Brazilian actress and singer Lua Blanco, best known for her role as Roberta Messi in the telenovela Rebelde Brasil, has died at the age of 39 following a battle with intestinal cancer. Her brother, Daniel Blanco, confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Sunday, October 18.
Family announcement
Alongside a picture of the star looking thoughtful while painting, the post read: "Dear friends and followers, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, Lua Maria Blanco. She had been battling cancer over the final months of her life, during which time she was surrounded by the love of family and friends who had been by her side throughout her life. She departed in peace, filled with love and with the absolute faith that she was going straight into the hands of God."
The message continued: "She will be with us forever, illuminating our lives with her strong, eternal light. We ask for respect for our grief and for some silence during this challenging time. Thank you for all your constant affection. The Blanco Family."
Career highlights
Lua Blanco was the granddaughter of Bossa Nova legend Billy Blanco and the daughter of singer and musician Billy Blanco Jr. She began performing as a child in a musical group with her parents and siblings.
Her acting career began in 2008, with her first stage role as Isolde in Romeu e Isolda. That same year, she appeared in the telenovela Three Sisters, playing surfer Bia. She also played rock musician Joe in the Globo telenovela Malhação and was one of the presenters for TV Globinho.
From 2011 to 2013, she found huge fame in Rebelde, playing Roberta in a show that followed young people at a prestigious boarding school, dealing with issues such as alcoholism, bullying, eating disorders, and family problems. Over two seasons, there were 410 episodes.
Musical success and tributes
She was also part of the spin-off band RebeldeS, which performed about 90 shows in Brazil over three years. Their album Rebeldes sold around 120,000 copies, earning platinum certification.
After the show and band ended, she continued to enjoy success as an actor and solo artist. Her final studio album Lua Blanco e a Órbita was released in 2023.
Tributes flooded in from fans. One wrote: "Lua made a whole generation happy, what a privilege it was to be able to say I'm her fan. What an overwhelming loss, may God receive her with open arms!! Brazil loves you forever Lua. Thank you for being part of my adolescence. The family, may you feel the size of our love for you, may God comfort you."
Another added: "What a great loss. A great talent and a very dear person! The Rebel world is in mourning, rest in peace, Lua." A third said: "...You have always been loved and always will be loved. You lit and will continue to light paths." A fourth shared: "Missed by your departure so soon and so sudden. It seems like it was yesterday, when I was still in my adolescence watching her acting in the soap opera Rebels."
