Harrison Ford and Alice Braga in Crossing Over

I'm amazed at how many roles Alice Braga is landing in Hollywood lately. At 25 years old, she's only starred in one Brazilian movie (Cidade Baixa), and she's foregone the traditional path to celebrity here by acting in soap operas on TV Globo (though her aunt, Sônia Braga, is a famous soap actress who once tried to make a career for herself abroad but it is probably best known to mainstream audiences as Samantha's lesbian lover on Sex and the City).

Alice's agent must be doing something right. She's currently showing in U.S. theaters in David Mamet's Redbelt, plays "the girl with dark glasses" in the Cannes-opener Blindness (reuniting with Meirelles after a bit part in City of God), and has roles alongside stars like Harrison Ford and Jude Law in two upcoming films. All of this after starring last year in the Will Smith blockbuster I Am Legend.

The only other Brazilian actor I can think of getting this level of exposure is Rodrigo Santoro, who also has a role in Redbelt. Rodrigo is actually much more famous in Brazil, due to his career in soap operas and well-regarded films like Bicho de Sete Cabeças and Abril Despedaçado ("Behind the Sun"), but I feel like he's been trying to break out internationally much longer than Alice. Ironically, Alice said in an interview last year that she wishes she could do a Brazilian soap opera but hasn't been able to find the time. I guess the grass really is greener on the other side.