Larissa Manoela Taques Elias Santo (born December 28, 2000), known as Larissa Manoela, was born in Guarapuava, Paraná. She is the daughter of real estate consultant Gilberto Elias Santos and educator Silvana Taques. At the age of 4, while shopping with her mother at a supermarket, she was discovered by a talent scout who recommended her to an agency. At 5, she participated in the "Projeto Passarela" contest, where she emerged as the first among 300 children.

Her first TV appearance was in 2006, playing herself in the series "Mothern" on GNT channel. In the same year, she acted in the play "A Noviça Rebelde" as Greti. In 2010, she portrayed Dalva de Oliveira as a child in the series "Dalva e Hervelto: uma Canção de Amor." She also appeared as Lequinha in the series "Na Fama e na Lama" on Multishow. Additionally, in 2010, she played Baby June in the play "Gypsy."