A Estrela Nua (1984)

An aspiring actress throws herself into a role she hopes will bring her fame, fortune, and fulfillment in the lurid Brazilian thriller A Estrela Nua (1984). Understudy Gloria (Carla Camurati) has long lingered in the shadows of Angela (Cristina Ache), a celebrated actress who dazzles critics and popular audiences alike. When Angela falls victim to an apparent suicide, however, Gloria realizes her big chance to take the woman’s place in the limelight. What begins as a wonderful opportunity for the budding star morphs into a nightmare, as Gloria begins sublimating herself into the person of the deceased actress. José Antonio Garcia and Ícaro Martins’s film is a tangled metaphysical mystery, but Ache and her supporting cast help pull the proceedings back to earth by indulging in everything from sultry stripteases to impromptu bush trimming.