Luma de Oliveira
Encyclopedia
Luma de Oliveira is a former model, actress and Brazilian carnival queen
. She was Madrinha da Bateria (Godmother of the Percussion, "Queen of the Drums") for a number of samba school
s up until 2005, before returning to the role for the famous Portela
school in 2009.
.
Oliveira's mother, Maria Luiza, was of Amerindian
descent and her father, Luis, was of German
descent and worked for Leopoldina Railroad company. One of Oliveira's ancestors was Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff, Baron de Langsdorff. She is the youngest of six children; her oldest sister is popular actress Ísis de Oliveira, and her brother, Mem de Oliveira, wrote poetry.
Her name was created using the first two letters of her parent's names: LUis and MAria.
She attended the Institute Gay-Lussac and played handball and volleyball, but her passion was cycling and running on the beach.
and her brother Mem became her guardian, agent and manager. She worked in Japan, France and Germany, but her biggest success was in Brazil.
Luma de Oliveira promoted the Clarity line of cosmetics, marketed through FLX Consultancy and Franchising.
She also appeared in commercials for Havaianas flip-flops and Danone yogurt
,
and on the cover of numerous Brazilian magazines: Fitness, Guys, Headline, Look, and Who's That Guy.
She caught the attention of Brazilian Playboy
in 1984 as the younger sister of television actress Isis de Oliveira, who was herself featured on the magazine's cover in 1983 and 1991.
Luma was the covergirl in 1987, 1988, 1990, 2001 and 2005; she was named Miss Playboy International in 1999.
Her five cover appearances, including her most recent at age 40, are the most of any person in the magazine's history and those issues generated record magazine sales. The January 2005 issue commemorated the magazine's 50th anniversary.
Oliveira appeared on the cover of VIP, a popular Brazilian men's magazine, in January 2000. In their annual reader poll, she was included in their list of the world's 100 sexiest women for the years 1998 through 2003, and 2006. Her highest ranking was in 2001, when she placed eighth.
During the late 1980s, she turned down roles in four successful Brazilian soap operas, including Top Model, Eye for an Eye, Japan Kananga and Pantanal. In 2007, she declined an invitation to star in a Brazilian version of Desperate Housewives
because it would be filmed in Argentina, and require too much time away from her children.
She refused to do a remake of the popular Nelson Rodrigues
work, Lady on the Bus
, originally starring Sônia Braga
in 1978. Oliveira claimed the "R" rated film would embarrass her adolescent children.
in 1990, and he invited her to accompany him to an Offshore powerboat racing
event in which he was competing. They continued to see each other and she was pregnant when they eloped on January 31, 1991. However, he was engaged to marry Brazilian socialite Patricia Leal in a civil ceremony one week later, and had already completed the religious ceremony. Oliveira was unaware of the situation and stated, "I just knew he had a girlfriend, but not suspected who it was."
Ironically, Leal eventually married Antenor Mayrink Veiga, a prior boyfriend of Oliveira.
She stopped modelling but continued parading during Carnival and created a controversy in 1998 when she wore a collar with the name of her husband. Feminists claimed she was supporting the attitude that women should be submissive. Oliveira countered that submissive women do not parade in competitive samba.
During Carnaval the following year, she wore a pair of handcuffs draped around her neck to make fun of the controversy the previous year.
The marriage produced two male children: Thor Batista de Oliveira was born August 1, 1991, and Olin Batista de Oliveira was born in December, 1995. Oliveira recovered her figure after her pregnancies and wanted to resume her career in 1999 by again posing for Playboy. Her brother revealed that Batista convinced his wife to change her mind and he compensated Playboy for Oliveira's breach of contract. Two years later, Oliveira posed for and appeared on Playboy's cover in May, 2001. Batista still opposed his wife's decision and the tabloids covered the story, but Luma began working again. She was photographed for Angels of Brazil, a calendar sponsored by Rio de Janeiro's Fire Department, and several men's magazines.
Oliveira was with her husband on stage at the dedication of Termoceará, a power plant in Fortaleza
on May 1, 2002. During the ceremony, she was noticed 'displaying her assets' while adjusting her nylons. Batista was annoyed, but many in the audience were delighted. The facility was subsequently nicknamed, TermoLuma.
In January 2004, Oliveira stated that she was pregnant and would not dance during Carnival. A few weeks later, her lawyer announced that the couple was separating, and the divorce was final on March 22, 2004. Oliveira received no spousal support, but an undisclosed property settlement, rumored to be $250 million. When asked, she commented that her husband had always been generous.
Batista agreed to pay $20,000 per month in child support and he purchased a home for his children next door to his own which Oliveira could occupy for two years. Batista often dropped by for morning coffee and quality time with their sons. Oliveira insisted that she and her former spouse have remained good friends.
Oliveira sued The Independent
after the newspaper published a photograph of her to illustrate an article that exposed German politicians and Volkswagen
employees consorting with prostitutes at Carnaval. The paper published a retraction two days later on page 28, which stated:
Brazilian Carnival
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
. She was Madrinha da Bateria (Godmother of the Percussion, "Queen of the Drums") for a number of samba school
Samba school
A samba school is a club or dancing school. They practice and often perform in huge square-compounds devoted to practicing and exhibiting samba, an African-Brazilian dance. The schools are traditionally associated with a particular neighborhood, often shanty towns...
s up until 2005, before returning to the role for the famous Portela
GRES Portela
The Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Portela is one of the most traditional samba schools of the city of Rio de Janeiro.- History :In the beginning of the 20th century, in Oswaldo Cruz, there was the carnivalesque group of dancers called Quem Fala de Nós Come Mosca , of Dona Ester...
school in 2009.
Early life
Luma was born in the hospital of Cantagalo, in the Brazilian state of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
Oliveira's mother, Maria Luiza, was of Amerindian
Indigenous peoples in Brazil
The Indigenous peoples in Brazil comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the country prior to the European invasion around 1500...
descent and her father, Luis, was of German
German Brazilian
A German Brazilian is a Brazilian person of ethnic German ancestry or origin...
descent and worked for Leopoldina Railroad company. One of Oliveira's ancestors was Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff, Baron de Langsdorff. She is the youngest of six children; her oldest sister is popular actress Ísis de Oliveira, and her brother, Mem de Oliveira, wrote poetry.
Her name was created using the first two letters of her parent's names: LUis and MAria.
She attended the Institute Gay-Lussac and played handball and volleyball, but her passion was cycling and running on the beach.
Modeling
Oliveira began modeling at age 16, after the death of her father in 1980. She moved to NiteróiNiterói
Niterói is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants and an area of ², being the sixth most populous city in the state and the highest Human Development Index. Integrates the Metropolitan Region of Rio de...
and her brother Mem became her guardian, agent and manager. She worked in Japan, France and Germany, but her biggest success was in Brazil.
Luma de Oliveira promoted the Clarity line of cosmetics, marketed through FLX Consultancy and Franchising.
She also appeared in commercials for Havaianas flip-flops and Danone yogurt
Groupe Danone
Groupe Danone is a French food-products multinational corporation based in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It claims world leadership in fresh dairy products, marketed under the corporate name, and also in bottled water...
,
and on the cover of numerous Brazilian magazines: Fitness, Guys, Headline, Look, and Who's That Guy.
She caught the attention of Brazilian Playboy
Playboy magazine (Brazilian issue)
The Brazilian issue of Playboy is a local franchise of Playboy magazine published in Brazil. The original edition of the magazine was created by Hugh Hefner in the 1950s in the United States.-History:...
in 1984 as the younger sister of television actress Isis de Oliveira, who was herself featured on the magazine's cover in 1983 and 1991.
Luma was the covergirl in 1987, 1988, 1990, 2001 and 2005; she was named Miss Playboy International in 1999.
Her five cover appearances, including her most recent at age 40, are the most of any person in the magazine's history and those issues generated record magazine sales. The January 2005 issue commemorated the magazine's 50th anniversary.
Oliveira appeared on the cover of VIP, a popular Brazilian men's magazine, in January 2000. In their annual reader poll, she was included in their list of the world's 100 sexiest women for the years 1998 through 2003, and 2006. Her highest ranking was in 2001, when she placed eighth.
Television
She appeared on three television shows:- 1986 "Hypertension" (Mark's girlfriend)
- 1987 "The Other" (Dede)
- 1990 "My Good, My Evil" (Ana Maria)
During the late 1980s, she turned down roles in four successful Brazilian soap operas, including Top Model, Eye for an Eye, Japan Kananga and Pantanal. In 2007, she declined an invitation to star in a Brazilian version of Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
because it would be filmed in Argentina, and require too much time away from her children.
Movies
Her acting career included five films:- 1988 "The Heroes Trapalhões - A Jungle Adventure" (Maya)
- 1989 "Loneliness, a Beautiful Love Story"
- 1990 "Golden mouth" (Heavenly)
- 1994 "Boca" (Heavenly)
- 1997 "The Sound of Music" (Tereza)
She refused to do a remake of the popular Nelson Rodrigues
Nélson Rodrigues
Nelson Falcão Rodrigues was a Brazilian playwright, journalist and novelist. In 1943, he helped usher in a new era in Brazilian theater with his play Vestido de Noiva , considered revolutionary for the complex exploration of its characters' psychology and its use of colloquial dialog...
work, Lady on the Bus
Lady on the Bus
Lady on the Bus is a 1978 Brazilian erotic drama film directed by Neville De Almeida.-Plot:...
, originally starring Sônia Braga
Sônia Braga
Sônia Maria Campos Braga is a Brazilian actress. She has been nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.-Early life:...
in 1978. Oliveira claimed the "R" rated film would embarrass her adolescent children.
Marriage
Oliveira met Brazilian businessman Eike BatistaEike Batista
Eike Fuhrken Batista , is a Brazilian entrepreneur and president of the EBX Group , which includes five companies that trade on the BOVESPA´s Novo Mercado, a special segment of the São Paulo stock market where enterprises with the highest standards of corporate governance are listed...
in 1990, and he invited her to accompany him to an Offshore powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, specially designed ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.Probably one of the largest, most dangerous, and most powerful racing machines of all, the extreme expense of the boats and the fuel required to participate make it an expensive...
event in which he was competing. They continued to see each other and she was pregnant when they eloped on January 31, 1991. However, he was engaged to marry Brazilian socialite Patricia Leal in a civil ceremony one week later, and had already completed the religious ceremony. Oliveira was unaware of the situation and stated, "I just knew he had a girlfriend, but not suspected who it was."
Ironically, Leal eventually married Antenor Mayrink Veiga, a prior boyfriend of Oliveira.
She stopped modelling but continued parading during Carnival and created a controversy in 1998 when she wore a collar with the name of her husband. Feminists claimed she was supporting the attitude that women should be submissive. Oliveira countered that submissive women do not parade in competitive samba.
During Carnaval the following year, she wore a pair of handcuffs draped around her neck to make fun of the controversy the previous year.
The marriage produced two male children: Thor Batista de Oliveira was born August 1, 1991, and Olin Batista de Oliveira was born in December, 1995. Oliveira recovered her figure after her pregnancies and wanted to resume her career in 1999 by again posing for Playboy. Her brother revealed that Batista convinced his wife to change her mind and he compensated Playboy for Oliveira's breach of contract. Two years later, Oliveira posed for and appeared on Playboy's cover in May, 2001. Batista still opposed his wife's decision and the tabloids covered the story, but Luma began working again. She was photographed for Angels of Brazil, a calendar sponsored by Rio de Janeiro's Fire Department, and several men's magazines.
Oliveira was with her husband on stage at the dedication of Termoceará, a power plant in Fortaleza
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
on May 1, 2002. During the ceremony, she was noticed 'displaying her assets' while adjusting her nylons. Batista was annoyed, but many in the audience were delighted. The facility was subsequently nicknamed, TermoLuma.
In January 2004, Oliveira stated that she was pregnant and would not dance during Carnival. A few weeks later, her lawyer announced that the couple was separating, and the divorce was final on March 22, 2004. Oliveira received no spousal support, but an undisclosed property settlement, rumored to be $250 million. When asked, she commented that her husband had always been generous.
Batista agreed to pay $20,000 per month in child support and he purchased a home for his children next door to his own which Oliveira could occupy for two years. Batista often dropped by for morning coffee and quality time with their sons. Oliveira insisted that she and her former spouse have remained good friends.
Unattached
Two months after her divorce became final, Oliveira's mother Maria suffered a heart attack and died.Oliveira sued The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
after the newspaper published a photograph of her to illustrate an article that exposed German politicians and Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
employees consorting with prostitutes at Carnaval. The paper published a retraction two days later on page 28, which stated:
"In an article published Thursday on the VW case was illustrated with a picture of a samba dancer. The picture, in fact, is the Brazilian actress and model Luma de Oliveira. We had not intended to suggest that Ms. Oliveira is linked in any way with the case and VW are sorry for any misunderstanding."