Lua Maria Blanco, star of Rebelde Brasil, dies at 40
The actress and singer, granddaughter of bossa nova musician Billy Blanco, died after a fight with colon cancer; her brother confirmed the news.
Brazilian actress and singer Lua Maria Blanco, known for her portrayal of Roberta in the teen series Rebelde Brasil, has died at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. Her passing was confirmed by her brother, Daniel Blanco.
Her brother posted an emotional tribute on social media, writing: "With great sadness we announce the death of our beloved sister Lua Maria Blanco. In recent months she fought cancer, and beside her were family and friends. She departed in peace, surrounded by love. She will be with us forever and will light up our lives," and expressed that the family is devastated by the loss.
Family roots and early steps
Blanco came from a prominent musical family: she was the granddaughter of bossa nova musician Billy Blanco and the daughter of singer Billy Blanco Junior. She began performing as a child, singing with a family ensemble before moving into television and solo music.
Her biggest breakthrough came with the role of the rebellious Roberta Messi in the hit series Rebelde Brasil, which was filmed between 2011 and 2013. The show ran for 410 episodes and spawned the music group RebeldeS, in which Blanco performed. The group played more than 90 concerts and sold over 120,000 albums worldwide.
After Rebelde Brasil ended, Blanco continued both her acting and solo music career. Her most recent studio album was released in 2023. Fans across the globe have taken to social media to offer condolences to her family following this early and much-felt loss.
Photo: press material from the event
