Maria Gladys Mello da Silva (born 23 November 1939) is a Brazilian actress. Gladys made her acting debut in 1959 with Arthur Azevedo's play "O Mambembe" at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. She earned recognition in the theater world by appearing topless in the publicity poster for the play "O Chão dos Penitentes". In 1964, she starred in Ruy Guerra's film "Os Fuzis," which won the Silver Bear in Berlin for directing and was nominated for a Golden Bear. She's considered the mother of marginal cinema. Being part of the resistance during the Brazilian dictatorship led Gladys to exile in London between 1965 and 1979. She is the maternal grandmother of actress Mia Goth.