He is the oldest working actor in the world, but that is a paltry compliment. Ruy de Carvalho is a tremendous actor, the most recognised and respected among all Portuguese actors. I saw him yesterday in Parliament, supported by a cane that suits him well, smiling at those who smiled at him, thanking them for the tribute in the house of democracy after the health scare that almost took him from us. Ruy was born at the beginning of the Estado Novo, before Salazar had even taken his seat in São Bento and before anyone on the planet had heard of Hitler. He will turn 100 in March and no longer has to thank anyone for anything. We, however, do. Ruy de Carvalho 'was king and emperor, beggar and crook, fanatic and saint, suicidal and passionate, comic and tragic, he was so many lives on so many stages'. Ruy is fortunate to have received all the hugs and decorations while still alive. And we are fortunate to have him like this, whole and the master of various lives and characters.