Peacock’s M.I.A. lands Brazilian legendary star Sônia Braga for high-profile guest role

It’s official: Sônia Braga, one of Brazil’s most iconic and internationally acclaimed actresses, is stepping into the dark world of M.I.A., Peacock’s upcoming crime drama set in the neon-drenched underbelly of South Florida.

Braga, whose mere presence enhances every screen she walks on, joins a star-studded cast including Edward James Olmos, Billy Burke, and Alberto Guerra. Though specifics regarding her role are still secret, the news is already generating buzz in Latin America as well as Hollywood.

Sônia Braga: A queen on both sides of the equator

From the unforgettable characters in Brazilian daily soap operas that then became international hits, like Gabriela and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, to the hauntingly powerful Aquarius, Braga has long crossed borders, languages, and genres with grace and fire. Her resume includes also critically acclaimed Brazilian films, and major international appearances—from The Burning Season to Sex and the City, where she played the fierce and magnetic Maria Diega Reyes, one of Samantha’s most memorable love interests. More recently, she played the mother of Jennifer Lopez' character in the movie Shotgun Wedding.

Also, in the domestically and internationally acclaimed Brazlian film Bacurau (2019), Sônia Braga once again proved why she remains a force in contemporary cinema. Her portrayal of Domingas, the defiant doctor in a town under siege, was raw, unapologetic, and unforgettable—just like she is.

M.I.A.: A new chapter in Sônia Braga's ever-evolving career

Created by Bill Dubuque of Ozark and directed by Karen Campbell (Outlander, Dexter), Peacock's M.I.A. tells the story of Etta "Tiger" Jonze (Shannon Gisela), a woman negotiating a brutal heritage of crime while building her empire. The show comes with promises of of emotional reckonings, power struggles, and revenge moments. The participation of Braga only served to lend it additional significance.

Sônia Braga's character is being said to be crucial to the early narrative of the show, marking Braga's return to American episodic television in grand style. While more details are still under wraps, fans are only left with expectation, speculations and possibilities.

And, knowing how carefully Sônia Braga has been choosing her characters, if some might think M.I.A. is just another sun-soaked crime drama,, maybe e will have a pleasant surprise. Set to be a tale of power constructed on the ruins of pain, in a Miami that simmers under pastel façades and seaside breezes, the series explores the legacy of violence, where crime is not a choice but a legacy.

In the middle of it all is a woman forged by grief, anger and ambition, decided to convert the name of her family into a symbol of absolute power..

Apparently uninterested in glamorizing the underworld, M.I.A. comes with the promise of picking apart the emotional cost of control, the fragility of loyalty, and what it takes to rule a kingdom built on blood, focusing on the masks we wear to survive, and the ghosts we carry when survival comes at a cost.

This is Miami as myth and memory, a battleground where the line between vengeance and vision is blurred, and not a single living (and maybe dead) soul gets out clean.

Lights, crime, action—Sônia Braga is back

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After years focused on film and selective television appearances, Sônia Braga’s decision to join M.I.A. feels like both a surprise and a perfect fit. The show's themes of legacy, grief, and reinvention seem tailor-made for someone who's spent a career rethinking what it means to be a woman in control—on screen and off.

With production underway and a premiere date expected soon, fans of both crime dramas and world-class acting have something to look forward to. Because when Sônia Braga enters the frame, she doesn’t just play a part. She leaves a legacy.

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