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  Valerie is an Anglo-Portuguese actress, mother of two talented young adults and wife to Peter, with whom she shares a picturesque home in the hills of Sintra, Portugal.

​Her acting career, both in English and Portuguese, classic and contemporary, has earned critical acclaim and taken her on several international tours to audiences in cities across the Americas, Europe and beyond.



  A native of Lisbon, she studied at the ​​​Conservatório de Música and Escola Superior de Teatro before gaining her place in London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA).  On graduation she spent many years in Rep and touring the length and breadth of the UK, playing nearly all of its landmark theatres, as well as landing key roles in the capital's Fringe and West-End.



​  With a career stretching thirty-five years, she has a great many stories to recount — from her participation in the Avignon, Jerusalem and Edinburgh Festivals, to representing Britain in both the Theatre of Nations (Sofia) and  in the 'Britain Salutes New York' tour. Her accolades include the Arthur Wontner and the Ivor Novello for movement, and in 1993 she was honoured with Portugal's Order of Merit for Services to Culture. 

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  Having observed her often on stage and screen, as well as through our own lenses - we have experienced first-hand the contagious passion and energy for which she is well known. Her versatility is equally impressive too, and the apparent ease with which she skillfully moulds her presence into convincing characters in both tragic and comic roles, veils the underpinning depth of focus and dedication to her profession.  



  In recent years she has performed and directed several stage productions and tours, as well as delivering some memorable performances for TV, film and radio. At sixty, there's no sign in the least of her energy or commitment slowing - on the contrary, it appears she is relishing exploring the new roles her maturity offers. 



  Our video montage features just a fraction of her stage work along with some of her diverse screen appearances, from Portuguese Arthouse to US hit features. It is something of a tribute to her energy and spirit, a taste not only of her evident talent and versatility but also her warmth, excitement and sense of humour - as abundant as ever - in rising to the challenge of one of her profession's most difficult and demanding roles, that of 'Actress of a Certain Age.'

 

We hope you enjoy it,

 

IRISBRANCA 2013

 

 

 

 



 

 



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