Marina Ruy Barbosa

Marina Souza Ruy Barbosa is a Brazilian actress born on June 30, 1995, in Gávea, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is an only child and the great-great-great-granddaughter of the writer, jurist, and politician Ruy Barbosa. Barbosa began her career as a child actress, making her film debut as Mylla in Xuxa e o Tesouro da Cidade Perdida, a role that required her to take Swedish language classes. Shortly after, she landed her first major television role in the telenovela Começar de Novo, playing a mute character named Ana.

In 2005, Barbosa debuted in children's theater in Chapeuzinho Vermelho - O Musical. Her performance in Começar de Novo led to an invitation to audition for the telenovela Belíssima, where she was cast as Sabina. To prepare for the role, she took lessons in Greek language, culture, and dance, and spent a month filming in Greece. The success of the show established her profile in Brazil and resulted in an exclusive contract with Rede Globo. She subsequently played Isabel in Sete Pecados and participated in the dance competition Dança das Crianças.

In 2008, Barbosa expanded into adult drama with 7 - O Musical, performing as Clara. The following year, she co-hosted the television program TV Globinho and appeared in Tudo Novo de Novo. She later joined the cast of Escrito nas Estrelas as Vanessa, taking private ballet lessons to perform her scenes without a stunt double. During this period, Barbosa began gaining recognition as a style reference and it girl, appearing as the youngest actress on a special tenth-anniversary cover of Quem magazine in 2010.

Barbosa achieved further career growth in 2011 playing Alice in Morde & Assopra, followed by a role as a journalism intern in Amor Eterno Amor in 2012. In 2013, she portrayed Nicole, a young orphan suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma, in Amor à Vida. The character generated widespread public interest and critical attention. That same year, she was featured on the cover of Quem as one of Brazil's best-dressed women and was named among the world's sexiest women by VIP.

In 2014, Barbosa portrayed Maria Isis in the telenovela Império, a breakout adult role that earned her the Contigo Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. The role elevated her to protagonist status, and she was listed among the most influential Brazilians by Forbes Brazil and Época. Also in 2014, she was crowned queen of the traditional Carnaval ball at the Copacabana Palace. In 2015, she starred as Malvina in the miniseries Amorteamo and played Eliza de Assis Monteiro in Totalmente Demais.

Beyond acting, Barbosa became a highly sought-after figure in fashion and beauty advertising, ranking among the top celebrities appearing in Brazilian television commercials in 2015. She is also active in animal welfare, hosting stray cats for adoption, and supports philanthropic campaigns for organizations including the Brazilian Institute for Cancer Control, AMICCA, ABRALE, and the Ronald McDonald Institute. In preparation for her role in Império, she donated 30 centimeters of her hair to the NGO Cabelegria to make wigs for cancer patients.

Barbosa was previously in a three-year relationship with actor Klebber Toledo, which ended in August 2014. On October 7, 2017, she married Alexandre Sarnes Negrão; the couple announced their separation on January 12, 2021.