Famous Portuguese Women

Portuguese-American actress, Daniela Rua,h is best known for her role in the TV series, NCIS: Los Angeles. She began acting as a teenager and went on to study performing arts at the London Metropolitan University. She then trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before commencing her professional career. She works in both Portuguese and American films.

Carmen Miranda was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba dancer, singer, film star, and Broadway actress. Nicknamed The Brazilian Bombshell, Miranda is credited with popularizing the fruit hat outfit in the USA. Her performances also popularized Brazilian music and helped increase awareness of Latin culture. Her life and career inspired a documentary titled Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business.

Sara Sampaio is a Portuguese actress and model renowned for her work as a Victoria's Secret Angel. One of the most popular Portuguese models of her generation, Sampaio has been honored with Portuguese Golden Globes under the Best Female Model category on several occasions. In 2014, she became the first Portuguese model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. 

Sara Carbonero is a Spanish-Portuguese TV personality and sports journalist. She is best known for her association with the popular free-to-air TV channel Telecinco, where she worked as a presenter. Carbonero made headlines in 2010 when she covered the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the match between Switzerland and Spain that featured her then-boyfriend Iker Casillas whom she later married. 

Maria II of Portugal was the Queen of Portugal from 2 May 1826 to 23 June 1828. She reigned as the queen once again from 1834 until her death in 1853 at the age of 34 due to complications during her 11th delivery.

Portuguese singer Katia Aveiro, best known for songs such as Latina de cuerpo y alma, is also the sister of football star Cristiano Ronaldo. She has appeared on reality shows such as Supervivientes. She made headlines when, after Ronaldo’s COVID-19 diagnosis, she called the whole thing a fraud.

Maria Ramos is a Portuguese-born South African banker, corporate executive, and businesswoman. Since 2020, she has been serving as the chairperson of a global gold mining company called AngloGold Ashanti Limited. Her contributions have earned her several prestigious awards. Maria Ramos has also been featured on Fortune magazine’s 50 most powerful women list.

Born the Archduchess of Austria, Maria Leopoldina was a great painter and also grew up studying subjects such as botany and mineralogy. By virtue of her marriage to Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal, she became the queen of Portugal and the empress of Brazil.

Maria Pia of Savoy was an Italian princess who became the Queen of Portugal after marrying King Luís I of Portugal in 1862. She was the third queen to represent the House of Savoy. Maria Pia is best remembered for her compassion and charitable works. She was often referred to as the mother of the poor and angel of charity.

Ticha Penicheiro is a Portuguese former basketball player who played as a point guard. She represented the Sacramento Monarchs for most of her career and helped the team win the WNBA Championship title in 2005. Penicheiro is counted among the greatest point guards of all time. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen was a Portuguese writer and poet whose remains have been entombed since 2014 in the National Pantheon. Her poetry has been translated into many world languages, including English. Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen's life and career inspired a 1969 documentary short film, which was director João César Monteiro's first completed film.