Nívea Maria

• Name — Nívea Maria • Birth Name — Nívea Maria Cândido Graieb • Born — 7 March 1947 • Birthplace — São Paulo, Brazil • Children — 3 • Parents — Carlos Graieb (father) Maria de Lourdes Cândido Graieb (mother) • Relatives — Glauce Graieb (younger sister) • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1964–present

While working as a model, she was discovered by director Walter Avancini at age 17. Avancini helped Nívea land her first role in the soap opera in A Outra Face de Anita, aired by TV Excelsior of São Paulo in 1964. In more than forty years was uninterrupted presence on television. Participated in numerous successful soap operas, with important characters, such as Gabriela, A Moreninha (1975), Dona Xepa (1977), Maria, Maria (1978), Coração Alado (1980), the miniseries Anos Dourados (1986), Brega & Chique (1987), Meu Bem, Meu Mal (1990), Pedra sobre Pedra (1992), O Clone (2001), the miniseries A Casa das Sete Mulheres, Celebridade (2003), O Profeta (2006) and Caminho das Índias (2009). Recently, he made a very special involvement in the novel by Gilberto Braga, Insensato Coração (2011). In 2006, Nivea Maria participated in the reality show, Dança dos Famosos, the program Domingão do Faustão, and Rede Globo. Maria took over the role of Maude in the 2022 relaunch of the theatre play Ensina-me a Viver based on the 1971 American film Harold and Maude, replacing actress Glória Menezes. Menezes had previously led the lead role of Maude in the original debut of the play in 2007 and in a second edition in 2015. Both in the plays with Menezes as well as with Maria, the actor portraying Harold was Arlindo Lopes. She was cast in the soap opera Aquele Beijo. She also acted in the novel Salve Jorge Isaurinha, the family matriarch Alcântara Vieira.

She is the sister of actress Glauce Graieb. She was married to actor Edson França, with whom he had two children: Viviane and Edson, and divorced director of the nucleus of the Rede Globo soap operas, Herval Rossano (1976–2003) with whom she had daughter Vanessa (1980).

• Television • Year — Title — Role • 1964 — A Outra Face de Anita — Patrícia • Melodia Fatal — Miriam • A Moça que Veio de Longe • 1965 — A Indomável — Branca • O Preço de uma Vida — Tula de Linhares • 1969 — Sangue do Meu Sangue — Cíntia • A Cabana do Pai Tomás — Elisa • 1972 — | O Primeiro Amor — Helena • Uma Rosa com Amor — Terezinha • 1973 — O Semideus — Soninha • Noites Brancas • 1974 — Caso Especial • Corrida do Ouro — Wânia • 1975 — Gabriela — Jerusa Bastos • A Moreninha — Carolina • 1976 — O Feijão e o Sonho — Maria Rosa • Duas Vidas — Hebe • 1977 — Dona Xepa — Rosália • 1978 — Maria, Maria — Maria Alves / Maria Dusá • 1980 — Olhai os lírios do campo — Olívia Miranda • Coração Alado — Roberta Karany • 1981 — Terras do Sem-Fim — Donana • 1983 — El juego de la vida — Vanessa • 1984 — Livre para Voar — Bia • Padre Cícero — Adélia • 1986 — Anos Dourados — Beatriz • Caso Verdade • Mania de Querer — Vanessa • 1987 — Brega & Chique — Zilda • 1988 — Vida Nova — Gema • 1989 — República — D. Margarida Gusmão • 1990 — Gente Fina — Joana • Meu Bem, Meu Mal — Berenice Castro • 1992 — Pedra sobre Pedra — Ximena Vilares • 1993 — Sonho Meu — Elisa • 1994 — Você Decide — Madá • Tropicaliente — Soledad • 1995 — Malhação — Antônia • Explode Coração — Alícia • 1996 — Você Decide • A Vida Como Ela É • 1997 — A Justiceira — Augusta • 1998 — Você Decide • Mulher • A Comédia da Vida Privada — Diana • Você Decide — Lara • 1999 — Suave Veneno — Nana (Emiliana) • Vila Madalena — Adélia • 2000 — Terra Nostra — Gorgo Guitérrez • 2001 — O Clone — Edna Albieri • 2003 — A Casa das Sete Mulheres — D. Maria Gonçalves • Brava Gente — Herself • Os Normais — Herself • Celebridade — Corina Mello Diniz • 2005 — América — Mazé (Maria José Higino) • 2006 — Dança dos Famosos 3 — Herself (reality show of Domingão do Faustão) • O Profeta — Lia (Maria Luíza Ribeiro de Souza) • 2007 — Desejo Proibido — Dona Magnólia Cardoso Palhares • 2009 — Caminho das Índias — Kochi Meetha • 2010 — A Cura — Margarida Bevilláqua • O Relógio da Aventura — Inês • 2011 — Insensato Coração — Carmem Pereira • Aquele Beijo — Regina Collaboro • 2012 — Salve Jorge — Isaurinha (Isaura Alcântara Vieira) • 2015 — Além do Tempo — Zilda (1ª phase)/Zilda Ventura Santárem (2ª phase) • 2016 — Sol Nascente — Mirtes Calderon Texeira (Dona Mocinha) • 2017 — Segredos de Justiça — Ana Amélia • Tempo de Amar — Henriqueta Ramos • 2019 — A Dona do Pedaço — Evelina Sobral Ramirez • 2025 — Êta Mundo Melhor! — Margarida