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Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha (Carmen Miranda) biography
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[h3]The name that instantly conjures up outlandish fruit-festooned headgear, Carmen the "Brazilian Bombshell" epitomized the spirit, vitality and essence of Latin culture.[/h3]

Born in Portugal, her devoutly Catholic parents moved to Brazil when she was an infant. Her convent education necessitated that she keep her entertainment business dreams well hidden, and she began as a department store clerk, entertaining her co-workers.

A weekly radio slot led to her receiving her forst recording contract with RCA in 1928. By the early 1930s she made her film debut in the Brazilian film, 'A Voz do Carnaval'. Maintaining both her acting and recording careers in Brazil, she had recorded over 300 singles by 1939.

Brought to New York by Lee Schubert, who was bowled over by her larger than life stage persona. Hollywood soon beckoned. Signed by Twentieth Century Fox, 'Down Argentine Way', with [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/291:0/Betty_Grable.htm]Betty Grable[/urlnew], was followed by six other films. This period was to prove the zenith of her film career, where her Latin spirit, boundless energy and outlandish costumes captured the imagination of the world.

She became ill in 1943, which resulted in emergency surgery for a stomach ailment. A period of depression, mental exhaustion, and reliance on medication followed which altered her for the rest of her life.

By the time she signed a film contract with Universal in 1947 and appeared in their film 'Copacabana' with Groucho Marx, her star was on the wane.

Hollywood became less interested in her character, so she returned to the nightclub scene again, making appearances at El Rancho in Las Vegas and the London Palladium in 1948. Her final film was 'Scared Stiff', with Jerry Lewis, in 1953.

Her health declined further and, returning to Brazil in 1954, solitary confinement was ordered by her doctor, following a fainting spell at the airport. In April 1955, she returned to Hollywood feeling healthy, looking better than she had in years and willing to go back to the stage.

On 4th August, while recording a strenuous dance number for the Jimmy Durante Show, Carmen collapsed in the final sequence and said, "I'm all out of breath." She later joined friends and family members at home for a party, where she seemed in high spirits and, despite her delicate health, danced and sang. Retiring to bed early, she collapsed and died at two thirty in the morning.

Services were held in California before her body was shipped to Rio for final burial. Nearly one million people lined the streets to bid her a last farewell. Her costumes were donated to Brazil for a "Carmen Miranda Museum."
Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha (Carmen Miranda) biography



- She was nicknamed Carmen after the Bizet Opera.

- She paid more income tax in 1946 than any other actress.

Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha (Carmen Miranda) biography



Scared Stiff (1953) ... Carmelita Castinha

Nancy Goes to Rio (1950) ... Marina Rodrigues

Date with Judy, A (1948) ... Rosita Cochellas

Copacabana (1947) ... Carmen Novarro/Mlle. Fifi

If I'm Lucky (1946) ... Michelle O'Toole

Doll Face (1945) ... Chita

Greenwich Village (1944) ... Princess Querida

Something for the Boys (1944) ... Chiquita Hart

Gang's All Here, The (1943) ... Dorita

Springtime in the Rockies (1942) ... Rosita Murphy

Week-End in Havana (1941) ... Rosita Rivas

That Night in Rio (1941) ... Carmen

Laranja-da-China (1940)

Banana-da-Terra (1939)

Alô Alô Carnaval (1936)

Estudantes (1935) ... Mimi

Alô, Alô, Brasil (1935)

Voz do Carnaval, A (1933)
Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha (Carmen Miranda) biography




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