Ruth de Souza

Known for: Acting

Born: 1921-05-12 – 2019-07-28 (aged 98)

From: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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.

Filmography (87)

MOVIE
Ecos do Teatro Experimental do Negro
2026
MOVIE
Conversations with Ruth de Souza
2022
MOVIE★ 6.0
Primavera
2022
as Josephina / Matilda / Madre Amélia
MOVIE★ 8.6
Emicida: AmarElo - It's All for Yesterday
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Ney - À Flor da Pele
2020
as Self
MOVIE
Women's Cinema
2020
as Self
MOVIE★ 10.0
Filhas de Lavadeiras
2019
as herself
MOVIE
Pressed, Ripped Apart
2019
as (archive footage)
TV★ 7.9
If I Close My Eyes Now
2019
as Madalena dos Santos
MOVIE★ 8.0
Inezita
2018
MOVIE
Carolina Maria de Jesus
2018
as Self
MOVIE★ 5.6
Pitanga
2016
as Self
MOVIE★ 5.9
O Vendedor de Passados
2014
as Dona Célia
MOVIE
Inezita Barroso - A Voz e a Viola
2013
MOVIE
Abdias Nascimento
2011
MOVIE
Em Quadro: A História de 4 Negros nas Telas
2009
as Self
MOVIE★ 6.4
Daughters of the Wind
2005
as Cida
MOVIE
A Mãe e o Filho da Mãe
2003
TV★ 8.1
The Clone
2001
as Dona Mocinha da Silva
MOVIE★ 7.0
Movie Theaters of Rio
2001
as Self
MOVIE★ 10.0
Distraída para a Morte
2001
as Carolina de Jesus
MOVIE★ 8.4
Denying Brazil
2000
as Herself
MOVIE★ 7.0
O Aleijadinho - Paixão, Glória e Suplício
2000
as Joana
MOVIE★ 5.2
A Fit of Rage
1999
as Mariana
MOVIE★ 3.6
Boca
1994
as Mrs. Esteban
MOVIE
O Construtor de Sonhos
1994
MOVIE
Eu, Mulher Negra
1994
TV★ 7.8
Memorial de Maria Moura
1994
as Sia Mena
MOVIE★ 4.5
High Art
1991
as Old Woman Kissing
MOVIE★ 8.0
Only One Survived
1990
as Mama Santa
TV★ 7.8
Rainha da Sucata
1990
as Juíza Elizabeth Andrade
TV★ 10.0
Pacto de Sangue
1989
as Mãe Quitinha
MOVIE
As Divas Negras do Cinema Brasileiro
1989
TV★ 7.0
Wildcat
1988
as Cecília
TV★ 8.0
Mandala
1987
as Zezé (Maria José Barbosa)
MOVIE★ 5.6
Jubiabá
1987
as Tia Luiza
MOVIE
Memória Vera Cruz: A Recuperação de um Sonho
1987
TV★ 4.9
The Legacy of Guldenburgs
1987
as Antonia
TV★ 7.8
Little Missy
1986
as Balbina
TV★ 9.3
Power Play
1984
as Jurema Nascimento Rangel
TV★ 8.5
Partido Alto
1984
as jurada no julgamento de Maurício e Jussara
TV★ 9.0
Sétimo Sentido
1982
as Jerusa
MOVIE★ 7.0
Fruit of Love
1981
TV★ 10.0
Olhai os Lírios do Campo
1980
as Mariana
TV★ 7.7
Sinal de Alerta
1978
as Adelaide
TV★ 6.0
Sinhazinha Flô
1977
as Justina
MOVIE★ 8.0
Who Killed Pacifico?
1977
MOVIE★ 7.0
Sweet Thieves
1977
as Rainha Louca
MOVIE★ 8.0
Pontal da Solidão
1976
as Narração
TV★ 7.7
Duas Vidas
1976
as Elisa
TV★ 6.7
O Casarão
1976
as marchand da galeria de arte
TV★ 7.7
O Grito
1975
as Albertina
TV★ 8.5
Helena
1975
as Madalena
MOVIE★ 9.0
Pureza Proibida
1975
TV★ 6.0
O Rebu
1974
as Lourdes
MOVIE★ 10.0
Um Homem Célebre
1974
TV★ 8.5
Os Ossos do Barão
1973
as Elisa
TV★ 9.1
O Bem-Amado
1973
as Francisca (Chiquinha do Parto)
TV★ 7.0
Bicho do Mato
1972
as Zilda
TV★ 6.0
Caso Especial
1971
as Laura
TV★ 10.0
O Homem Que Deve Morrer
1971
as Das Dores (Ma. das Dores)
TV★ 6.3
Assim na Terra Como no Céu
1970
as Isabel
TV★ 8.0
Pigmalião 70
1970
TV★ 7.5
Verão Vermelho
1969
as Clementina
TV
A Cabana do Pai Tomás
1969
as Cloé
TV
Passo dos Ventos
1968
as Mãe Tuiá
MOVIE★ 5.9
The Naked Man
1968
as Testemunha de Jeová
TV★ 8.0
A Deusa Vencida
1965
as Narcisa
MOVIE★ 9.0
Gimba, Presidente dos Valentes
1963
MOVIE★ 7.0
O Cabeleira
1963
MOVIE★ 8.0
Assault on the Pay Train
1962
as Judith
MOVIE★ 6.3
Bruma Seca
1961
as Luisa
MOVIE★ 6.6
Death Commands Brigandage
1960
as Rezadeira
MOVIE★ 7.5
Macumba Love
1960
as Mama Rata-loi
MOVIE★ 7.5
Favela
1960
MOVIE★ 9.0
Lonesome Women
1959
MOVIE★ 6.0
Ravina
1959
MOVIE★ 9.0
Osso, Amor e Papagaios
1957
MOVIE★ 9.0
Quem Matou Anabela?
1956
as Shirley
MOVIE★ 7.1
Candinho
1954
as Dona Manuela
MOVIE★ 5.8
The Landowner's Daughter
1953
as Sabina
MOVIE★ 7.0
Terra é Sempre Terra
1951
MOVIE★ 7.0
Angela
1951
as Divina
MOVIE★ 8.0
The Shadow of Another
1950
MOVIE★ 7.6
Também Somos Irmãos
1949
as Rosália
MOVIE★ 9.0
Terra Violenta
1949
as Empregada
MOVIE★ 10.0
Falta Alguém no Manicômio
1948