Maria Esteves de Medeiros Victorino de Almeida (born 19 August 1965), known professionally as Maria de Medeiros (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐˈɾiɐ ðɨ mɨˈðɐjɾuʃ]), is a Portuguese actress, director, and singer who has been involved in both European and American film-productions.
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Early life
Maria de Medeiros was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the daughter of musician and composer António Victorino de Almeida. She played her first part on screen at the age of 15. At 18, she moved to France to pursue her acting studies and was a student at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique (CNSAD), graduating in 1988.
Medeiros is the first Portuguese woman to be designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
