Jack of All Arts

Alessandra Maestrini

Alessandra Maestrini stands poised in a bright white suit and sheer rhinestone blouse, holding a white scarf over her shoulders against a pure white backdrop. Her expression is serious and upward-facing.
Alessandra Maestrini sits barefoot in light-washed jeans and a white button-up shirt, smiling warmly at the camera with her hand gently touching her face.
Alessandra Maestrini poses in a black coat with her hair tied up, gazing over her shoulder with a confident, serious expression against a light gray background.
Alessandra Maestrini smiles brightly in a light blouse, hair down, standing against a neutral gray background.
Alessandra Maestrini is mid-step in white trousers, a black coat, and sneakers, looking playful and smiling as she walks across a light-colored studio set.
Alessandra Maestrini stands against a warm-toned wall in a gray tank top and teal skirt, gazing directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Alessandra Maestrini poses with hands on hips in a gray tank top and teal skirt, smiling confidently in front of a warm-toned background.

Born: May 17, 1977
Birthplace: Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Profession: Actress, singer, writer, musician
Sexuality: Bisexual

Overview
Alessandra Maestrini is a Brazilian actress, singer, and performer whose career spans stage, television, film, and music. With a rich background in classical and contemporary performance, Maestrini rose to prominence for her comedic role as Bozena in the sitcom Toma Lá, Dá Cá and became widely recognized for her contributions to Brazilian musical theater. In 2014, she publicly came out as bisexual and has since used her voice to promote LGBTQ+ visibility, compassion, and identity acceptance in Brazilian media and society.

Early Life and Education
Alessandra was born in Sorocaba, São Paulo, to Emílio, an American, and Noêmia Maestrini, a Brazilian. From early childhood, she displayed a deep affinity for music, literature, drawing, acting, and directing. After moving to Rio de Janeiro, she took a summer theater course with actress Cláudia Jimenez and, at age 11, began studying at the renowned Tablado theater school.

She began formal vocal training at 15, later transitioning to opera studies under the tutelage of Vera do Canto e Mello. At 17, she received a scholarship to study theater and music at the University of Evansville in Indiana, USA. Upon returning to Brazil, she quickly immersed herself in professional performing arts, particularly musical theater.

Career

Theater

Alessandra Maestrini’s theatrical debut came in 1997 with As Malvadas, directed by Charles Möeller and Cláudio Botelho. Her rise in the Brazilian stage scene was swift and acclaimed, earning her critical recognition and award nominations. Notable stage roles include:

  • Maureen in Rent
  • Fantine in Les Misérables
  • Lúcia in Ópera do Malandro and its concert adaptation
  • Maria in O Casamento do Pequeno Burguês – Shell Award nominee for Best Actress (2004)
  • Amélia in 7 – O Musical – a role written specifically for her
  • Luz in Utopia
  • Lead in New York City – O Musical
  • Yentl in Yentl em Concerto – a multidisciplinary work she created, directed, and performed, blending theater, music, and cultural commentary. Inspired by Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story and the legacy of Barbra Streisand.
  • Sarah Leighton in O Som e a Sílaba, written and directed by Miguel Falabella
  • Brígida in Kafka e a Boneca Viajante (2023)

Her contributions to musical theater have earned her multiple nominations and solidified her as a standout interpreter in both classical and contemporary roles.

Television

Maestrini became a household name for her breakout comedic role as Bozena, the eccentric maid from Pato Branco, in the sitcom Toma Lá, Dá Cá (2007–2009). Known for her surreal monologues and thick regional accent, Bozena became a pop culture phenomenon, and Maestrini was named an honorary citizen of Pato Branco.

Other notable television appearances include:

  • Chiquinha Gonzaga (1999) – as Marli
  • A Diarista (guest appearance)
  • A Lua Me Disse – as Jamile Ferreira
  • Amazônia: De Galvez a Chico Mendes – as Soledad
  • Tempos Modernos – as Ditta, a singer
  • Correio Feminino (miniseries)
  • As Canalhas
  • Sexo e as Negas – as Gaudéria Brascia
  • Mister Brau (guest appearance)
  • Tempero Secreto – as Cecília, a former ad executive turned chef
  • A Cara do Pai – as Sílvia
  • Eu, a Vó e a Boi
  • Samantha! (Netflix) – as Carmen Vecino
  • O Som e a Sílaba (2024) – reprising her theatrical role as Sarah Leighton

Film

Maestrini has appeared in several films, showcasing her range from comedy to drama. Selected credits include:

  • Fica Comigo Esta Noite (2006) – as Sensitiva
  • O Labirinto (2007, short) – as Laura
  • Polaróides Urbanas (2007) – as Ismênia
  • Primeiro Ato (2009) – as Eduarda
  • A Primeira Missa ou Tristes Tropeços, Enganos e Urucum (2014) – as Sônia Duarte (Prêmio Qualidade Brasil nominee for Best Supporting Actress)
  • Duas de Mim (2017) – as Valentina
  • Ato (2020) – as Ava

Music

A classically trained soprano and accomplished jazz vocalist, Alessandra Maestrini merges theatricality with vocal precision. Her debut album:

  • Drama’n Jazz (2012, Som Livre) – featured genre-crossing interpretations from musical theater, bossa nova, and jazz.
  • Yentl em Concerto (2016) – captured the live musical/theatrical experience of her self-authored performance piece.

Other highlights:

In 2015, she was named Voice Ambassador of the Year by the Brazilian Society of Speech-Language Pathology

Recorded I Love You, the English-language version of Chico Buarque’s Eu Te Amo, featured on the telenovela Aquele Beijo

Her concert tours, including Drama’n Jazz and Yentl em Concerto, received nationwide acclaim

Personal Life and LGBTQ+ Advocacy
In 2014, Maestrini came out as bisexual in a deeply candid interview with Revista Caras. Her coming out was not framed by scandal or provocation, but by vulnerability and strength. She expressed emotional fatigue from concealing parts of her identity, declaring:

“I am not giving up my privacy. I am insisting on my identity.”

Her public statement resonated with many and marked her as a significant voice for queer Brazilians navigating similar struggles.

In 2015, she participated in the RuComingOut Summer event in London, supporting LGBTQ+ individuals facing bullying and harm. Maestrini has continued to speak publicly about the importance of living authentically and loving openly.

Legacy
Alessandra Maestrini is celebrated not just for her immense artistic versatility but for the heart and humanity she brings to her work and advocacy. As a bisexual woman in Brazil’s entertainment industry, she has broken barriers and carved out space for honest representations of queer identities.

Her body of work, ranging from jazz interpretations to Barbra Streisand tributes to comedic television roles, defies categorization. Whether commanding the stage as Fantine or making audiences laugh with Bozena’s tales of Pato Branco, she brings emotional intelligence and grace to everything she touches.

She remains one of the most dynamic figures in contemporary Brazilian performing arts and a beacon for LGBTQ+ visibility in Latin America.

Discography

  • Drama’n Jazz (2012)
  • Yentl em Concerto (2016)

Stage Highlights

  • As Malvadas
  • Rent
  • Les Misérables
  • Ópera do Malandro
  • 7 – O Musical
  • Yentl em Concerto
  • O Som e a Sílaba
  • Kafka e a Boneca Viajante

Notable Screen Roles

  • Toma Lá, Dá Cá (Bozena)
  • Amazônia (Soledad)
  • Tempos Modernos (Ditta)
  • Sexo e as Negas (Gaudéria Brascia)
  • Samantha! (Carmem Vecino)
  • O Som e a Sílaba (Sarah Leighton)
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