Acting

Ruth de Souza

Born 1921-05-12 · Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Died 2019-07-28

Ruth Pinto de Souza was considered one of the great ladies of Brazilian dramaturgy and the first great reference for black artists on television for her notable roles. Ruth stood out for being the first black actress to star in a soap opera on Rede Globo in A Cabana do Pai Tomás (1969) — and the second on Brazilian television, after Yolanda Braga, in A Cor da Sua Pele (1965) on TV Tupi — in addition to being the first Brazilian artist nominated for the best actress award at an international film festival, for her work in Sinhá Moça (1954) at the Venice Film Festival.

Credits

Newest first

Ecos do Teatro Experimental do Negro
2026
Conversations with Ruth de Souza
2022
Primavera
as Josephina / Matilda / Madre Amélia
2022
Emicida: AmarElo - It's All for Yesterday
as Self (archive footage)
2020
Ney - À Flor da Pele
as Self
2020
Women's Cinema
as Self
2020
Filhas de Lavadeiras
as herself
2019
Pressed, Ripped Apart
as (archive footage)
2019
If I Close My Eyes Now
as Madalena dos Santos
2019
Inezita
2018
Carolina Maria de Jesus
as Self
2018
Pitanga
as Self
2016
O Vendedor de Passados
as Dona Célia
2014
Inezita Barroso - A Voz e a Viola
2013
Abdias Nascimento
2011
Em Quadro: A História de 4 Negros nas Telas
as Self
2009
Daughters of the Wind
as Cida
2005
A Mãe e o Filho da Mãe
2003
The Clone
as Dona Mocinha da Silva
2001
Movie Theaters of Rio
as Self
2001
Distraída para a Morte
as Carolina de Jesus
2001
Denying Brazil
as Herself
2000
O Aleijadinho - Paixão, Glória e Suplício
as Joana
2000
A Fit of Rage
as Mariana
1999
Boca
as Mrs. Esteban
1994
O Construtor de Sonhos
1994
Eu, Mulher Negra
1994
Memorial de Maria Moura
as Sia Mena
1994
High Art
as Old Woman Kissing
1991
Only One Survived
as Mama Santa
1990
Rainha da Sucata
as Juíza Elizabeth Andrade
1990
Pacto de Sangue
as Mãe Quitinha
1989
As Divas Negras do Cinema Brasileiro
1989
Wildcat
as Cecília
1988
Mandala
as Zezé (Maria José Barbosa)
1987
Jubiabá
as Tia Luiza
1987
Memória Vera Cruz: A Recuperação de um Sonho
1987
The Legacy of Guldenburgs
as Antonia
1987
Little Missy
as Balbina
1986
Power Play
as Jurema Nascimento Rangel
1984
Partido Alto
as jurada no julgamento de Maurício e Jussara
1984
Sétimo Sentido
as Jerusa
1982
Fruit of Love
1981
Olhai os Lírios do Campo
as Mariana
1980
Sinal de Alerta
as Adelaide
1978
Sinhazinha Flô
as Justina
1977
Who Killed Pacifico?
1977
Sweet Thieves
as Rainha Louca
1977
Pontal da Solidão
as Narração
1976
Duas Vidas
as Elisa
1976
O Casarão
as marchand da galeria de arte
1976
O Grito
as Albertina
1975
Helena
as Madalena
1975
Pureza Proibida
1975
O Rebu
as Lourdes
1974
Um Homem Célebre
1974
Os Ossos do Barão
as Elisa
1973
O Bem-Amado
as Francisca (Chiquinha do Parto)
1973
Bicho do Mato
as Zilda
1972
Caso Especial
as Laura
1971
O Homem Que Deve Morrer
as Das Dores (Ma. das Dores)
1971
Assim na Terra Como no Céu
as Isabel
1970
Pigmalião 70
1970
Verão Vermelho
as Clementina
1969
A Cabana do Pai Tomás
as Cloé
1969
Passo dos Ventos
as Mãe Tuiá
1968
The Naked Man
as Testemunha de Jeová
1968
A Deusa Vencida
as Narcisa
1965
Gimba, Presidente dos Valentes
1963
O Cabeleira
1963
Assault on the Pay Train
as Judith
1962
Bruma Seca
as Luisa
1961
Death Commands Brigandage
as Rezadeira
1960
Macumba Love
as Mama Rata-loi
1960
Favela
1960
Lonesome Women
1959
Ravina
1959
Osso, Amor e Papagaios
1957
Quem Matou Anabela?
as Shirley
1956
Candinho
as Dona Manuela
1954