Early life

Ana Lúcia Pereira Moniz was born in Lisbon, Portugal. She is the daughter of two musicians - Carlos Alberto Moniz (a famous Portuguese conductor from the Azores) and Maria do Amparo. Lúcia's musical career began at an early age at the Saint Cecilia Academy of Music in Lisbon.

After completing her sixth year of musical school, Moniz traveled as an exchange student to Minnesota in the United States, where she attended Eden Prairie High School. She joined the school's concert choir and performed in the school production of Kiss Me Kate.

Upon returning to Portugal she took a course in design, but due to an ongoing quantity of musical requests she ended up quitting. From the age of 18 Moniz accepted roles in some Portuguese soap operas and plays, thus opening up a career in acting as well as singing.

Music career

Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Moniz was still fairly unknown in Portugal when at the age of 19 she performed in the nationally regarded Festival da Canção with the song "O meu coração não tem cor" ("My Heart Has No Colour"). She unexpectedly reached the finals, which were held on March 7, 1996. Moniz went on to win first place only four points ahead of the second place winner. She was awarded with representing Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996, where she finished in sixth place amongst 23 contestants - the best ever result for Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Magnolia (1999)

In 1999 Moniz released her first album, entitled Magnolia, after the name of the location in the United States where it was recorded. The album includes rhythmic pop songs unlike her Eurovision entry, both in Portuguese and in English. The album was certified gold.

67 (2002)

Magnolia was a very successful platform for her follow-up release, 67, which was recorded in Boston. It was made with her longtime producer and uncle-in-law Nuno Bettencourt and released by EMI (Portugal) in 2002. The album was named after the number of days it took to complete. It matched her debut by also going gold in her home country.

Leva-me P'ra Casa (2005)

Moniz returned to the music scene in 2005, three years after the release of 67, with the album Leva-me p'ra casa ("Take Me Home"). This album differed from her previous two, being sweeter and softer.

Fio de Luz (2011)

After a six-year gap Moniz released her fourth album Fio de Luz. With 10 tracks, three of which are sung in English, this album returns to the harder sound of her first two albums.

Film career

Love Actually (2003)

Moniz's break into the international scene occurred in 2003 when she played the role of Aurélia in the movie Love Actually, taking her place among a cast that included Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson and Rodrigo Santoro. Although it was essentially an English-language film, most of her own character's dialogue was in Portuguese. On the DVD commentary track director Richard Curtis indicated that, contrary to the effect for her fellow castmembers, her role had been detrimental to her career and image in Portugal, being seen there as perpetuating a negative stereotype.

Sonho de uma noite de São João (2005)

Moniz lent her voice to an animated character in the first animated feature film made in Portugal.

29 Golpes (2005)

Moniz starred in this Portuguese short film with Paulo Pires.

Um Amor Próprio (2006)

Moniz starred in this Portuguese short film written and directed by Miguel Tomar Nogueira.

The Right Juice (2013)

Moniz starred in The Right Juice, an English-language independent film directed by Kristjan Knigge and shot exclusively in the Algarve.

Television career

Moniz appeared in several soap operas in Portugal such as her debut "A Grande Aposta", where she played twins; "A Terra Mãe"; "Alves dos Reis"; "Ajuste de Contas"; "Saber Amar"; "Triângulo Jota"; "Aqui não há quem viva".

The year 2007 premiered "Vingança", a story based in the life of the Count of Montecristo, with Diogo Morgado.

In 2008/2009, she played Cristina in "Olhos nos Olhos" from Rui Vilhena.

Discography

Album information
Magnolia Released: 1999 Chart positions: Pt certification: Gold Singles: "Dizer que não", "Try Again (ft Nuno Bettencourt)", "A vida segue lá fora".
67 Released: 2002 Chart positions: RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Asas na mão"
Leva-me p'ra casa (Take me home) Released: April 2005 Chart positions: RIAA certification: Gold Singles: "Chuva" "Leva-me p'ra casa"

[ Source: Wikipedia ]