- Source: Ludmila Dayer
Ludmila Dayer-Middleton (born 18 June 1983) is a Brazilian-American actress, director and producer.
Career
Dayer began acting at the age of 10 in the movie Carlota Joaquina – Princesa do Brasil released in 1995, for which she was named by the Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte (APCA) as the revelation of the year. She rose to prominence after being discovered in a Spanish dance class and getting cast for a double role in two different languages in Carlota Joaquina: the Spanish infant princess Carlota and the little British girl Yolanda. At that time, she didn't speak English and Spanish fluently; but after two months of training with a language coach, she could deliver her lines in both languages.
For her next film "Traição" where she plays the "Diabólica" character by playwright Nelson Rodrigues, she got the "Candango" for best supporting actress at the Festival de Brasília.
The first part she landed as a teenager was a TV role in the Rede Manchete telenovela, Xica da Silva. In 2000, she moved to Brazil's biggest network, Rede Globo, to play the lead female in the teen soap Malhação. Dayer then rose to national fame through her role in the 2004 soap Senhora do Destino, where she portrayed Danielle Meira, nicknamed "baby nymph" by her boyfriend Giovanni Improtta (José Wilker). That same year, she was the lead in the movie Vida de Menina, based on the diaries of Helena Morley. She was nominated for best actress at the Festival de Gramado and Recife Cinema Festival "Cine PE" taking home the award for best actress.
In 2006, Dayer moved to Los Angeles where she founded Lupi Productions, a creative production company.
In 2022 made her directorial debut with the documentary "EU" (ME). The film tackles her personal experience with mental health issues and her journey of self-discovery. In addition to directing and producing, Dayer took on responsibilities such as writing, cinematography and editing. The documentary premiered on Aquarius, a Brazilian streaming platform where she serves as one of the partners.
Personal life
Dayer was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She holds both the Brazilian and US citizenships. In 2016, she married a British businessman. The couple currently lives in Los Angeles, California.