Trivia

Although she doesn't like to act in front of a live audience, Rita Blanco performed in several theater plays, such as Perversions by David Mamet, directed by Miguel Guilherme and José Pedro Gomes; Before the Night Comes by Eduarda Dionísio, featuring Adriano Luz; Blood on the Cat's Neck by Fassbinder, starring Luís Miguel Cintra. In 1989, she participated in How Different Love Is in Portugal, an adaptation of Júlio Dantas' work, directed by Fernando Gomes. Nothing from Nobody by Luísa Costa Gomes, staged by Ana Tamen, earned her a nomination for the Garrett Award for Best Female Performance (1991). In 1997, she took part in Peter Pan by James Barrie, directed by António Pires at the São Luiz Theatre. Moonlight Confessions by Eugene O'Neill (1994), Seven Lives by Rosa Lobato de Faria (2002), Seven Years - written particularly for her - (2003), Miserere by Luis Miguel Cintra (2010), Pais & Filhos by Pedro Penim (2021), A Farsa de Inês Pereira by Pedro Penim (2023).

Has a stepson named Francisco Nascimento.

Besides acting, Rita also hosted a few TV shows like "Caça ao Tesouro" (1994), O senhor que se segue (1994) e Partir o côco (1994). From 1994 to 1997 she was a commentator on A Noite Da Má Língua, criticizing and making fun of several portuguese politicians.

In 1991, Rita was nominated for the Garrett Award for best female performance in theater for the play Nunca Nada de Ninguém (Ana Tamen).

In Portugal, she has won 4 Golden Globes for Best Actress for her roles in Ganhar a Vida (2002), Sangue do Meu Sangue (2012), A Gaiola Dourada (2014), and Fátima (2018).

After graduating from high school at Lycée Français Charles Lepierre, Rita decided to pursue a career in acting at the National Conservatory in Lisbon. During those times, she moved in with João Canijo (her love interest back then), and decided to pay for her acting classes by working nights as an extra at the national theater. She also did a few plays at Theater of Cornucópia, under the management of Luís Miguel Cintra and had a small role in Le cercle des passions (1983), before graduating in 1985.

She has a daughter named Alice Blanco Nascimento.

Rita is known for being an animal lover and often talks about the importance of animal rights. At the present time, she has 5 dogs and 2 cats. A few years ago, she decided to start eating plant-based food after watching Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014) and Seaspiracy (2021). She also stopped drinking coffee and wine.

Rita speaks French fluently because she studied from a young age at Lycée Français Charles Lepierre, an international French language school under the supervision of the French Government, located in Lisbon, Portugal.

She often works with director João Canijo. In 1988, she began a long collaboration with João Canijo when she starred in the film Três Menos Eu. This performance earned her a spot in the Les Stars de Demain (Young Hopes of European Cinema) Festival, held in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, Rita participated in the following Canijo's films: 1988 - Três Menos Eu; 1990 - Filha da Mãe; 2001 - Earning a Living; 2004 - Dark Night; 2012 - Blood of my Blood; 2017 - Fatima; 2023 - Mal Viver e Viver Mal.