Ana Maria Belo is one of Australia's most versatile performers. She is the first of her Portuguese family to be born in Australia. Ana Maria is deaf and began singing and acting at a very young age. She has continued to perform on most Australian stages and international screens - small, large, independent and mainstream. She is also gifted writer, and has directed and produced her short films that have gone on to film festivals around the world. Her short film, Things to Do won her a TROPFEST award. Ana Maria wears hearing aids and uses Auslan (Australian Sign Language).