---
name: "Matheus Nachtergaele"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/matheus-nachtergaele"
fi1m_id: "matheus-nachtergaele"
imdb_id: "nm0618690"
tmdb_id: 8600
wikidata_id: "Q2456161"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 January 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 86
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-17T17:58:46.309678+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Matheus Nachtergaele

## Identity

Matheus Nachtergaele

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/matheus-nachtergaele
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** matheus-nachtergaele
- **IMDb ID:** nm0618690
- **TMDB ID:** 8600
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2456161
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheus_Nachtergaele, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2456161, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0618690/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8600

Actor. Born 3 January 1968 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 January 1968, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- **Active:** 1998–2002
- **Also known as:** Матеус Наштергале, Матеуш Наштергале
- **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 85 (1), 2000s 86 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheus_Nachtergaele, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2456161, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0618690/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8600

## Coming up

- *Cabras da Peste 2: Miami Vixe* (2026-12-03), as Trindade

## Fi1m on Matheus Nachtergaele

> Matheus Nachtergaele can make a comic trickster persuasive and fit naturally among non-professional actors. We rate him for both, with one reservation: repeated casting as regional types and eccentric supporting figures risks leaving too little room for anything else.

In *City of God* (2002), Matheus Nachtergaele's Sandro Cenoura fits into a cast that includes non-professional actors without making a display of fitting in. That naturalism takes skill: a more conspicuous performance could pull us away from the people around him. Fernando Meirelles's film moves quickly, with exceptional clarity even at speed. We were frightened by its violence, then uneasy about how exciting the cutting and music sometimes made it. Nachtergaele helps keep the people credible when the film threatens to get carried away with the excitement.

The earlier *Central Station* (1998) places him, as Isaías Paiva, in Walter Salles's moving road drama. Fernanda Montenegro carries the central travelling relationship, and our affection for the film comes chiefly from that reluctant companionship. These are different settings for an actor comfortable with dramatic work as well as comedy. Salles's film sometimes offers reassurance too readily; Meirelles's sometimes makes the suffering too exciting. Neither reservation should obscure the value of performers who can make the people within those stories convincing.

The comic work gives his timing more direct attention. João Grilo in *O Auto da Compadecida* (2000), following the 1999 miniseries, is the trickster role that established his popular standing. Here, his feel for a recognisable Brazilian character type and his comic timing are central to the appeal. His return to João Grilo in *O Auto da Compadecida 2* (2024) makes the part a continuing thread through his work. Alongside it, he has continued in both Brazilian film and television, rather than making comedy his sole occupation.

The reservation concerns what he gets asked to play. Regional characters and eccentric supporting parts can become a casting habit, however capably they are performed, and we would be wary of letting those categories define him. His recurring collaborators include directors Guel Arraes, Cláudio Assis and Salles, all of whom have worked with him more than once. We would look beyond the familiar comic figure to the actor who can work unobtrusively among non-professionals. Start with *City of God*, provided its occasionally overexcited treatment of violence is a caveat you can accept.

## Biography

Matheus Nachtergaele is a Brazilian actor, director and screenwriter. He was born on 3 January 1968 in São Paulo.

He began his career in theatre in the early 1990s with the company Teatro da Vertigem. Nachtergaele is known for his performances in *Central Station* (1998) as Isaías Paiva, *O Auto da Compadecida* (2000) as João Grilo, *City of God* (2002) as Sandro Cenoura and *Four Days in September* (1997). He has also directed and written the film *The Dead Girl's Feast* (2008). He has received multiple awards, including five APCA Awards, three Grande Otelo Awards and two Guarani Awards.

*Sources: pt.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *City of God* (2002), Fi1m 86, as Sandro Cenoura — [page](https://film.one/film/city-of-god.md)
- *Central Station* (1998), Fi1m 85, as Isaías Paiva — [page](https://film.one/film/central-station.md)

## Complete filmography (91)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Cabras da Peste 2: Miami Vixe* (2026), as Trindade
- *The Son of a Bitch* (2026), as Bacalhau
- *The Rogue's Trial (TV Series)* (2026), series, as João Grilo · Associate Producer
- *Anything Goes* (2025), series, as Poliana (Audálio Candeias)
- *The Rogue's Trial* (2024), as João Grilo / Jesus / Diabo · Associate Producer
- *Chabadabadá* (2024), series, as Quincas
- *City of God: The Fight Rages On* (2024), series, as Cenoura
- *Antonio Candido, Final Notes* (2024), as Narrator (voice)
- *Rebirth* (2024), series, as Norberto dos Reis
- *Peréio, Eu Te Odeio!* (2023), Actor
- *Heavier Is the Sky* (2023), as Antônio
- *The Club of Angels* (2022), as Lucídio
- *Julia's Lover* (2022), as Sandro
- *King Car* (2022), as Zé Macaco
- *Get the Goat* (2021), as Trindade
- *Rocky & Hudson: Os Caubóis Gays* (2020), series, as Rocky (voz)
- *Diário de um Confinado* (2020), series, Actor
- *All the Women in the World* (2020), series, as Cabral
- *Mercy* (2019), as Aurélio
- *Cine Holliúdy – The Series* (2019), series, as Prefeito Olegário Maciel
- *Tito and the Birds* (2019), as Dr. Rufus (voice)
- *The City of Pirates* (2018), as Ivan (voice)
- *All Paulos in the World - Paulo José* (2017), Actor
- *492: A Man Called Death* (2017), as Luciano
- *Zama* (2017), as Vicuña Porto / Gaspar Toledo
- *Filhos da Pátria* (2017), series, as Pacheco
- *The Serpent* (2016), as Paulo · Associate Producer
- *Don't Call Me Son* (2016), as Matheus
- *26º Prêmio da Música Brasileira - Homenagem a Maria Bethânia* (2015), as ele mesmo
- *Big Jet* (2015), as Seu Xico/Nelson
- *When I Stopped Worrying About Scoundrels* (2015), as João Carlos
- *Coffin Joe* (2015), series, as José Mojica Marins / Zé do Caixão
- *Luz, Câmera, 50 Anos: Ó Paí, Ó - O Filme* (2015), as Queixão / Moisés
- *Blue Blood* (2014), as Gaètan
- *Sweet Mother* (2014), series, as Fernando de Souza
- *Serra Pelada: A Saga do Ouro* (2014), series, as Coronel Carvalho
- *Bald Mountain* (2013), as Coronel Carvalho
- *Trinta* (2013), as Joãosinho Trinta
- *The Inventor of Dreams* (2013), Actor
- *Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas* (2013), as Olegário
- *Saramandaia* (2013), series, as Seu Encolheu
- *Sweet Mother* (2012), as Fernando de Souza
- *Rat Fever* (2012), as Pazinho
- *The Enchanted Tale* (2011), series, as Miguézim
- *The Well Beloved One* (2011), series, as Dirceu Borboleta
- *The Well Beloved One* (2010), as Dirceu Borboleta
- *Decamerão: A Comédia do Sexo* (2009), series, as Tofano
- *The Dead Girl's Feast* (2009), Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
- *Ó Paí, Ó: A Série* (2008), series, as Queixão/Moisés
- *The Black Virgin* (2008), Actor
- *Birdwatchers* (2008), as Dimas
- *Queridos Amigos* (2008), series, as Tito
- *500 Almas* (2007), Actor
- *Bog of Beasts* (2006), as Everardo
- *A Meeting with Milton Santos* (2006), as Narrador
- *Journey to the End of the Night* (2006), as Nazda
- *Os Amadores* (2005), series, as Jaime
- *Conception* (2005), as X · Associate Producer
- *Red Carpet* (2005), as Quinzinho
- *Delicate Crime* (2005), as Actor in play 'woyzeck o brasileiro'
- *Dry Movie* (2005), as Salustiano
- *América* (2005), series, as Jesuino Costa "Carreirinha"
- *Nina* (2004), as Pintor
- *Shades of Sin* (2004), series, as Hélio da Silva (Pai Helinho)
- *The Storytellers* (2003), as Souza
- *O Curupira* (2003), as Narrator
- *Pastores da Noite* (2002), series, as Curió
- *Eclipse* (2002), Actor
- *City of God* (2002), as Sandro Cenoura — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/city-of-god.md)
- *Mango Yellow* (2002), as Dunga
- *At the Edge of the Earth* (2002), as Narrator (voice)
- *Bufo & Spallanzani* (2001), as Agenor
- *Os Maias* (2001), series, as Teodorico 'Raposão'
- *Brava Gente* (2000), series, as Pedro, Nezinho, Chico, Curió
- *A Dog's Will* (2000), as João Grilo
- *A Muralha* (2000), series, as Padre Miguel
- *Making of O Auto da Compadecida* (2000), Actor
- *Castle Ra-Tim-Bum: The Movie* (1999), as Rato
- *O Enfermeiro* (1999), as Procópio
- *Twins* (1999), as Rapaz
- *O Auto da Compadecida* (1999), series, as João Grilo
- *Midnight* (1998), as Francisco
- *Kenoma* (1998), as Pedro
- *Hilda Hurricane* (1998), series, as Cintura Fina
- *Central Station* (1998), as Isaías Paiva — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/central-station.md)
- *Anahy de las Misiones* (1997), Actor
- *Four Days in September* (1997), as Severino Barroso / Jonas
- *A Comédia da Vida Privada* (1994), series, Actor
- *Bad adolescence*, as Gilvan
- *The Caretaker*, as Eliseu
- *O Zelador*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Matheus Nachtergaele](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-1aaaefc1a23d.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele — Eclipse_ein_Film_von_Herbert_Brödl.jpg: Oberau (talk · contribs)
derivative work: Lucas Secret, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Matheus_Nachtergaele.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-c8a5de780520.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão — 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818086513894%29.jpg/1280px-26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818086513894%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-fcdfcfb21a6b.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão — 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818086548914%29.jpg/1280px-26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818086548914%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-3f2d5038ca4b.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão — 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088387463%29.jpg/1280px-26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088387463%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-d772675fa15e.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele — Image via TMDB
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-040805c93713.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele — Image via TMDB
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-e83a2a0c0e4b.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão — 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088417023%29.jpg/1280px-26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088417023%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão](https://film.one/media/person/87916/gallery-615f8f3d64b3.jpg) Matheus Nachtergaele - 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira 2015, no Theatro Municipal, no Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. (10/06/15) Foto: Roberto Filho/Divulgacão — 26° Prêmio da Música Brasileira, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088464113%29.jpg/1280px-26_Pr%C3%AAmio_da_M%C3%BAsica_Brasileira_%2818088464113%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil) 2014: Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil) (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/matheus-nachtergaele