Maitê Proença Gallo (born 28 January 1958) is a Brazilian actress, television presenter and writer.

Her mother was Margot Proença, a philosophy and music teacher who died when Maitê was 12, killed by her father.

[2] As a child, Proença studied in an American school and spoke fluent English, as well as French, Spanish, and Italian.

Her role in the telenovela Dona Beija was her first major TV success in Brazil, Portugal and some 50 other countries where it was shown.

Proença has been a TV host for Video Show (1983), Programa de Domingo (1987) and Saia Justa (2006/2007).

Proença released a book in 2008 entitled "An Invented Life", which reveals that at age 16, living in Paris, she had her first boyfriend, a Frenchman who was a few years older.

She revealed in interviews that she was sure of what she was doing at the time, not regretting the act, stating that women need to have the freedom to deal with their lives, with their own bodies.

[9] Later she briefly dated the Carioca entrepreneur Toninho Dias Leite and the Portuguese writer Miguel Sousa Tavares, as well as the businessman Alexandre Colombo, with whom she was with for two years, ending in 2011.

"[15] According to the report, to keep the pension, it is common practice for many women to hold a religious marriage, live with a husband and even have children, but not officially register the relationship.