© Shutterstock/TvGlobo/Márcio de Souza

The meme -

The confused math lady meme emerged in 2013, according to Know Your Meme, and has since become ubiquitous. Simply an image of a blonde woman looking confused with math equations overlaid, people used the meme to joke about not understanding something. But, for the most part, only Brazilians recognized the blonde as actress Renata Sorrah.

© TvGlobo/Márcio de Souza

"Nazaré confusa" -

The meme actually uses stills from the very popular Brazilian soap opera 'Senhora do Destino,' translated in English as ‘Her Own Destiny.’ In Brazil, the meme is called “Nazaré confusa” because Sorrah’s character is the villainous Nazaré Tedesco—who is lauded as one of the most famous villains in the history of Brazilian telenovelas.

© TvGlobo/João Miguel Júnior

'Senhora do Destino' (2004-2005) -

The scene from which the stills are taken occurs when Nazaré is in jail, which is causing her intense visible stress, reinterpreted by the internet as confusion. The show tells the story of a poor mother of five whose baby daughter is kidnapped and her fight to get her back.

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Based on a true story -

The soap opera was a major success in Brazil and sold to 36 countries, perhaps because it was based on a true story about a woman in Brasília who posed as a nurse and stole a newborn from a hospital to raise him as her son. When the boy was 16, the woman’s late husband’s granddaughter found out the truth, and the boy was returned to his real parents, while the woman went to jail, according to UOL.

© TvGlobo/Zé Paulo Cardeal

So, who is Renata Sorrah? -

Her full name is Renata Leonardo Pereira Sochaczewski. She’s half Polish, and she was born on February 21, 1947, in Rio de Janeiro.

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Early experience in the US -

Sorrah spent some of her formative years in the US, as in 1964, at around 17 years old, she reportedly went on a cultural exchange program to Los Angeles where she took drama classes and finished her studies. She returned to Brazil a few years later and began acting in the theater group Asdrúbal Trouxe o Trombone.

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She wanted to study psychology -

Sorrah reportedly started to study psychology but abandoned her studies to begin studying dramatic arts. Her interest in psychology would have surely paid off in acting anyway!

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An early career in telenovelas -

Sorrah starred in TV Globo’s 'Roda de Fogo' (1986-1987), a telenovela based on 'King Lear,' which ran for one season but had a total of 179 episodes. She played Carolina D’Avila, the daughter of wealthy landowners and the wife of the similarly wealthy Renato Villar (Tarcisio Meira), though their marriage is somewhat loveless.

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Family life -

A true superstar, Sorrah was married three times. First to fellow actor Carlos Vereza in 1969, though it only lasted two years. Next was director Marcos Paulo in 1981, and though it only lasted three years, they did have a daughter together. Finally she married writer Euclydes Marinho in 1986, but they divorced in 1991.

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'Vale Tudo' (1988-89) -

Sorrah continued her telenovela streak with the complex alcoholic Heleninha Roitman in ‘Vale Tudo’ (‘Anything Goes’), where it’s likely she took notes from top TV villain Beatriz Segall (pictured).

© TvGlobo/Bazilio Calazans

One of Brazil's brightest stars -

While her meme may precede her reputation internationally, within Brazil she will remain best known for her countless episodes of dramatic TV, playing numerous characters in some of the most beloved telenovelas in the country.

© TvGlobo/Willian Andrade

Stage actress -

Not only talented on screen, Sorrah's acting chops have also taken the form of theater, including her acclaimed role as Aída in ‘A Mãe’ ('The Mom').

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Stage actress -

She has worked in at least 19 theater plays, including 'As três irmãs' ('The Three Sisters'), 'Mary Stuart', 'Grande e Pequeno' ('Big and Small'), 'Shirley Valentine,' and 'A festa de aniversário' ('The Birthday Party').

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An actress and producer -

Though she's best known to the public for her work on TV Globo's telenovelas, where she has portrayed complex female characters, she has worked in the national theater for over 40 years and even produces plays.

© TvGlobo/Estevem Avellar 

'Filhas de Eva' -

In 2021, Sorrah began starring as Stella in this comedy-drama streaming series about three women struggling with societal standards that challenge their happiness. Stella realizes during her 50th wedding anniversary that she regrets giving up her dreams for marriage and motherhood. It's yet another complex female narrative that Sorrah has championed.

© TvGlobo/Paulo Belote 

She’s still working -

Now in her 70s, Sorrah remains a fixture in Brazilian telenovelas. In 2023, she kicked off a new role in the soap opera 'Vai na Fé,' which follows Sol (Sheron Menezzes), a church choir singer who decides to become a backup singer for Lui Lorenzo, in order to pull her family out of financial ruin.

© TvGlobo/Manoella Mello

'Vai na Fé' (2023) -

In the show, Sorrah plays Wilma, Lui Lorenzo’s mother, who was once a great actress but has since fallen out of fame and decided to cope by managing her son. Sorrah proves she’s still quite effective as the villain.

© TvGlobo/Ellen Soares

Coming out -

Sorrah was sitting in the second row at a play called ‘Manifesto Transpofágico,’ by trans activist and playwright Renata Carvalho, when her big moment happened quietly. Carvalho asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they were bisexual, and Extra reports that Sorrah raised her hand pointedly.

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Accidental queer icon -

Naturally, the internet went wild at Sorrah’s low-key public coming out. "Bisexuals now own mathematics," one Twitter user joked. "The bisexual representation we deserve," wrote another.

Sources: (IMDb) (UOL) (Bi.org) (Extra)

© Getty Images