Norma Aparecida Almeida Pinto Guimarães d'Áurea Bengell (21 February 1935 – 9 October 2013) was a Brazilian film, stage and television actress, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and director. She appeared in several episodes of T.H.E. Cat, the first being in 1966 episode “To Kill a Priest”.

Early life

Bengell was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Career

Bengell appeared in numerous international productions, including an extended period during the mid-1960s co-starring in Italian productions, in which she was usually cast as the protagonist's romantic interest. She is possibly best known for starring with Alberto Sordi in Alberto Lattuada's Mafioso (1962) and in Sergio Corbucci's The Hellbenders (1967). She had a major role as a prostitute in Anselmo Duarte's Keeper of Promises (1962), a Brazilian drama that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1963 and won the Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival in 1962. Earlier that same year, she caused major controversy after appearing nude in a scene of the Ruy Guerra film Os Cafajestes.

In 1987, she directed her first film, Eternamente Pagu, a biography of Patrícia Galvão. In 1996, she directed an adaptation of José de Alencar's novel The Guarani, also titled The Guarani.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1959O Homem do SputnikB.BPerforming a parody of Brigitte Bardot
1960ConceiçãoDalva
1961Mulheres e MilhõesNora Martins
1962MafiosoMarta
Keeper of Promises (Portuguese: O Pagador de Promessas)Marli
The Unscrupulous Ones (Portuguese: Os Cafajestes)Leda
Carnival of CrimeMilly
1963The Broken Hearts (Italian: I cuori infranti)MilenaSegment: "E vissero felici"
Il mitoAnnaSecond segment
La ballata dei maritiThe Countess
1964La costanza della ragioneIvana
Men and Women (Portuguese: Noite Vazia)Mara
1965Mar CorrenteThe Singer
Planet of the Vampires (Italian: Terrore nello spazio)Samya
The Reckless (Italian: Una bella grinta)Luciana
1966As CariocasPaula Ribeiro de CastroFirst story: "A grã-fina de Copacabana"
The Hellbenders (Italian: I crudeli)Claire
Captain from Toledo (Italian: L'uomo di Toledo)Myriam
1967A Espiã Que Entrou em Fria—N/a
1968Antes, o VerãoMaria Clara
DesesperatoRodrigo's wife
Edu, Coração de OuroMatildeCameo
Ballad of a Bounty Hunter (Italian: Io non perdono... uccido)Fedra/Wanda
Juventude e Ternura—N/a
1969O Anjo NasceuHousewife
OSS 117 Takes a VacationAnne
Verão de FogoOlga
1970The Palace of Angels (Portuguese: O Palácio dos Anjos)Dorothy
Of Gods and the Undead (Portuguese: Os Deuses e os Mortos)Soledade
1971A Casa AssassinadaNina
As Confissões de Frei AbóboraPaula
O Capitão Bandeira contra o Dr. Moura BrasilMessenger
Paixão na PraiaDébora
1972O Demiurgo—N/a
1973Défense de savoir—N/a
Les soleils de l'île de PâquesNorma
1975Assim Era a AtlântidaHerselfDocumentary
1976ParanoiaSílvia Riccelli
1977Maria Bonita—N/a
Barra Pesada—N/a
The DeepMadame Zero
1978Mar de RosasFelicidade
Na Boca do MundoClarisse
Mulheres de CinemaHerselfShort film
1980The Age of the Earth (Portuguese: A Idade da Terra)Amazonas Queen
1981Abrigo NuclearLix/Professor
Eros, o Deus do AmorAda
1982TabuMadame Xavier
Rio BabilôniaMadame Solange
Tensão no RioDona Dolores
1984O Filho AdotivoMaria Rosa
1986A Cor do Seu DestinoLaura
Fonte da SaudadeMother
1987Running Out of LuckLola
A Mulher Fatal Encontra o Homem IdealElegant actress
1988Eternamente PagúElsie Houston
Fronteiras—N/a
1992Floresta da TijucaNarratorShort film
1993Vagas para Moças de Fino TratoGertrudes
2002BanqueteBeggarShort film
2003Glauber, o filme – Labirinto do BrasilHerselfDocumentary
2007Anabazys
2009Dzi Croquettes

Director

YearTitle
1979Maria Gladys, uma atriz brasileira
1980Maria da Penha
O Barco de Iansã
1988Eternamente Pagu
1996O Guarani
2003Infinitivamente Guiomar Novaes
Antonietta Rudge: O Êxtase em Movimento
2004Magda Tagliaferro: O Mundo Dentro de um Piano

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1966Festival em Shell MaiorHerself / Host1966–1967
Noite de Gala
1967A Sombra de RebeccaDiana
1981Os ImigrantesNena
Os AdolescentesPaula
1982Memórias do MedoMona
1983Parabéns pra VocêMara
1984Partido AltoIrene Bessa
Betty Faria Especial—N/a
1989O Sexo dos AnjosVera Nogueira
1993Você Decide—N/aSeason 2 Episode: "O Porteiro"
—N/aSeason 2 Episode: "Paixão Mortal"
2006Alta EstaçãoYolanda
2008-09Toma Lá, Dá CáDeise CoturnoLead role (season 2–3; 48 episodes)

Death

Bengell died from lung cancer aged 78 in Rio de Janeiro on 9 October 2013.

External links