Helena Ignez
Known for Acting · 116 credits
- Born
- 1939-05-23 (age 87)
- Place of birth
- Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Also known as
- Helena Ignês · Helena Inês · Helena Inez
Biography
Helena Ignez (Salvador, May 23, 1939) is a Brazilian actress and filmmaker.
Helena was born in Salvador, Bahia and was attending her second year of law school when she fell in love with theater and decided to study the Dramatic Arts at the Federal University of Bahia. At the time, the Bahian theater scene was breaking with traditional Brazilian theater and experiencing strong influence from the young vanguard. She first appeared on the screen in Glauber Rocha's short film "Pátio".
Helena acted in a few films associated with the Cinema Novo movement, such as "A Grande Feira" (1961), "Assalto ao Trem Pagador" (1962), and "O Padre e a Moça" (1966) before playing Janete Jane in O Bandido da Luz Vermelha by Rogério Sganzerla. After this film, she would perform in some most significant films in the Cinema Marginal movement, which directly opposed the critically acclaimed Cinema Novo -- the most remarkable being her role as Ângela Carne e "Osso in A Mulher de Todos" (1969).
She also was a financial partner of Rogério Sganzerla and fellow Cinema Marginal filmmaker Júlio Bressane in the short-lived, although prolific, Belair production company. Between 1968 and 1970, Sganzerla and Ignez made almost a dozen films together and were also married and had two children -- one of which would become actress Djin Sganzerla.
As a filmmaker, Ignez has directed 7 films, the most notable being "Luz das Trevas" (2010), a sequel to Sganzerla's debut feature "O Bandido da Luz Vermelha" (1968).
Known For
TV Shows (3)
Movies (113)
Antes do Fim
2018
Lost Media
as A Colecionadora
Hotel Atlântico
2009
as Dona da Pousada
O Cinema Foi à Feira
2016
as Ela mesma
Oswaldianas
1992
Nosferatu
2025
Ralé: The Lower Depths
2016
as Sonia Silk
A Film to Remind Us of Utopia
2026
as Self (archive footage)
Subterrânea
2021
as Senhora Ônibus
Ugly, Me?
2013
as Jarda
Estátua!
2014
as Mãe (voz)
Rio de Topless
2020
as Self
Embodiment of Evil
2008
as Cabíria
Extracts
2019
A Última Vanguarda
2024
as Self
Copacabana Mon Amour
1970
as Sônia Silk
Fakir
2019
as Narrator
Belair
2009
Eclipse
2026
as Dona da Kitnet
Paixão e Virtude
2014
My Calendar Girl
2018
as Helena / Palestrante (voz)
Anônimo e incomum
1990
Helena de Guaratiba
2023
as Helena
Helena! Cinema!
2026
Assault on the Pay Train
1962
as Marta
Memoirs of a Strangler of Blondes
1971
as Multiple Characters (Archive Footage)
The Red Light Bandit
1968
as Janete Jane
All Paulos in the World - Paulo José
2017
São Jerônimo
1999
as Marcela
Fogo Baixo, Alto Astral
2020
Cartas Para Rian
2026
as Nair de Tefé
The Monsters of Babaloo
1970
Face to Face
1967
as Luciana
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
1997
as Self
The Long Voyage of the Yellow Bus
2023
Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Century
2017
as Self
A Grande Feira
1961
as Ely
The Woman of Everyone
1969
as Ângela Carne e Osso
A Miss e o Dinossauro
2005
as Herself (archive footage) / (Voz em Off)
O Pátio
1959
as The woman
Not Even God Is As Fair As Your Jeans
2025
as Dra. Marina Consiglio
Memórias do Grupo Opinião
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Baron Olavo, The Horrible
1970
as Isabel
The Hullabaloo Family
1970
as Prostituta
A Mulher da Luz Própria
2019
as Self
Trópico de Leão
2025
as Medéia
Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinth
2003
as Self
It's Not All True
1986
Venus – Filly the Lesbian Little Fairy
2017
as Narração
No Way, Spider
1970
A Vermelha Luz do Bandido
2009
A Man and His Cage
1974
as Aeromoça
Candango: Memoirs from a Festival
2020
as Self
Watch Out, Madame
1970
Gravidade
2025
If I'm Here It Is by Mystery
2024
as Arlete
Nelson Carneiro: Knight of Democracy
2023
as Self
The Outsiders
1968
The Priest and the Girl
1966
as Mariana
Love Film Festival
2014
as Herself
The Welles Raft
2022
as Herself
Message from Sergipe
2025
Benjamim Zambraia e o Autopanóptico
2020
as Mother
A Balada do Provisório
2012
as Provisório's Mother
Notícias do Fim do Mundo
2019
Copacabana, Mon Amour: A Restauração
2014
as Self
Natureza Morta
2020
as Narradora 3
The End of an Age
2014
as (voz)
Inaudito
2017
as Voice
Carnaval na Lama
1970
Mulher Oceano
2020
as Mulher Caminhando de Costas (uncredited)
Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit
2012
Abry
2003
as Self
The Good Cinema
2021
Ossos
2014
as Voz Off
Flesh
Mr. Sganzerla: Os Signos da Luz
2012
Flesh
2019
as (voice)
Poder dos Afetos
2013
as Ritual Xamânico
The Mother
2022
as Dulce
In Memoriam: O Roteiro do Gravador
2019
The Sign of Chaos
2003
as Guida
Bring me the Head of Carmen M.
2019
as Diretora
Terno
2013
as Mãe
Ensaio Sobre o Fracasso
2020
Scent of Gardenias
1992
as Bandida
Joy Is the Acid Test
2023
as Jarda Ícone
Esse fim de semana vou me dedicar as paredes
2020
Sinais de Cinza, A Peleja de Olney Contra o Dragão da Maldade
2013
Nova Pasta, Antigo Baú
2021
as Voiceover
Helena Zero
2006
The Lady Who Died in the Trailer
2020
B2
2001
Grito da Terra
1964
as Mariá
Deuses da Peste
2025
Race Antenna
2020
as Self
Mulheres de Cinema
1978
as Self (archive footage)
Reinvenção da Rua
2003
as Herself
O Engano
1967
as Mulher do médico
Febre
2017
Retrato da Terra
2004
as Ela mesma
Spray Jet
1986
as Bossy Lady
O Desmonte do Monte
2018
O Mel é Mais Doce Que o Sangue
2023
Um Documentário Brasileiro
2021
as Self
Avacalha e se Esculhamba
2010
A Bela P...
2008
Um Intruso no Paraíso
1973
Meu Mundo em Perigo
2007
as Mãe de Ísis
Perigo Negro
1992
as Tiafa
Desculpa, Dona Madama
2013
as Patroa
Luz-Lux-Lúcia
2005
Flying Geraldo
1994
About Helena Ignez
Helena Ignez (Salvador, May 23, 1939) is a Brazilian actress and filmmaker. Helena was born in Salvador, Bahia and was attending her second year of law school when she fell in love with theater and decided to study the Dramatic Arts at the Federal University of Bahia. At the time, the Bahian theater scene was breaking with traditional Brazilian theater and experiencing strong influence from the young vanguard. She first appeared on the screen in Glauber Rocha's short film "Pátio". Helena acted in a few films associated with the Cinema Novo mov… With 116 credits spanning from 1959 to 2026, Helena Ignez has appeared in 113 films and 3 TV shows.
Fans searching for Helena Ignez movies, Helena Ignez filmography, or the latest projects starring Helena Ignez can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Helena Ignez Movies
- Antes do Fim (2018)
- Lost Media — as A Colecionadora
- Hotel Atlântico (2009) — as Dona da Pousada
- O Cinema Foi à Feira (2016) — as Ela mesma
- Oswaldianas (1992)
Where to Watch Helena Ignez Films
Most Helena Ignez 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 Helena Ignez, check our movies catalogue and browse page.