Selton Mello

Selton Figueiredo Mello, born on December 30, 1972, is a Brazilian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, editor, and musician. Beginning his career as a child performer, he initially built widespread fame across Brazil through television and film comedies. Over the decades, he has established himself as a versatile figure in Brazilian cinema and television, earning recognition both as an actor and behind the camera as a director.

Mello was born in Passos, Minas Gerais, to Selva, a housewife, and Dalton Melo, a banker. He comes from a family with Italian and Portuguese heritage, and his younger brother, Danton Mello, also pursued an acting career. Following his birth, his family relocated to São Paulo, where he resided until he was eleven years old. After being cast in a TV Globo soap opera during his youth in São Paulo, he moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro to pursue television acting opportunities.

Mello achieved national popularity through his performance in major comedic motion pictures, notably A Dog's Will in 2000 and Lisbela and the Prisoner in 2003. He took on diverse film roles throughout the 2000s, including playing André in To the Left of the Father in 2001 and portraying João da Ega in Os Maias, both directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho. His filmography also includes roles in notable releases such as Four Days in September, Drained, and My Name Ain't Johnny, solidifying his status as a major leading actor in Brazil.

Throughout his acting career, Mello has earned widespread recognition at numerous film events. His performance in To the Left of the Father garnered awards at international gatherings such as the Havana Film Festival, the Brasília International Film Festival, the Lleida Latin-American Film Festival, and the Lima Latin American Film Festival. He was honored with a Cinema Brazil Grand Prize for Lisbela and the Prisoner, while his performance in My Name Ain't Johnny earned top actor honors from both the Cinema Brazil Grand Prize and the Miami International Film Festival. Additionally, his work in Drained brought him best actor accolades at the Rio International Film Festival, the Punta Del Este International Film Festival, and the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Expanding his artistic range, Mello began directing music videos, television shows, and documentaries. He made his short film directorial debut in 2006 with When the Time Falls, which was selected for several competitive festivals. In 2008, he released his debut feature film as a director, December, which accumulated more than 20 awards across various domestic and international festivals, including honors in Paulínia, Los Angeles, and Lima.

In 2011, Mello co-directed and starred in the television series The Invisible Woman, which subsequently secured the International Emmy Award for Best TV Comedy in 2012. The following year, he directed Sessão de Terapia, an adaptation of an Israeli drama series. He also released his second feature film, The Clown, in October 2011, serving as its director, co-writer, co-editor, and lead actor. The film drew 1.5 million viewers, won over 40 awards—including 12 Cinema Brazil Grand Prizes—and was chosen as Brazil's official entry for the 85th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

In 2024, Mello gained international acclaim for portraying Rubens Paiva in Walter Salles' Academy Award-winning feature film I'm Still Here. His continuous contributions as both a performer and director have maintained his reputation as one of the key creative figures in contemporary Brazilian cinema and television.