Maria Gladys Mello da Silva (; born 23 November 1939) is a Brazilian actress. Gladys made her acting debut in 1959 with Arthur Azevedo's play O Mambembe at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. She earned recognition in the theater world by appearing topless in the publicity poster for the play O Chão dos Penitentes. She is considered the mother of marginal cinema.

Biography

Gladys was born in the Cachambi neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At three, she contracted polio, and at fifteen, became pregnant. She then moved with her family to the Grajaú neighbourhood, where she gave birth to her first son, Glayson; his father soon vanished. In Grajaú, Gladys met notable figures like Erasmo Carlos, Carlos Imperial, Tim Maia and Roberto Carlos, whom she started dating. During this period, she became one of the official dancers on the TV show Clube do Rock, created by Carlos Imperial.

In the late 1950s, Gladys pursued acting and moved with her family to Copacabana, in Rio's south zone. She made her theatrical debut in 1959 with Arthur Azevedo's play O Mambembe at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, performing alongside Fernanda Montenegro, Fernando Torres, Sérgio Britto and Ítalo Rossi. Concurrently, while training as an actress, Gladys joined the Teatro Jovem company. She made waves in the theater world by appearing topless in the publicity poster for the play O Chão dos Penitentes, becoming the first serious actress in Brazil to display her body publicly. In 1962, she starred in the play Sétimo Céu, directed by her friend Domingos de Oliveira.

Being part of the resistance during the Brazilian dictatorship led Gladys to exile in London between 1965 and 1979. In 1973, Gladys met American artist Lee Jaffe in London, and forty years later, it was revealed that he was the father of Rachel. Rachel is the mother of the movie star Mia Goth, making Jaffe her grandfather.

Later, Gladys lived with Betty Faria and shared a house in Vidigal with Leila Diniz. Following her mother's death and her father's return to the suburbs to care for his grandson, Gladys starred in Ruy Guerra's 1964 film Os Fuzis, which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Festival and was nominated for the Golden Bear.

On television, she appeared in significant productions like Brilhante, Bandidos da Falange, As Noivas de Copacabana, Hilda Furacão, Um Anjo Caiu do Céu, A Lua Me Disse and Aquele Beijo. Her most iconic role, however, was Lucimar da Silva in Vale Tudo.

In 2016, she portrayed Dr. Elizabeth Tacanha in the TV Globo series Pé na Cova.

Filmography Film Long and short films Year Title Role1961 Por um Céu de Liberdade Nurse 1963 Bonitinha, mas Ordinária Sister of Rita 1964 The Guns Luísa 1965 Canalha em Crise 1966 Um Diamante e Cinco Balas Flôr Todas as Mulheres do Mundo GlorinhaCinemateca Brasileira Todas as Mulheres do Mundo [em linha]1968 Copacabana Me Engana Edu, Coração de Ouro Neusinha Como Vai, Vai Bem? Teresa 1969 O Anjo Nasceu 1970 Cuidado MadameCinemateca Brasileira Cuidado Madame [em linha]] Sem Essa, Aranha É Simonal! Meu Pé de Laranja Lima Professor Cecília A Família do Barulho1971 Sangue Quente em Tarde Fria O Donzelo O Capitão Bandeira contra o Dr. Moura Brasil Gladys Piranhas do Asfalto Lúcia McCartney, uma Garota de Programa Mangue Bangue1976 Bandalheira Infernal 1977 Anchieta, José do Brasil Timbaúba 1978 O Gigante da América Agonia 1982 Rio BabilôniaCinemateca Brasileira, Rio Babilônia [em linha]] 1983 Bar Esperança Martha1985 Brás Cubas Os Bons Tempos Voltaram: Vamos Gozar Outra Vez Alzira Um Filme 100% Brasileiro 1987 O Bebê 1988 Natal da Portela1990 GunsUncredited1991 A Grande Arte Woman Under Billboards Killed the Family and Went to the Movies Mother of Bebeto1992 As Noivas de Copacabana - O FilmeRita 1994 Geraldo Voador 1995 O Monge e a Filha do Carrasco2001 A Breve Estória de Cândido Sampaio 2003 Apolônio Brasil, Campeão da Alegria 2006 If I Were You Cida 2007 Polaroides Urbanas Meu Nome é DindiDona Carmen 2008 Pequenas Histórias Dona Hanna Casa da Mãe JoanaParty Drunk 2009 Se Eu Fosse Você 2 Cida2010 The JoyLuiza's Aunt2011 Rat FeverStella Maris2013 Cute, But OrdinaryRitinha's Sisters (uncredited)2015 All of God's CreationsDaGuia - Miguel's Mother2017 Duas de MimSonja

Television Novels, Series and Minisseries Year Title Role Notes1979 Plantão de Polícia (episode:O Estrangulador da Praça Tiradentes)1981 Brilhante Dinalva 1983 Bandidos da Falange Soninha 1984 Padre Cícero Ifigênia 1985 Grande Sertão: Veredas Maria do Padre 1988 Vale Tudo Lucimar da Silva Chapadão do Bugre1989 Top Model Veridiana (Big Loira) Delegacia de MulheresDetetive Alvarenga4 episodes1990 Meu Bem, Meu Mal Eusébia 1992 As Noivas de Copacabana Rita de Cássia Tereza BatistaFelipa1993 Fera Ferida Lucineide 1995 - 1999 Você Decide Aurora, Maria, Cândida, Eleutéria 5 episodes1996 Salsa e Merengue Neném 1998 Corpo Dourado Mazinha Hilda Furacão Cecília Bonfim MulherRita(episode: Desejos Incontroláveis)2001 Um Anjo Caiu do Céu Zezé 2002 O Beijo do Vampiro Gracinda 2004 Senhora do Destino Dona Mimi 2005 A Lua Me Disse Naíde 2006 A Diarista, Números Primos Aunt Palmira Sítio do Picapau Amarelo Fátima 2 episodes Prova de Amor Mother of de Elza Special participation2007 Guerra e Paz Zoraide 2008 Negócio da China Lucivone Beleza Pura Romena 2009 Toma Lá, Dá Cá Sundaí 1 episode Caminho das Índias Glorinha Special participation2010 A Vida Alheia Nadir 1 episode2011 Aquele Beijo Eveva 2014 As Canalhas Luciene Sexo e as Negas Fumaça 2016 Pé na Cova Dra. Elizabeth Tacanha

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