Maria Bethânia
Known for Acting · 80 credits
- Born
- 1946-06-18 (age 79)
- Place of birth
- Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia, Brazil
Biography
Maria Bethânia Viana Teles Veloso (born 18 June 1946) is a Brazilian singer and songwriter. Born in Santo Amaro, Bahia, she started her career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 with the show "Opinião" ("Opinion"). Due to its popularity, with performances all over the country, and the popularity of her 1965 single "Carcará", the artist became a star in Brazil.
Bethânia is the sister of the singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso and of the writer-songwriter Mabel Velloso, as well as being aunt of the singers Belô Velloso and Jota Velloso. The singer has released 50 studio albums in 47 years of career, and is among the 10 best-selling music artists in Brazil, having sold more than 26 million records. Bethânia was ranked in 2012, by Rolling Stone Brasil magazine, as the fifth-biggest voice of Brazilian music.
Bethânia is the sixth out of eight children born into the family of José Telles Veloso (Seu Zeca), a government official, and Claudionor Viana Telles Veloso (Dona Canô), a housewife.
The name Maria Bethânia was chosen by her brother Caetano Veloso after the homonymous hit song written by composer Capiba and famous at the time in the voice of Nélson Gonçalves.
In her childhood, she had aspirations to become an actress. However, her mother was a musician, so music was prevalent in the Veloso household. Though Bethânia was born in Santo Amaro da Purifição, her family moved to Salvador, Bahia when she was 13. The move allowed her to experience the bohemian, intellectual circles of the city, as well as to visit theaters. When she was 16, her brother Caetano Veloso invited her to sing in a film for which he was producing the soundtrack, but she refused. Nevertheless, the film's director, Álvaro Guimarães, liked her voice and invited the young musician to perform in the 1963 Nélson Rodrigues's musical Boca de Ouro. This time Bethânia accepted, and for the first time in her life she went on stage to sing for an audience, opening the play performing a samba by Ataulfo Alves.
Known For
TV Shows (6)
Movies (74)
Maria Bethânia: As Canções Que Você Fez Pra Mim
1994
as Self
Todo Mundo no Rio com Shakira
2026
as Self
The Girl from Ipanema
1967
The Man Who Bought the World
1968
Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo
2025
as Self
Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novo
1967
as Self
Tropicália
2012
as Self (archive footage)
The Dare
1965
as Self
Memórias do Grupo Opinião
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Chico: Brazilian Artist
2015
as Self
Fevereiros
2019
as Self
Chico e as Cidades
1999
as Self
The Man Who Bottled Clouds
2008
as Self
Vinicius de Moraes
2005
as Self
Ritas
2025
as Self (archive footage)
A Última Ceia Segundo Ziraldo
1968
MPB dos Tempos da Repressão
2004
as Self
Pitanga
2016
as Self
Ana Carolina - Multishow Registro Ana Car9lina + Um: 9+1
2010
as Self
Maria: Ninguém Sabe Quem Sou Eu
2022
as Self
Maria Bethânia: Música é Perfume
2005
as Self
Vento Bravo
2007
as Self
Alcione - Duas Faces
2011
as Self - Guest
Dê Lembranças a Todos
2018
as Self
Os Doces Bárbaros
1977
as Self
Nas Ondas de Dorival Caymmi
2024
as Self
Com a Palavra, Arnaldo Antunes
2018
as Self
Luiz Melodia - Within the Heart of Brazil
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The Egg
2003
as Narrator
Ferreira Gullar: Arqueologia do Poeta
2019
as Self
Phono 73: A Country and its Music
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Viva Volta
2005
as Self
Jards Macalé - Um Morcego na Porta Principal
2008
as Self
Mulher 80
1979
as Self
Brasil
1981
as Self
Bethânia Bem de Perto: A Propósito de um Show
1966
as Self
Maria Bethânia: Pedrinha de Aruanda
2007
as Self
Saravah
1969
as Self
Brazil's Maria Bethânia
2001
as Self
Multishow Registro: Pode Entrar
2009
as Self
Os Afro-Sambas: The Brazil of Baden and Vinicius
2024
as Self
Palavra (En)Cantada
2009
as Self
Duetos
2010
as Self
Maria Bethânia e Zeca Pagodinho: De Santo Amaro a Xerém
2018
as Intérprete
Panorama with Clarice Lispector
1977
as Self
Entangling Shadows
1998
as Self
Especial Caetano Veloso 80 Anos
2022
as Self
Karingana - Licença para contar
2017
as Self
26º Prêmio da Música Brasileira - Homenagem a Maria Bethânia
2015
as ela mesma
Moacyr Luz, O Embaixador Dessa Cidade
2024
as Self
Zeca Apresenta - o Quintal do Pagodinho ao Vivo - Vol. 3
2016
as Participante
Eu, Meu Pai e Os Cariocas
2017
as Self
Certas Palavras com Chico Buarque
1980
as Self
Maria Bethânia: Tempo Tempo Tempo Tempo
2005
When Carnaval Comes
1972
as Rosa
Extrafísico - Jorge Vercillo
2019
as Self
Toquinho Maravilhoso
2024
as Self
The Next Samba
2017
as Herself
Maria Bethânia - Caderno de Poesia
2013
Maria Bethânia: Carta de Amor Ao Vivo
2013
as Intérprete
Outros (Doces) Bárbaros
2002
as Self
Gal - from Tropicalism to the Present Day
2006
Maria Bethânia: Dentro do Mar Tem Rio
2009
Ana Carolina - Estampado
2003
Bahia - Stadt aller Heiligen
1971
as Herself
Rio Sonata: Nana Caymmi
2011
Maria Bethânia: Brasileirinho Ao Vivo
2004
as Self
Abraçar e Agradecer
2016
as Herself
Ruin
2016
A Imagem da Tolerância
2017
as Self
Maria Bethânia e Omara Portuondo
2008
Bethânia e as Palavras
2025
as Self
Cauby: Começaria Tudo Outra Vez
2015
Maria Bethânia: Noite Luzidia
2001
About Maria Bethânia
Maria Bethânia Viana Teles Veloso (born 18 June 1946) is a Brazilian singer and songwriter. Born in Santo Amaro, Bahia, she started her career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 with the show "Opinião" ("Opinion"). Due to its popularity, with performances all over the country, and the popularity of her 1965 single "Carcará", the artist became a star in Brazil. Bethânia is the sister of the singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso and of the writer-songwriter Mabel Velloso, as well as being aunt of the singers Belô Velloso and Jota Velloso. The singer has relea… With 80 credits spanning from 1965 to 2026, Maria Bethânia has appeared in 74 films and 6 TV shows.
Fans searching for Maria Bethânia movies, Maria Bethânia filmography, or the latest projects starring Maria Bethânia can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Maria Bethânia Movies
- Maria Bethânia: As Canções Que Você Fez Pra Mim (1994) — as Self
- Todo Mundo no Rio com Shakira (2026) — as Self
- The Girl from Ipanema (1967)
- The Man Who Bought the World (1968)
- Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo (2025) — as Self
Where to Watch Maria Bethânia Films
Most Maria Bethânia movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Maria Bethânia, check our movies catalogue and browse page.