Francisca Xavier Queiroz de Jesus, known professionally as Chica
Xavier (January 22, 1932 â€" August 8, 2020), was a Brazilian actress
and producer. Xavier worked in theater, cinema, and television. She
was known primarily for her work on soap operas on TV Globo soap
operas, but was active in the theater for 60 years. Xavier was born in
Salvador, Bahia. She was married to actor Clementino Kelé.Chica
Xavier was born in Salvador and started working at 14 years of age as
a bookbinder at the Official Press of the State of Bahia. She moved to
Rio de Janeiro in 1953 and studied theater with Pascoal Carlos Magno.
Her theater debut was on September 25, 1956 at the Teatro Municipal.
Xavier acted in Orfeu da Conceição alongside Haroldo Costa, Léa
Garcia, Cyro Monteiro, Dirce Paiva and Clementino Kelé, among others.
Xavier played the role of Dama Negra, which symbolized Death; she
recited verses from VinÃcius de Moraes and danced to atabaques, or
Afro-Brazilian drumming.Xavier's film debut was in Assalto ao Trem
Pagador in 1962, directed by Roberto Farias. She then worked in
several Rede Globo productions. In 1973 Xavier debuted on TV in the
soap opera Os Ossos do Barão. She played more than 50 characters on
television, and was a cast member in Sinhá Moça, Dancin' Days,
Renascer, Pátria Minha, Cara & Coroa, Força de um Desejo and the
miniseries Tenda dos Milagres, where she played the mãe-de-santo
Magé Bassã.Xavier published Chica Xavier canta sua prosa: Cantigas,
louvações e rezas para os orixás in 1999. The book had a preface by
her friend Miguel Falabella, and was illustrated by her daughter
Izabela d'Oxóssi. She was the subject of a biography in 2013 by
Teresa Montero titled "Chica Xavier: Mãe do Brasil". Xavier was born
at a Candomblé terreiro, or temple. She was the leader of a
Candomblé religious community in Rio de Janeiro, the Cercado de
Boiadeiro.
Xavier (January 22, 1932 â€" August 8, 2020), was a Brazilian actress
and producer. Xavier worked in theater, cinema, and television. She
was known primarily for her work on soap operas on TV Globo soap
operas, but was active in the theater for 60 years. Xavier was born in
Salvador, Bahia. She was married to actor Clementino Kelé.Chica
Xavier was born in Salvador and started working at 14 years of age as
a bookbinder at the Official Press of the State of Bahia. She moved to
Rio de Janeiro in 1953 and studied theater with Pascoal Carlos Magno.
Her theater debut was on September 25, 1956 at the Teatro Municipal.
Xavier acted in Orfeu da Conceição alongside Haroldo Costa, Léa
Garcia, Cyro Monteiro, Dirce Paiva and Clementino Kelé, among others.
Xavier played the role of Dama Negra, which symbolized Death; she
recited verses from VinÃcius de Moraes and danced to atabaques, or
Afro-Brazilian drumming.Xavier's film debut was in Assalto ao Trem
Pagador in 1962, directed by Roberto Farias. She then worked in
several Rede Globo productions. In 1973 Xavier debuted on TV in the
soap opera Os Ossos do Barão. She played more than 50 characters on
television, and was a cast member in Sinhá Moça, Dancin' Days,
Renascer, Pátria Minha, Cara & Coroa, Força de um Desejo and the
miniseries Tenda dos Milagres, where she played the mãe-de-santo
Magé Bassã.Xavier published Chica Xavier canta sua prosa: Cantigas,
louvações e rezas para os orixás in 1999. The book had a preface by
her friend Miguel Falabella, and was illustrated by her daughter
Izabela d'Oxóssi. She was the subject of a biography in 2013 by
Teresa Montero titled "Chica Xavier: Mãe do Brasil". Xavier was born
at a Candomblé terreiro, or temple. She was the leader of a
Candomblé religious community in Rio de Janeiro, the Cercado de
Boiadeiro.
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