Matheus Nachtergaele Biography: Age, Net Worth, Parents, Siblings, Movies & TV Shows

Matheus Nachtergaele is a Brazilian actor, director, and screenwriter who became one of the most respected performers in Brazilian cinema and television.

He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of João Grilo in O Auto da Compadecida, a role that became one of the defining performances of his career.

He further expanded his international profile through his performance as Sandro Cenoura in the acclaimed crime film City of God, while building an extensive career across television, theater, and independent cinema. Beyond acting, he has also worked as a director and screenwriter, bringing his theatrical background into his filmmaking projects.

Matheus Nachtergaele
Wiki Facts & About Data
Name:	Matheus Nachtergaele
Born:	January 3, 1968 (age 58 years old)
Place of Birth:	São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality:	Brazilian
Ethnicity:	Brazilian
Height:	5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
Religion:	Christianity
Parents:	Jean-Pierre Nachtergaele, Maria Cecília Nachtergaele
Siblings:	Beatriz Nachtergaele
Occupation:	Actor, Director, Screenwriter
Net Worth:	$2.5 million

Early Life and Education

Matheus Nachtergaele, aged 58 years old, was born on January 3, 1968, in São Paulo, Brazil. He was raised in an artistic family with Belgian and Brazilian roots. His mother, Maria Cecília Nachtergaele, was a poet who died by suicide when he was only three months old, leaving his father, Jean-Pierre Nachtergaele, a jazz musician, to play a central role in his upbringing. He also spent part of his childhood with his paternal grandparents.

He grew up alongside his sister, Beatriz Nachtergaele, dividing his childhood between a small farm in Atibaia and a coastal home in Ubatuba, both in São Paulo state. Nachtergaele later learned the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death when he was 16, an experience that became an important part of his personal history and later influenced his artistic work.

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He studied at the University of São Paulo, where he developed his interest in theater and performance. He also spent a year training under renowned Brazilian theater director Antunes Filho, receiving intensive instruction that strengthened his physical and classical acting techniques.

Personal Life

Matheus Nachtergaele is unmarried and does not have any publicly known children. He has spoken publicly about his bisexuality and has generally kept the details of his romantic relationships away from the media. There is no public record of a marriage or divorce.

His personal experiences have occasionally influenced his artistic work. He transformed poems written by his late mother into the stage production Concerto do Desejo, a deeply personal project that allowed him to explore family, memory, grief, and loss through theater.

This section references suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the US) offers free, confidential support.

Career

Matheus Nachtergaele began his professional career in experimental theater and gained early recognition through his work with Teatro da Vertigem in the 1990s. He moved into cinema in 1997 with a role in Four Days in September, beginning a screen career that would eventually make him one of Brazil’s most recognizable actors.

His major breakthrough came with O Auto da Compadecida, in which he portrayed João Grilo, the clever and mischievous central character. The production became a major success in Brazil and established him as a leading figure in Brazilian popular entertainment.

He gained further international recognition in 2002 when he played Sandro Cenoura in City of God, the critically acclaimed crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. The film received international acclaim and an Academy Award nomination, bringing Nachtergaele‘s work to a much wider global audience.

His television career has included notable performances in productions such as Hilda Furacão, A Muralha, Da Cor do Pecado, and other major Brazilian dramas. He has also portrayed a wide variety of characters in films including Central Station, Mango Yellow, Zama, and Get the Goat.

Nachtergaele expanded his career behind the camera with his directorial debut The Feast of the Dead Girl, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. He also worked on the screenplay, demonstrating his continued interest in combining acting, writing, theater, and filmmaking.

Awards

• Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro for Best Actor – Won (2000)
• Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro for Best Actor – Won (2001)
• Cine Ceará Best Actor Award – Won (2003)
• Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard – Nominated (2008)
• Festival de Cinema de Brasília Best Actor Award – Won (2015)
• Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro for Best Supporting Actor – Won (2021)

Net Worth

Matheus Nachtergaele has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million. His wealth has been built primarily through his decades-long career in Brazilian film, television, and theater. He has also earned income from directing, screenwriting, voice work, and other entertainment projects.

Social Media

• Instagram: @matheusnachtergaele

Filmography

• Four Days in September (1997)
• Central Station (1998)
• Midnight (1998)
• Kenoma (1998)
• The First Day (1998)
• Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum, o filme (1999)
• Twins (2000)
• O Auto da Compadecida (2000)
• Bufo & Spallanzani (2001)
• City of God (2002)
• Eclipse (2002)
• Mango Yellow (2003)
• Narradores de Javé (2003)
• Nina (2004)
• Crime Delicado (2005)
• A Concepção (2006)
• Árido Movie (2006)
• Tapete Vermelho (2006)
• Baixio das Bestas (2007)
• The Feast of the Dead Girl (2008)
• Serra Pelada (2013)
• Big Jato (2016)
• Don’t Call Me Son (2016)
• Zama (2017)
• Tito and the Birds (2018)
• Piedade (2019)
• Get the Goat (2021)

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