Laurinda de Jesus Balleroni, known professionally as Laura Cardoso, was a Brazilian actress. Regarded as a grande dame of Brazilian drama, she was a pioneer of television, working in the medium from its launch in 1950. She appeared in more than 100 telenovelas and received numerous awards, including three Grande Otelo Awards, five APCA Awards, two Shell Awards and two Troféu Imprensa Awards. In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit for her contribution to Brazilian culture.