries

Theater + Year Awards Category Nominated work Outcome 1997 Braskem Theater Awards Breakout Performance Abismo de Rosas 2008 Qualidade Brasil Awards Best Actor in Play São Paulo Art Critics Association Awards Contigo! Theater Awards Best Leading Actor