Brazilian actress Laura Cardoso passed away in the arms of her granddaughter surrounded by family, her daughter Fatima Balleroni has revealed.
Balleroni spoke about the television star's final moments during a special tribute broadcast on Sunday, August 23, on the TV Globo programme Fantastico.
Final moments surrounded by family
Speaking on the programme, Balleroni said that close family members were present with Cardoso at the moment of her death. She explained that the actress passed away in the arms of her granddaughter, Adriana Balleroni, who embraced and held her as she slipped away.
Balleroni said that while her mother's body ultimately yielded to age and time, Cardoso herself did not, remaining strong in spirit until the very last minute.
When asked what she would miss most about her mother, Balleroni said she would miss what a wonderful, decent human being and what a genuine person she had always been.
Farewell poem on national television
Cardoso's family also used the television broadcast to bid her farewell with a dedicated tribute poem. In the verses, they said that her hands did not point toward anything but nevertheless showed everything, revealing the once upon a time where they would be happy forever.
The family addressed Cardoso as a star, a bird, and a lighthouse, declaring that art is God and calling her his favourite angel. They added that one must celebrate being present, that everything she loved remained present, and closed by sending her a kiss.
Relatives and friends also gathered to pay their respects at a seventh day memorial mass, following a traditional religious service observed in Brazil after a bereavement.
A landmark career in Brazilian drama
Cardoso, who lived from 1927 to 2026, built one of the longest and most celebrated careers in Brazilian television drama. Telenovelas occupy a central role in Brazilian entertainment, and Cardoso became a household name across generations of viewers.
She was widely known for major roles in prominent telenovelas including Mulheres de Areia in 1993 and A Viagem in 1994, both produced and broadcast by TV Globo.
The veteran performer had been away from television screens since 2019, when she made her last acting appearance in the prime time telenovela A Dona do Pedaco.
Her artistic legacy continued to receive national recognition in her final years. In 2024, she was the subject of a dedicated documentary special within the TV Globo tribute series Tributo, reflecting on her extensive contributions to the dramatic arts.
Last year, Cardoso also received a tribute on the Walk of Fame at Estudios Globo, the network's production studios, attending the inauguration ceremony in person to mark the unveiling of the honour.
