
Leona Cavalli
Acting • Born 1969-11-06
Biography
Alleyona Canedo da Silva ( Rosário do Sul , November 6 , 1969 ), better known as Leona Cavalli , is a Brazilian actress and theater director . She is the winner of several awards, including an APCA Award , two Brazil Quality Awards , a Shell Award , and a Guarani Award , as well as having received nominations for three Grande Otelo Awards . Leona made her debut in professional theater at the age of 16, participating in a production of Waltz No. 6 . After studying theater at PUC in São Paulo , she took part in other productions of classic plays, such as Farsa by Inês Pereira and Auto da Barca do Inferno . [ 2 ] She received critical acclaim for her performance in the film Um Céu de Estrelas (1996), where she played hairdresser Dalva, who lives in a dark and violent relationship with her husband. For her work, she won the APCA Award for Best Actress in Cinema , the Candango Award for Best Actress at the Brasília Festival , as well as receiving her first of four nominations for the Guarani Award . [ 3 ] In 2000 she began playing Geni in the play Toda Nudez Ser Castigada , a play written by Nelson Rodrigues in 1965 , for which she won the Shell Award for Best Actress . In 2002 she was praised for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the play A Streetcar Named Desire , selling the Prêmio Qualidade Brasil for Best Actress in a Drama Play. [ 4 ] Cavalli made her television debut in a special appearance in the series Os Normais , on TV Globo , in 2002. In the same year, she acted in the film Amarelo Manga , directed by Cláudio Assis . For her performance, she again received critical acclaim, winning the Guarani Award for Best Supporting Actress and being nominated for the Grande Otelo for Best Actress . [ 2 ] Her performances in the films Carandiru (2003) and Contra Todos (2004) earned her nominations from the Brazilian Cinema Academy for Grande Otelo for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress , respectively. In 2007 she played Justine in the miniseries Amazônia, from Galvez to Chico Mendes , her first prominent role on television, for which she won the Brazil Quality Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries . She also stood out in the character of the prostitute Zarolha in the soap opera Gabriela (2012) and in the role of the villain Glauce in the prime time soap opera Amor à Vida (2013). [ 5 ] In 2019 she played Teresa in Orphans of the Earth .
Filmography
51 credits
Carandiru
Movie • 2003
Dina

Olga
Movie • 2004
Maria

Mango Yellow
Movie • 2002
Ligia

A Starry Sky
Movie • 1996
Dalva

Anna K.
Movie • 2014
Joana / Anna K.

Cafundó
Movie • 2005
Rosário

Aparecida - O Milagre
Movie • 2010
Sônia

Golden Oldies 2
Movie • 2013
Laurinha

Através da Janela
Movie • 2000
Simone

Up Against Them All
Movie • 2004
Cláudia

What Is It Worth?
Movie • 2005
Clara

The Tenants
Movie • 2009
Fátima

As Doze Estrelas
Movie • 2011
Dolores Ferrão

Desequilíbrio
Movie • 2004
Prostituta

Circular Capital
Movie • 2004
Garota de Programa

Antônia
Movie • 2007

Water Pigs
Movie • 2020
Debora

Luz, Câmera, 50 Anos: Dalva e Herivelto, Uma Canção de Amor - O Filme
Movie • 2015
Margot

Desire Machine: 60 Years of Teatro Oficina
Movie • 2021
Self

Poemaria
Movie • 2024
Self

The King of TV
TV • 2022
Íris Abravanel

Gabriela
TV • 2012
Risoleta (Zarolha)

A Grande Família
TV • 2001
Rebeca/Vanessa

The Life We Lead
TV • 2011
Dr.ª Celina Gusmão Macedo

Total Dreamer
TV • 2015
Gilda de Assis Machado

Shades of Sin
TV • 2004
Young Edilásia

Começar de Novo
TV • 2004
Lucrécia Borges (jovem)

Os Normais
TV • 2001
Luna

Bang Bang
TV • 2005
Bandida

Pé na Jaca
TV • 2006
Miranda

Belíssima
TV • 2005
Valdete Pereira

War and Peace
TV • 2007
Miréia

Amazônia: De Galvez a Chico Mendes
TV • 2007
Justine

Aline
TV • 2009
Vera

A Vida Alheia
TV • 2010
Magda Kosmo

Na Forma da Lei
TV • 2010
Belinda Azambuja

Duas Caras
TV • 2007
Dália Mendes

Casos e Acasos
TV • 2008
Célia

Negócio da China
TV • 2008
Maralanis Silvestre

Dalva e Herivelto: Uma Canção de Amor
TV • 2010
Margot

Destiny River
TV • 2010
Marly

Trail of Lies
TV • 2013
Glauce de Sá Benites

Apocalipse
TV • 2017
Ariela Feld

A Secretária do Presidente
TV • 2016
Mirte de Souza Pinto

Orphans of a Nation
TV • 2019
Teresa Monte Castelli

Land of Desire
TV • 2023
Gladys Junqueira

A(u)tores
TV • 2021

As Brasileiras
TV • 2012
Valquíria

Dona de Mim
TV • 2025
Gabriela

#Provoca
TV • 2019
Entrevistada

As Cariocas
TV • 2010
Rita