Zezé Motta

Origin

Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ

Also known as

Maria José Zezé Motta de Oliveira

Genres

mpb, samba, jazz

Instruments

voice

Biography

Zezé Motta was born in Campos dos Goytacazes and moved at a very young age to Rio de Janeiro, where she built a remarkable artistic trajectory as an actress and singer. She began her professional career in the late 1960s, joining the cast of prominent theatrical productions, such as the play Roda Viva, written by Chico Buarque. Her national prominence was consolidated in 1976 when she starred in the classic film Xica da Silva, directed by Cacá Diegues, a performance that earned her major awards in Brazilian cinema and established her name as one of the great exponents of Afro-Brazilian culture.

In parallel with her acting in theater, television, and film, Zezé developed a solid musical career starting in the 1970s, releasing several LPs and albums that highlighted her vocal power. She also participated in important collective musical projects on television, such as the historic special Mulher 80, which brought together great voices of MPB such as Elis Regina, Maria Bethânia, Gal Costa, and Rita Lee. Throughout her artistic trajectory, she combined her talent on stage and in the studio with strong political activism, joining the Unified Black Movement and acting actively against racism in society and in Brazilian television drama.