Lori interviews Wagner Moura, winner of the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes for his performance in ‘The Secret Agent.’
Wagner Moura (2026)
SIDEWALKS host Lori Rosales talks to Brazilian actor Wagner Moura about his award-winning film, “The Secret Agent.” He discusses the movie, working with the director Kleber Mendonça Filho, and how he heard he was nominated for an award.
PLEASE NOTE: This online version of the interview is slightly different than how it appeared on the TV episode with host segments rearranged.
Mini-Biography:
Born on June 27, 1976, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Wagner Moura plays Armando Solimões (alias Marcelo) in “The Secret Agent” (“O Agente Secreto”), portraying a former university professor forced into hiding during the peak of the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1977. After beginning his career in theater and earning a journalism degree, Moura rose to prominence in Brazil with his breakout role as Captain Roberto Nascimento in the “Elite Squad” franchise (2007–2010). While he held a supporting role in the American science fiction film “Elysium” (2013), his transition to international fame was solidified by his Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series “Narcos” (2015–2016) and his chilling voice work as Death in “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022). More recently, he earned critical acclaim for his performances in the film “Civil War” (2024) and the miniseries “Dope Thief” (2025). Moura’s diverse filmography also includes roles such as Juan Pablo Roque in “Wasp Network,” journalist Dan Velásquez in the Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls,” Laszlo Sosa in “The Gray Man,” and a recurring role as a “John Smith” agent in the Prime Video series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Moura made history in 2025 by becoming the first South American actor to win Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for “The Secret Agent,” followed by becoming the first Latin American actor to win the NYFCC Award for Best Actor and a Golden Globe in early 2026. Beyond acting, Moura is an accomplished filmmaker who made his directorial debut with the 2019 biographical drama “Marighella.”
“The Secret Agent”: Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. He arrives in Recife during carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son but soon realizes that the city is far from being the non-violent refuge he seeks.
- Official Film Pages: MK2 Films – The Secret Agent and Neon
- Brazilian Official Site: O Agente Secreto (Dedicated to the Brazilian theatrical release via Vitrine Filmes).
Interview Credits:
- Recorded: February 6, 2026
- Host / Producer: Lori Rosales
- Editor: Richard R. Lee
- Special Thanks To: Neon