The government will honour singer and actress Simone de Oliveira with the Medal of Cultural Merit during a ceremony this Friday, March 27, World Theatre Day, at the Casa do Artista in Lisbon. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, stated that Oliveira's career is defined by emotion, intensity, and truth, noting that her work is a living legacy. The award recognises her as an interpreter whose influence extends far beyond her individual songs and performances. Simone de Oliveira, famous for her 1969 Eurovision entry 'Desfolhada Portuguesa', has a repertoire of over 400 songs and was previously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in 2022.