Joana Raio

I am a Portuguese actress and theatre-maker currently based in Lisbon. I trained at East 15 Acting School in London, where I lived for 12 years and developed much of my artistic career. I am bilingual in English and also fluent in Spanish.

In theatre I have appeared in productions such as Prometheus Awakes by La Fura dels Baus, The Boy Who Caught the Tide by Gael Le Cornec, Tartufo directed by Carlos J. Pessoa, A Viagem de Ar-Taud directed by Patrícia Pinheiro, and Accidental Death of an Anarchist with the Lisbon Players.

I am also the creator and performer of Voltei, an autobiographical solo inspired by the experience of Portuguese emigration to the United Kingdom. The piece received the award for Best Production at the Setúbal International Theatre Festival and is premiering internationally at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026.

Among my recent projects is Break Up, a contemporary theatre piece that combines humour, testimony and audience interaction to reflect on relationships and separation, premiering internationally at the An Tobar and Mull Theatre on the 5th and 6th of August.

In film I have appeared in several short films working with directors such as Ricardo Greenough-Guerreiro (Última Hora), Jonas David and Gastão Travado (The Follower), Sandra Isabel Correia (The Misstep), and Filipa Duarte (Afinidade Quase). I also appear in the feature film All That’s Left, directed by Manuel Dixen.

For my full acting credits you may download my CV.