Famous People

The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.

Actors and Directors

Alexandra Lencastre
António Lopes Ribeiro (1908-1995) (film director)
António Silva (actor)
Beatriz Batarda (actress)
Beatriz Costa (actress)
Carmen Miranda (1914-1955) (singer and actress)
Eunice Muñoz (1928-) (actress)
Herman José (1954)(actor and humorist)
João César Monteiro (1939-2003) (film director)
João Villaret (1913-1961) (actor and poetry reader)
Joaquim de Almeida (1957-) (actor)
Manoel de Oliveira (1908-) (film director)
Marco Martins (1972-) (film director)
Maria de Medeiros (actress)
Raúl Solnado (actor and humorist)
Vasco Santana (1898-1958) (actor)

Architects and Engineers

Álvaro Siza Vieira (1933-) (architect)
Eduardo Souto de Moura (architect)
José Tribolet (engineer, IST professor)
Tomás Taveira (1938-) (architect)

Artists

Almada Negreiros (1893-1970) (20th century painter)
Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887-1918) (20th century painter)
António Soares dos Reis (1847-1889) (19th century sculptor)
Aurélia de Souza (1865-1922) (19th/20th century painter)
Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929) (19th/20th century painter)
Eduardo Gageiro (1935) (20th century photographer)
José Dias Coelho (20th century artist)
José Malhoa (19th century painter)
Júlio Pomar (1926) (20th century painter)
Nadir Afonso (1920) (geometric abstract painter)
Nuno Gonçalves (15th century painter)
Paula Rego (20th century painter)
Pereira da Silva (1920-2003) (20th century sculptor)
Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (19th century caricaturist)
Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco)(15th century painter)
Vieira da Silva (20th century painter)

Musicians

Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942 - 1982) (singer)
Alfredo Keil (1850-1907) (composer of the Portuguese anthem)
Amália Rodrigues (1920-1999) (fado singer)
António Variações (1944-1984) (singer and songwriter)
Carlos Paredes (1925-2004) (guitar player)
Carlos Seixas (1704-1742) (composer)
Cristina Branco (1972-) (fado singer)
Duarte Lobo (1565-1646) (composer)
Dulce Pontes (1969-) (singer)
Ernesto Rodrigues (1959-) (performer, composer)
Fernando Lopes Graça (1906-1995) (composer)
Fernando Ribeiro (1974-) (Moonspell vocals)
Guilhermina Suggia (1885-1950) (cellist)
João Domingos Bomtempo (1775-1842) (composer)
Joaquim Joze Antunes (1725-1790) (harpsichord maker)
Joe Raposo (1937-1989) (composer and lyricist)
Jorge Palma (1950-) (singer, pianist and songwriter)
José Afonso (1929-1987) (aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player)
Lúcia Moniz (1976-) (singer/actress)
Luís de Freitas Branco (1890-1955) (composer)
Luísa Todi (1753-1833) (lyrical singer)
Mafalda Arnauth (1974-) (fado singer)
Maria João (1956-) (jazz singer)
Maria João Pires (1944-) (piano player)
Mário Laginha (1960-) (piano player)
Mariza (1973-) (fado singer)
Mísia (fado singer)
Nelly Furtado (1978-) (singer/actress)
Nuno Bettencourt (1966- ) (guitarist, songwriter, singer)
Paulo Furtado (blues performer)
Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465-1535) (composer)
Rita Guerra (1967-) (singer)
Rui da Silva (dj)
Rui Veloso (1957-) (singer)
Sara Carvalho (1970-) (composer)
Sara Tavares (1978-) (singer)
Sergio Godinho (1948-) (singer)
Teresa Salgueiro (1969-) (Madredeus vocals)
Tim (1970-) (player, vocals Xutos & Pontapés)
Vitorino (1942-) (singer)

Navigators, Explorers and Pioneers

Afonso de Albuquerque (16th century naval admiral and viceroy of India)
Afonso de Paiva (15th century/16th century diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia)
Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Álvaro Caminha (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Álvaro Martins (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Alvise Cadamosto (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast)
André Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
Antão Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Antonio de Abreu (16th century explorer of Indonesia)
António Fernandes (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Baltazar Fernandes (17th century explorer of Brazil's interior)
Bartolomeu Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Bartolomeu Perestrelo (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Bento de Góis (16th century explorer)
Cristóvão Borralho (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
David Melgueiro (17th century explorer of the Arctic)
Dinis Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Diogo Cão (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Diogo de Azambuja (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Diogo Dias (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, discovered Madagascar)
Diogo Rodrigues (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
Diogo Silves (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Duarte Fernandes (16th century diplomat in Thailand)
Duarte Pacheco Pereira (15th century explorer of the Atlantic)
Estevão da Gama (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
Fernão de Noronha (15th century/16th century explorer of the Atlantic)
Fernão do Pó (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Fernão Lopez (16th century soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena)
Fernão Mendes Pinto (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
Fernão Pires de Andrade (16th century merchant in China)
Francisco Álvares (16th century missionary and explorer in Ethiopia)
Francisco de Almeida (16th century explorer and viceroy of India)
Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral (20th century the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air)
Gaspar Corte-Real (16th century explorer of North America)
Gaspar de Lemos (15th century/16th century explorer of the Atlantic and of the sea route to Brazil)
Gil Eanes (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Gomes de Sequeira (16th century, some have claimed he discovered Australia - highly disputed)
Gonçalo Coelho (15th century/16th century explorer of the South American coast)
Gonçalo Velho (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Hermenegildo Capelo (19th century explorer of Africa)
Jeronimo Lobo (17th century missionary and explorer of Ethiopia)
João da Nova (16th century explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean)
João de Santarém (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
João Fernandes Lavrador (15th century/16th century explorer of North America)
João Gonçalves Zarco (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
João Grego (15th century explorer of the African coast)
João Infante (15th century explorer of the African coast)
João Rodrigues Cabrilho (16th century discoverer of California)
João Vaz Corte-Real (15th century explorer of North America)
Jorge Álvares (16th century the first to reach China)
Lopes Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the Atlantic)
Lourenço Marques (16th century trader and explorer in East Africa)
Luís Pires (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
Luis Váez de Torres (16th century/17th century explorer of south-west Pacific)
Martim Afonso de Sousa (16th century explorer and soldier in India)
Miguel Corte-Real (16th century explorer of North America)
Nicolau Coelho (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
Nuno Tristão (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Paulo da Gama (15th century explorer of the sea route to India)
Paulo Dias de Novais (16th century colonizer of Africa)
Pedro Álvares Cabral (discoverer of Brazil in 1500)
Pedro Escobar (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Pedro Fernandes de Queiroz (16th century/17th century explorer of south-west Pacific, some have claimed he discovered Australia)
Pedro Mascarenhas (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
Pedro Teixeira (17th century explorer of the Amazon River)
Pero da Covilhã (15th century/16th century diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India)
Pêro de Alenquer (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Pêro de Barcelos (15th century/16th century explorer of North America)
Pêro de Sintra (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Pêro Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
Pêro Vaz de Caminha (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
Roberto Ivens (19th century explorer of Africa)
Serpa Pinto (19th century explorer of Africa)
Tristão da Cunha (16th century naval general and discoverer)
Tristão Vaz Teixeira (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
Vasco da Gama (led the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498)

Philosophers

Agostinho da Silva (1906-1996)
António Castanheira Neves (1929-)
Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
Damião de Góis (1502-1574)
Eduardo Abranches de Soveral (1957-2003)
Uriel da Costa (1585-1640)

Politicians

Afonso Costa (1871-1937) (Primer Minister during the First Republic)
Álvaro Cunhal (1913-2005) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
Aníbal Cavaco Silva (economist, former Prime Minister, current President of the Republic)
Anton de Vieira (1682-1745, governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk)
António de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970, dictator)
António Guterres (former Prime Minister, current president of the Socialist International and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
António Vitorino (former Minister and EU Commissioner)
Bento Gonçalves (1902-1942) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto (1936-1985) (former Prime Minister)
Carlos Carvalhas (1941-) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
Diogo Freitas do Amaral (former president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, current Minister of Foreign Affairs)
Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança (claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal)
Francisco Sá Carneiro (1934-1980) (former Prime Minister)
Jaime Ornelas Camacho (1911-) (first Regional Government President of Madeira)
Jerónimo de Sousa (1947 -) (General Secretary of the PCP)
Jorge Sampaio (former President of the Republic)
José Manuel Barroso (former Prime Minister, current president of the EU Commission)
José Sócrates (current Prime Minister)
Marcelo Caetano (1906-1980, dictator)
Mário Soares (1924-) (former Prime Minister and President of the Republic)
Octávio Pato (1925 - 1999)
Pedro Santana Lopes (former Prime Minister, former Mayor of Lisbon)
Teresa Heinz Kerry (philanthropist and the wife of U.S. Senator John Kerry)
Vasco Gonçalves (1922 - 2005) (former Prime Minister)

Popes

Damasus I (4th century)
John XXI (13th century)

Saints

Anthony of Lisbon (1195-1231), Saint
Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514-1590), Blessed
Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336), Saint
Francisco Marto (1908-1919), Blessed
Ignacio de Azevedo (1528-1570), Blessed
Jacinta Marto (1910-1920), Blessed
Saint Joan Princess (1452-1490), Blessed
Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360-1431), Blessed

Scientists

Abel Salazar (1889-1946)
André de Resende (c. 1500-1573)
António Damásio (1944-, neurologist)
Bartolomeu de Gusmão (1685-1724) (inventor)
Bento de Jesus Caraça (1901-1948, mathematician)
Egas Moniz (1854-1955, neurologist, Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949)
Garcia de Orta (c. 1499-1568) (botanical scientist)
Jacob de Castro Sarmento (c 1691-1762)
João Magueijo (physicist)
Pedro Nunes (1502-1578) (mathematician / cosmographer)
Tomé Pires (c. 1465-c 1540)

Sports

Ana Rocha (professional wrestler)
Carlos Lopes (1947-) (marathon Olympic champion)
Carlos Queiróz (football coach)
Costinha (1974-) (football player)
Cristiano Ronaldo (1985-) (football player)
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942-) (football player, born in Mozambique; later moved to Portugal)
Fernanda Ribeiro (1969-) (10,000m Olympic champion)
Francis Obikwelu (Nigerian born runner)
Joaquim Agostinho (cyclist)
José Azevedo (cyclist)
José Mourinho (football coach)
Luís Figo (1972-) (football player)
Maniche (1977-) (football player)
Manuel dos Santos (1925-1973) (bullfighter)
Nuno Gomes (football player)
Pauleta (football player)
Paulo Futre (former football player)
Paulo Sousa (former football player)
Pedro Lamy (former Formula One and DTM driver)
Ricardo Carvalho (football player)
Ricardo Pereira (football player)
Ricardo Quaresma (1983-) (football player)
Ricardo Sá Pinto (football player)
Rosa Mota (1958-) (marathon Olympic champion)
Rui Costa (1972-) (football player)
Simão Sabrosa (1979-) (football player)
Tiago Monteiro (Formula One driver)
Ticha Penicheiro (WNBA player)
Vítor Baía (1969-) (football player)

Writers

Agostinho da Silva (writer and philosopher)
Agustina Bessa-Luís (writer)
Alexandre Herculano (writer)
Alice Vieira (writer)
Almada Negreiros (writer)
Almeida Garrett (writer and playwright)
Álvaro Cunhal (neo-realist writer)
Alves Redol (neo-realist writer)
André de Resende (writer)
Antero de Quental (writer)
António José da Silva (playwright)
António Lobo Antunes (writer)
António Vieira (1608-1697) (preacher and writer)
Aquilino Ribeiro (neo-realist writer)
Camilo Castelo Branco (writer)
Carlos de Oliveira (writer)
Damião de Góis (writer)
David Mourão-Ferreira (writer)
Eça de Queirós (writer)
Fernão Lopes (c. 1380-1458) (royal chronicler)
Gil Vicente (playwright)
Gomes Eanes de Zurara (writer)
Guerra Junqueiro (poet and writer)
Hélia Correia (writer)
João de Barros (writer and historian)
José Cardoso Pires (writer)
José Gomes Ferreira (writer)
José Saramago (writer, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998)
Manuel Alegre (poet, writer and politician)
Mário de Sá-Carneiro (novelist and poet)
Miguel Torga (poet and writer)
Natália Correia (writer and poet)
Orlando da Costa (poet and playwright)
Ramalho Ortigão (writer)
Rui de Pina (writer)
Soeiro Pereira Gomes (neo-realist writer)
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (poet and writer)
Urbano Tavares Rodrigues (writer and journalist)
Vasco Graça Moura (writer)
Vasco Pulido Valente (historian and critic)
Vergílio Ferreira (writer)