Bete Mendes (born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira; 11 May 1949) is a Brazilian

actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

Biography

Early life

Bete Mendes was born Elizabeth Mendes de Oliveira in Santos,

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

. She is the daughter of Osmar Pires de Oliveira, a Sub-Lieutenant of the

Brazilian Air Force The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...

, and Maria Mendes de Oliveira. She acted in school plays since she was 5. However, her artistic career really began at age 15, in her hometown of Santos, in the role of bunny Naná in the play ''A Árvore que Andava'', by Oscar Von Phull.Bete Mendes biography
contigo.abril.com.br; accessed 30 April 2016. Mendes has a degree in performing arts by the

University of São Paulo The Universidade de São Paulo (, USP) is a public research university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, and the largest public university in Brazil. The university was founded on 25 January 1934, regrouping already existing schools in ...

(USP), and was pursuing a degree in

Sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

when she was arrested by the

political police 300px, East_German.html" ;"title="Vladimir Putin's secret police identity card, issued by the East German">Vladimir Putin's secret police identity card, issued by the East German Stasi while he was working as a Soviet KGB liaison officer from 19 ...

of the

military dictatorship A military dictatorship, or a military regime, is a type of dictatorship in which Power (social and political), power is held by one or more military officers. Military dictatorships are led by either a single military dictator, known as a Polit ...

. She performed by the first time in theatre with the play ''A Cozinha'' (''The kitchen'') on 1968. At that same year, she had a prominent role in the popular

TV Tupi Rede Tupi (; in English, Tupi Network) was a Brazilian commercial terrestrial television network. Its flagship station, located in the city of São Paulo, was the first TV station to operate in the country, being inaugurated on 18 September 1 ...

soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...

Beto Rockfeller ''Beto Rockfeller'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced by TV Tupi and aired from November 4, 1968, to November 30, 1969. It was created by Cassiano Gabus Mendes, written by Bráulio Pedroso and directed by Lima Duarte and Walter Avancini. Plot ...

''.

Arrest

On 1970, Mendes was arrested by the

DOI-CODI The Departamento de Operações de Informações — Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna (DOI-CODI; ) was the Brazilian intelligence and political repression agency during the military dictatorship of 1964–85. This period started on Ma ...

, being held as prisoner for four years. Between September and October 1974, she was once again detained, this time being

torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons including corporal punishment, punishment, forced confession, extracting a confession, interrogational torture, interrogation for information, or intimid ...

d. She was acquitted by the Superior Tribunal Militar (Superior Military Court), being released after spending 30 days in prison. Upon her release, she decided to quit the Sociology School.

Political career

Mendes actively participated in several social movements, such as for the professional regulation of artists (achieved in 1978) and the movement for the

amnesty Amnesty () is defined as "A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of people who are subject to trial but have not yet be ...

. She supported the strikes of metalworkers in the

ABC Region The ABC Region is an industrial region in Greater São Paulo, Brazil. The name refers to three smaller cities south of São Paulo, capital of the Brazilian state of the same name. Originally, these three cities were Santo André, São Be ...

, where she became familiar with

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known Mononym, mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist and former metalworker who has served as the 39th president of Brazil since 2023. A mem ...

, then a growing figure in the Brazilian political scene. Along with Lula, Mendes was one of the founding members of the

Workers' Party Workers' Party is a name used by several political parties throughout the world. The name has been used by both organisations on the left and right of the political spectrum. It is currently used by followers of Marxism, Marxism–Leninism, Maoism ...

, by which she was elected Congresswoman for the 1983-87 term. On 15 January 1985, Mendes was expelled from the Workers' Party for having voted, in the

Electoral college An electoral college is a body whose task is to elect a candidate to a particular office. It is mostly used in the political context for a constitutional body that appoints the head of state or government, and sometimes the upper parliament ...

(indirect election system), for

Tancredo Neves Tancredo de Almeida Neves () (4 March 1910 – 21 April 1985) was a Brazilian politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur. He served as Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Brazil), Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs from 1953 to 1954, Pri ...

as President. She was re-elected for the Congress by the

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party The Brazilian Democratic Movement (, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, with the most numbers of senators, ...

, but this time she was a member of the National Constituent Assembly. Mendes was also Secretary of Culture in the state of São Paulo between 15 March 1987 and 21 December 1988, and president of the Fundação de Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Arts Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro) in 1999.

Brilhante Ustra case

When exercising her second term as congresswoman, Mendes joined the entourage of President

José Sarney José Sarney de Araújo Costa (; born José Ribamar Ferreira de Araújo Costa; 24 April 1930) is a Brazilian politician, lawyer, and writer who served as the 31st president of Brazil from 1985 to 1990. He briefly served as the 20th vice presiden ...

on an official visit to

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

. On 17 August 1985, she discovered that among the officers of the Brazilian Embassy in Uruguay were Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, the man who tortured her in prison.

Filmography

Film

* 2006 - ''Brasília 18%'' * 2004 - ''Vestido de Noiva'' * 1981 - ''Eles Não Usam Black-tie'' * 1980 - ''Insônia'' * 1980 - ''J.S. Brown, o último herói'' * 1979 - ''Os Amantes da Chuva'' * 1974 - ''As Delícias da Vida'' * 1968 - ''Sandra Sandra''

Television

* 2024 - '' Garota do Momento'' as Arlete * 2017 - '' Tempo de Amar'' as Irmã Imaculada * 2013 - ''

Flor do Caribe ''Flor do Caribe'' (English: ''Caribbean Flower'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo originally ran from March 11 to September 19, 2013. Plot Cassiano ( Henri Castelli), an air force pilot, and Ester ( Grazi Massafera) ...

'' as Olívia Soares''Com Olívia, Bete Mendes quer transmitir a delicadeza da mulher nordestina''
/ref> * 2012 - '' Gabriela'' as Florzinha Reis * 2011 - '' Insensato Coração'' as Zuleica Alencar * 2009 - '' Caras e Bocas'' as Piedade Batista * 2008 - '' Faça Sua História'' as Iracema * 2008 - ''

Casos e Acasos Casos e Acasos is a series of Brazilian TV Globo Network, written by Daniel Adjafre and Marcius Melhem, the general direction of Carlos Milan core of Marcos Schechtman (until the 15th episode) and Jayme Monjardim (from the 16th episode). First a ...

'' as Hilda * 2007 - '' Sítio do Picapau Amarelo'' as Dona Benta * 2006 - '' Páginas da Vida'' as Sister Natércia * 2005 - '' América'' as Fátima * 2004 - '' Seus Olhos'' sa Edite * 2003 - '' A Casa das Sete Mulheres'' as Dona Ana Joaquina * 2000 - ''Aquarela do Brasil'' as Olga * 1999 - '' Terra Nostra'' as Ana Esplendore * 1998 - ''Brida'' as Diva * 1996 - ''

O Rei do Gado ''O Rei do Gado'' (English: ''King of Cattle'') is a Brazilian telenovela written by Benedito Ruy Barbosa and directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho that was produced and broadcast on Rede Globo, from 17 June 1996 to 15 February 1997, totaling 209 ...

'' as Donana * 1994 - ''

Pátria Minha ''Pátria Minha'' (English: ''My Homeland'') is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo TV Globo (stylized as tvglobo; , ), formerly known as Rede Globo de Televisão (; shortened to Rede Globo) or simply known as Globo, is ...

'' as Zuleica * 1994 - ''Memorial de Maria Moura'' as Maria Moura's mother * 1994 - '' Quatro por Quatro'' as Fatima * 1993 - ''

O Mapa da Mina ''O Mapa da Mina'' is a Brazilian telenovela produced and aired by TV Globo from March 29, 1993 to September 3, 1993, in 137 episodes. Written by Cassiano Gabus Mendes, with the collaboration of Maria Adelaide Amaral, Gugu Keller, Walkíria Por ...

'' as Carmem Rocha * 1992 - ''

Anos Rebeldes ''Anos Rebeldes'' (''Rebel Years'') was a popular telenovela which first aired on the Brazilian television Rede Globo on July 14, 1992. It was the first serial drama to highlight themes and stories of political violence and the repressed who wer ...

'' as Carmem Damaceno * 1990 - ''Lua Cheia de Amor'' as Emília * 1989 - ''

Tieta ''Tieta'' ( Portuguese: ''Tieta do Agreste'', lit. "''Tieta from Agreste''") is a novel written by the Brazilian author Jorge Amado, published on August 17, 1977. Set in the 1970s, it narrates the return of Tieta to the remote village of Santa ...

'' as Aída * 1985 - ''

O Tempo e o Vento ''O Tempo e o Vento'' (''Time and the Wind'') is a trilogy of novels written by the Brazilian author Erico Verissimo. Confusingly, the first part of the series, ''O Continente'', was translated as ''Time and the Wind'', giving the impression t ...

'' as Maria Valéria Terra * 1985 - ''De Quina pra Lua'' as Patrícia * 1981 - ''Floradas na Serra'' as Elza * 1980 - ''Dulcinéa Vai à Guerra'' as Jerusa * 1980 - ''Pé de Vento'' as Terezinha * 1978 - ''Sinal de Alerta'' as Vera * 1977 - ''Sinhazinha Flô'' as Flor * 1976 - '' O Casarão'' as Vânia * 1975 - ''Bravo!'' as Lia di Lorenzo * 1974 - ''O Rebu'' as Sílvia * 1973 - ''Divinas & Maravilhosas'' as Carolina * 1973 - ''A Volta de Beto Rockfeller'' as Renata * 1972 - ''A Revolta dos Anjos'' as Stela * 1972 - ''Na Idade do Lobo'' as Carina * 1971 - ''Nossa Filha Gabriela'' as Catarina * 1970 - ''O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima'' as Godóia * 1970 - ''Simplesmente Maria'' as Angélica * 1969 - ''Super Plá'' as Titina * 1968 - ''

'' as Renata * 1966 - ''Águias de Fogo''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mendes, Bete 1949 births Living people Actresses from Santos, São Paulo Brazilian film actresses Brazilian television actresses Brazilian torture victims Brazilian Democratic Movement politicians Workers' Party (Brazil) politicians Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from São Paulo Brazilian actor-politicians