Background
Moura was born in Salvador, a city located in Northeast Region of Brazil, but grew up in the small town of Rodelas, Bahia.
Moura was born in Salvador, a city located in Northeast Region of Brazil, but grew up in the small town of Rodelas, Bahia.
He graduated in journalism at Federal University of Bahia but decided to become an actor.
He also gained recognition globally playing "Spider" in the 2013 sci-fi film Elysium. He is currently playing the lead role of Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series Narcos, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His mother, Alderiva, was a housewife, and his father, José Moura, was a Sergeant in the Brazilian Air Force.
At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Salvador, Bahia.
In 1997 he appeared in the film Woman on Top starring Penélope Cruz. During the preparation for the first Elite Squad film, Wagner and part of the cast were subject to realistic special forces training conducted by Paulo Storani, a former captain of BOPE, the elite squad portrayed in the movie.
During training, Storani was asked by the cast director to help "develop" Wagner"s aggression for the role, which he attempted to do through repeated sessions of moral abuse. After several days, Storani finally got the reaction he was looking for, and a little more.
He reportedly made a fictional threat to Wagner"s family, particularly mentioning Wagner"s newborn to which the actor responded with a punch that fractured Storani"s nose.
"That"s when Captain Nascimento was born", said Storani. In 2010, he starred in the sequel to Elite Squad, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. In 2013, he played "Spider" in the sci-fi film Elysium.
He is currently starring in the Netflix original series Narcos.
Besides being a well-established and acclaimed actor in Brazil, he has achieved widespread international fame for his portrayal of Captain (later Colonel) Roberto Nascimento, protagonist of the highly successful 2007 film Elite Squad and its sequel, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. In 2007 he played Captain Nascimento, protagonist of the Golden Bear winner in the 2008 Berlin Film Festival, Elite Squadron
