Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1944-06-27
- Born Place: Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Also Known As:
Zezé Mota, Zeze Motta, Zeze Mota, Maria José Motta de Oliveira, ゼゼ・モッタ, 泽泽·莫塔, 제제 모타, ज़ेज़े मोट्टा
Zezé Motta
Maria José Motta de Oliveira, known professionally as Zezé Motta, is a highly celebrated Brazilian actress and singer, considered one of the country's most important and enduring artists, particularly as an exponent of Afro-Brazilian culture. Her career began in the theater in 1966 with the seminal play Roda-viva by Chico Buarque, but she achieved international fame with her controversial and acclaimed leading role in the 1976 film Xica da Silva, followed by other major cinematic works such as Quilombo and Tieta do Agreste. Parallel to her acting success in film and popular television telenovelas like Sinhá Moça and series like Netflix's 3%, Motta has maintained a prolific musical career since the 1970s, popularizing hits like "Senhora Liberdade" and "Dores de Amores," and performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall. Her recent work includes continued musical releases, such as the 2024 single "Tigresa," and performances, most recently at the Rio Jazz Fest in October 2024, cementing her legacy as a versatile icon of Brazilian arts and resistance.
