Sao Paulo night life 1950-1960: Berta Zemel, actress

Berta Zemel nee Bertha Zemelmacher was born in Bela Vista, an inner suburb of São Paulo on 6 August 1934.

As a child Berta spent most of the day with an Italian family nearby, because her parents worked. - 'With them I learned to face difficulties without ever rebelling'.

She was 38 years old when she got the title-role in 'Vitoria Bonelli', a nightly soap-opera broadcast by TV Tupi from 13 September 1972 through to 14 July 1973.

In 1976, Berta talked to a 'Melodias' journalist and told him a little about her earlier life. She was only child of Polish immigrants, Berta was born and raised in Bela Vista, where she lived most of her life having only recently moved.

Nathan, her father was born in 1904, now 72 years old, is a willing and well-preserved man. Her mother, Rosa, was born in 1903, now 73 years old, still waits up for Berta to come home even if it's 3:00 in the morning. - 'We have tea together. She always waits for me with an orange juice or a glass of milk'.

Berta is not married; she is married to her art. - 'It's been 7 years since I opened Teatro Móvel de São Paulo, in 1969, my own company, which travels around the state of São Paulo and the rest of the country, taking plays, mainly to schools. In addition to producing, directing and performing, I write and adapt texts. This takes up all my time, so if I had gotten married I would be sacrificing other people and children that would eventually come.

Berta Zemel has always been very shy, so much so that her parents did not object when she went to the School of Dramatic Arts because they were sure she would not make it.

- 'I have something in common with Berenice - the 1976 soap opera character portrayed by Ms Zemel in 'Os Apóstolos de Judas' ('Apostles of Judah') - I had even more economic problems than she did. When I was little, there were times when we barely had anything to eat. Another common point, perhaps, is shyness; which Berenice hides; the reason she usually gives up on things. To overcome shyness I've have to make a great effort.

Ms Zemel died on 25 February 2021.

Nathalia Timberg & Berta Zemel in 'Duas Cabeças', Grande Teatro Tupi, 1951.

Berta Zemel is congratulated by Leonardo Vilar for her Sacy in 1962.

Zemel in Dostoievsky's 'White nights' staged at TV Tupi.

'Melodias' column 'Gente de Teatro' of June 1964, brings a photo of Berta Zemel, Odavlas Petti (*1929 +24 July 1997) and Gustavo Pinheiro in Dostoievsky's 'White Nights' Noites brancas), produced by Teatro Popular do Sesi, translated and adapted by Ms Zemel herself. It opened on 28 February 1964, at Teatro Maria Della Costa. It ran for months on end. I must have seen it by the end of 1964. It was the first time I saw a real theatre play in my life.

'Vitoria Bonelli' ran from 13 September 1972 through to 14 July 1973.

Berta Zemel & director Geraldo Vietri at the set of TV Tupi's 'Vitória Bonelli', in 1972.

revista 'Amiga', 1973.

Ana Maria Dias (Verônica), Tony Ramos (Tiago) born Antonio , Carlos Alberto Riccelli (Mateus) born on 3rd July 1946; Flamíneo Fávero (Lucas) & Berta Zemmel (Vitoria Bonelli).

Monthly magazine 'Melodias' of January 1973, interviews Berta Zemmel who was on the top of her popularity playing a middle-aged woman called Vitória Bonelli, at TV Tupi's 6 days a week. Zemmel declares: 'Vitória says the things I like'.

Berta confesses she's a shy and simple woman who found in the character she portrays at the novela a little of her own Ego.

Miss Zemmel says she was born and raised at the inner suburb of Bela Vista. 'I graduated at Escola de Arte Dramática, a department of USP, class of 1955, which had its premisses at the top floor of Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia, on Rua Major Diogo, Bela Vista. My first professional job was in 'Hamlet' at Teatro Bela Vista, which was owned by Sergio Cardoso, in 1956.

Berta as Victoria Bonelli...

'Os Apóstolos de Judas' (Apostles of Judas) a telenovela shown by TV Tupi, was aired from 31st May 1976 to 27 November 1976, replacing 'Um dia, o Amor' and being replaced by 'Tchan, a Grande Sacada'. Written by Geraldo Vietri; directed by Geraldo Vietri and Duarte Gil Gouveia.