Lelita Rosa, stage name of Maria Rosa Maccari ( São Paulo, September 19, 1908 - São Paulo, May 4, 1980) was an important Brazilian actress of the 1920s and 1930s, standing out for her performances in films directed by Humberto Mauro and Adhemar Gonzaga. Her career began in 1924 as a model. In 1925 she made her film debut with the movie Flor do Sertão. The following year she acted in the controversial Vício e Beleza, a film that addressed taboo subjects for the time, such as recreational drug use. At the invitation of Humberto Mauro, she participated in Brasa Dormida in 1928, alongside Nita Ney. She would also work with director Humberto Mauro in 1930, in the film Lábios sem Beijos, establishing her as one of the great actresses of early Brazilian cinema. She participated in Barro Humano, in 1929, by Adhemar Gonzaga. After recording the film Alô Alô Carnaval, in 1936, she withdrew from her artistic career. She died in the city of São Paulo on May 4, 1980.
