Iracema de Alencar
A pioneering Brazilian actress who began her career in the silent film era and became a beloved matriarch of the national stage.
1900–1978 (age 78)·Brazilian actress·Birthday: April 19·The Lost Generation
Biography
Iracema de Alencar's life was a journey through the formative decades of Brazilian performance. She stepped into the spotlight at the dawn of her country's cinema, taking the lead role in the 1917 silent film 'Iracema,' an adaptation of the classic novel. This early foray into moving pictures was followed by a deep and sustained commitment to the theatre, where she built her reputation over many years. De Alencar became a respected and familiar presence on stage, known for her grace and professional dedication. In a charming full-circle moment late in her career, she returned to the film sets of Brazil's burgeoning Cinema Novo movement, bringing the wisdom of a lifetime in the arts to new generations of filmmakers. She was regarded not as a distant star, but as a cherished and inspiring figure within the Brazilian artistic community.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Iracema was born in 1900, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Iracema Was Born
The biggest hits of 1900
Iracema's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1900Born
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1905Started school
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Became a teenager
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could drive
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could vote
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Turned 21
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1930Turned 30
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 40
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 50
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 60
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 70
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Died at 78
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
Key Achievements
- Starred in the title role of the 1917 silent film 'Iracema,' one of the early landmarks of Brazilian cinema.
- Enjoyed a long and successful career as a stage actress, becoming a mainstay of Brazilian theatre for decades.
- Returned to film in the 1960s and 70s, appearing in works by directors of the modern Brazilian film movement.
Did You Know?
Her stage name, Iracema de Alencar, pays homage to the heroine of José de Alencar's famous 1865 novel.
She was the sister of actor and director Armando de Alencar.
One of her later film roles was in 'São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima' (1965), a key film of Brazil's cinema novo.
“The film set is where we build Brazil's new stories.”
