Wagner Maniçoba de Moura, born 27 June 1976 in Salvador, Bahia, is the Brazilian actor who led “Elite Squad” to global acclaim, then exploded worldwide as Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s “Narcos”. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association nominated him for a Golden Globe in 2016 for that role. He later stepped behind the camera with “Marighella”, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2019.
The journey reaches new audiences again with Alex Garland’s “Civil War” in 2024, where Wagner Moura plays a war photojournalist opposite Kirsten Dunst. Before that came a steady rise across Brazil’s stage and screen, plus international turns in “Elysium” in 2013, “Sergio” in 2020, Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls” in 2022, and Netflix’s “The Gray Man” in 2022.
Wagner Moura biography and origins
Raised between Rodelas and Salvador in Bahia, Wagner Moura studied journalism at the Federal University of Bahia, then chose acting and never looked back. Training in theater sharpened a style that feels intense yet elastic, something Brazilian audiences spotted early.
He moved into Brazil’s big theater circuit and headlined “Hamlet” on stage in 2008, a sold out run that confirmed a leading man able to carry complex texts. The screen soon accomodates that same gravity.
From “Narcos” to global breakthrough
The international wave arrived with “Narcos” seasons 1 and 2 in 2015 and 2016. Wagner Moura learned Spanish for the part and transformed physically to embody Pablo Escobar. The HFPA recognized the performance with a Golden Globe nomination in January 2016 for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama.
That surge unlocked varied roles instead of typecasting. He pivoted to the UN drama “Sergio” in 2020, portraying diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and then joined “Shining Girls” in 2022 as journalist Dan Velázquez. Different registers, same precision.
Films and awards: from “Elite Squad” to “Civil War”
Before streaming fame, Brazilian cinema had already crowned him. “Elite Squad” won the Golden Bear at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival. Its sequel, “Elite Squad: The Enemy Within” in 2010, drew more than 11 million admissions in Brazil, according to ANCINE, becoming a phenomenon in the country.
He alternates national projects with international productions. “Elysium” in 2013 introduced him to blockbuster audiences. As a director, he chose the politically charged “Marighella”, which premiered at Berlinale in 2019 and reached Brazilian theaters on 4 November 2021. “Civil War” in 2024 amplified his profile again with a stark, contemporary role.
For anyone mapping his trajectory, the essentials below help.
- 1976 : Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- 2008 : “Elite Squad” wins the Golden Bear at Berlin
- 2010 : “Elite Squad: The Enemy Within” surpasses 11 million admissions in Brazil, ANCINE data
- 2013 : “Elysium” opposite Matt Damon and Jodie Foster
- 2015–2016 : “Narcos” seasons 1–2, Golden Globe nomination announced in 2016 by the HFPA
- 2019 : Directorial debut “Marighella” premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival
- 2020 : “Sergio” releases on Netflix
- 2022 : “Shining Girls” on Apple TV+, “The Gray Man” on Netflix
- 2024 : “Civil War” releases in the United States via A24
Languages, private life, music, and what drives Wagner Moura
Wagner Moura is married to journalist Sandra Delgado since 2001 and the couple has three children. The family stays out of the spotlight, a deliberate choice that runs through his interviews.
He works in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Spanish arrived later, learned specifically to play Escobar, and it opened a second career in Latin and global projects. Music also follows him. He sings with the band Sua Mãe, a long-time Bahia outfit that shows a lighter side away from movie sets.
What stands out is the throughline. Brazilian theater built the craft, national cinema solidified the reputation, and international series carried his name to new viewers. Then came directing with “Marighella” and a renewed burst of visibility with “Civil War”. A career made of choices that keep widening the field, step after step, date after date, with numbers and festivals to back it up.