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).
Acted in 92
2020s
- 2026
Pioneiras do Cinema
Movie
América do Sol
Sonia Silk
Garden of Silences
Movie
Eclipse
Dona da Kitnet
Cartas Para Rian
Nair de Tefé
As Florestas da Noite
Movie
Helena! Cinema!
Movie
- 2025
Nosferatu
Movie
Gravidade
Movie
Message from Sergipe
Movie
Trópico de Leão
Medéia
Not Even God Is As Fair As Your Jeans
Dra. Marina Consiglio
Deuses da Peste
Movie
- 2024
If I'm Here It Is by Mystery
Arlete
- 2023
Helena de Guaratiba
Helena
O Mel é Mais Doce Que o Sangue
Movie
The Long Voyage of the Yellow Bus
Movie
Joy Is the Acid Test
Jarda Ícone
- 2022
The Mother
Dulce
- 2021
Nova Pasta, Antigo Baú
Voiceover
The Good Cinema
Movie
Subterrânea
Senhora Ônibus
- 2020
Benjamim Zambraia e o Autopanóptico
Mother
Mulher Oceano
Mulher Caminhando de Costas (uncredited)
The Lady Who Died in the Trailer
Movie
Esse fim de semana vou me dedicar as paredes
Movie
Fogo Baixo, Alto Astral
Movie
Ensaio Sobre o Fracasso
Movie
Natureza Morta
Narradora 3
2010s
- 2019
Extracts
Movie
Notícias do Fim do Mundo
Movie
Flesh
(voice)
In Memoriam: O Roteiro do Gravador
Movie
Bring me the Head of Carmen M.
Diretora
- 2018
My Calendar Girl
Helena / Palestrante (voz)
O Desmonte do Monte
Movie
- 2017
All Paulos in the World - Paulo José
Movie
Febre
Movie
Venus – Filly the Lesbian Little Fairy
Narração
- 2016
- 2014
The End of an Age
(voz)
Estátua!
Mãe (voz)
Paixão e Virtude
Movie
Ossos
Voz Off
- 2013
Desculpa, Dona Madama
Patroa
Ugly, Me?
Jarda
Poder dos Afetos
Ritual Xamânico
Terno
Mãe
- 2012
Mr. Sganzerla: Os Signos da Luz
Movie
Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit
Movie
- 2010
Avacalha e se Esculhamba
Movie
2000s
- 2009
Belair
Movie
A Vermelha Luz do Bandido
Movie
- 2008
Embodiment of Evil
Cabíria
A Bela P...
Movie
- 2007
Meu Mundo em Perigo
Mãe de Ísis
- 2005
Luz-Lux-Lúcia
Movie
- 2003
The Sign of Chaos
Guida
- 2001
B2
Movie
1990s
- 1999
São Jerônimo
Marcela
- 1994
Flying Geraldo
Movie
- 1992
Scent of Gardenias
Bandida
Tereza Batista
Maricota · 28 episodes
Oswaldianas
Movie
Perigo Negro
Tiafa
- 1990
Anônimo e incomum
Movie
1980s
- 1986
It's Not All True
Movie
Spray Jet
Bossy Lady
1970s
- 1974
A Man and His Cage
Aeromoça
- 1973
Um Intruso no Paraíso
Movie
- 1971
Memoirs of a Strangler of Blondes
Multiple Characters (Archive Footage)
- 1970
Baron Olavo, The Horrible
Isabel
The Rowdy Family
Prostituta
No Way, Spider
Movie
Copacabana Mon Amour
Sônia Silk
Watch Out, Madame
Empregada
The Monsters of Babaloo
Movie
1960s
- 1969
The Woman of Everyone
Ângela Carne e Osso
Era Preciso Voltar
Regina · 75 episodes
- 1968
The Outsiders
Movie
- 1967
Face to Face
Luciana
O Engano
Mulher do médico
- 1966
The Priest and the Girl
Mariana
- 1964
Grito da Terra
Mariá
- 1962
Assault on the Pay Train
Marta
- 1961
A Grande Feira
Ely
1950s
- 1959
O Pátio
The woman
No release date
Lost Media
A Colecionadora
Directed 12
2020s
- 2023
Joy Is the Acid Test
Director
- 2020
Fogo Baixo, Alto Astral
Director
2010s
- 2019
Fakir
Director
- 2018
My Calendar Girl
Director
- 2016
- 2014
Ossos
Director
- 2013
Ugly, Me?
Director
Poder dos Afetos
Director
- 2012
Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit
Director
2000s
- 2007
Canção de Baal
Director
- 2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Director
- 2003
Reinvenção da Rua
Director
Wrote 9
2020s
- 2023
Joy Is the Acid Test
Screenplay
2010s
- 2019
Fakir
Screenplay
- 2018
My Calendar Girl
Screenplay
- 2016
- 2014
Ossos
Screenplay, Screenstory
- 2013
Ugly, Me?
Writer
Poder dos Afetos
Screenstory, Screenplay
- 2012
Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit
Adaptation, Writer
2000s
- 2007
Canção de Baal
Screenplay
Produced 8
2020s
- 2023
Joy Is the Acid Test
Executive Producer
2010s
- 2019
Fakir
Musical Casting
- 2016
- 2014
Ossos
Producer
- 2013
Ugly, Me?
Executive Producer, Associate Producer
Poder dos Afetos
Executive Producer
2000s
- 2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Researcher
1950s
- 1959
O Pátio
Co-Producer
Sound 2
2010s
- 2014
Ossos
Music
2000s
- 2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Music Supervisor
Edited 1
1990s
- 1992
América: O Grande Acerto de Vespúcio
Editor
Art department 1
2010s
- 2019
Fakir
Art Direction
Camera 1
2000s
- 2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Camera Operator
Appearances25
2020s
- 2026
Nem Tudo é Paz e Amor
Self
A Film to Remind Us of Utopia
Self (archive footage)
Fernando Coni Campos: Cada um Vive como Sonha
Self
- 2025
Primavera nos Dentes – A História do Secos & Molhados
Self · 1 episode
- 2024
A Última Vanguarda
Self
- 2023
Nelson Carneiro: Knight of Democracy
Self
- 2022
The Welles Raft
Herself
- 2021
Um Documentário Brasileiro
Self
- 2020
Candango: Memoirs from a Festival
Self
Race Antenna
Self
Rio de Topless
Self
2010s
- 2019
Fakir
Narrator
A Mulher da Luz Própria
Self
Memórias do Grupo Opinião
Self (archive footage)
- 2017
Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Century
Self
- 2016
- 2014
Love Film Festival
Herself
Copacabana, Mon Amour: A Restauração
Self
2000s
- 2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Herself (archive footage) / (Voz em Off)
- 2004
Retrato da Terra
Self
- 2003
Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinth
Self
Abry
Self
Reinvenção da Rua
Herself
1990s
- 1997
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
Self
1970s
- 1978
Mulheres de Cinema
Self (archive footage)