Wagner Moura

Biography

Wagner Maniçoba de Moura is an acclaimed Brazilian actor, film director, musician, and journalist celebrated as one of Latin America's most commanding, charismatic, and internationally recognized dramatic talents. Born in Bahia, Moura began in theater and journalism before breaking into Brazilian cinema with landmark performances in Carandiru (2003) and Lower City (2005). He achieved legendary superstar status across Brazil and international film circuits portraying Captain Roberto Nascimento, the uncompromising tactical commander of the Rio de Janeiro military police shock troops, in José Padilha's blistering crime action blockbuster Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite, 2007) and its record-breaking sequel Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010). Moura achieved global fame and a Golden Globe nomination for his magnetic, chillingly authentic portrayal of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the first two seasons of Netflix's international hit series Narcos (2015–2016), learning fluent Spanish specifically for the role. In 2019, Moura made his directorial debut with the biographical political drama Marighella, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Starring in Hollywood productions like Elysium and Alex Garland's Civil War (2024), Moura commands global artistic reverence.