Wagner Moura

Biography

Wagner Maniçoba de Moura (born 27 June 1976) is a Brazilian stage and screen actor, voice actor, and filmmaker. His accolades include the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Secret Agent (2025), as well as a Golden Globe nomination for portraying Pablo Escobar in Narcos, and an Annie Award nomination for his voice performance as Death in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). Widely renowned in Brazil for his performances in popular films and TV shows, he is also one of the most reputable Brazilian actors internationally. He has starred in multiple feature films in Brazil and Hollywood, including Brazilian box office hits like Elite Squad, which won the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlin Internacional Film Festival. Elite Squad overseas success boosted Moura’s international recognition. Besides being a well-established and acclaimed actor in Brazil, Moura has achieved international success as a part of the movement that seeks positive representation for South Americans in Hollywood. In 2013 he debuted in Hollywood in the science fiction feature film Elysium, directed by Neill Blomkamp. In 2024, Moura starred alongside Kirsten Dunst in Civil War, directed by Alex Garland, marking his first leading role in a major Hollywood film. For his performance in The Secret Agent (2025), Moura became the first South American actor to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor.