Fernanda Torres pulled off the Golden Globe‘s biggest surprise in an evening filled with unpredictable wins. The Brazilian actress won for best lead actress in a motion picture drama for the film “I’m Still Here,” beating stars like Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Tilda Swinton, and Pamela Anderson.
Torres was shocked when her name was called out, sharing a brief speech onstage while clarifying that she hadn’t prepared anything. “This is such an amazing year for female performances. So many actresses here that I admire so much,” she said, scanning her eyes through the room.
She referenced one of the most touching bits of trivia of the night. Her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, was the first Brazilian woman to be nominated for best actress at the 1999 Golden Globes for her work in the film “Central Station.” “And of course, I want to dedicate it to my mother. You have no idea. She was here 25 years ago,” Torres said.
“And this is proof that art can endure through life, even in difficult moments like this.”
© Getty ImagesMore details about ‘I’m Still Here’
“I’m Still Here” is a film directed by Walter Salles and is based on the life of Eunice Paiva, a woman whose husband was kidnapped and killed in Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. The story follows her through the years as she reckons with her husband’s disappearance.
It premiered at the Venice Film Festival where it received critical acclaim, taking home the award for Best Screenplay.
Torres’ mother, who’s 95, plays an older version of her character in the film. Due to her work in “Central Station,” which was also directed by Walter Salles, she became the first and only Brazilian woman to be nominated for an Oscar.
We’ll have to wait and see if her daughter follows in her footsteps this January 17th, when the Academy Award nominations are announced.