
Acting
Maria Bethânia
Born 1946-06-18 · Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia, Brazil
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. That same year, Bethãnia and her sister met singers Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa; Caetano had been invited to put on an MPB show to inaugurate the Teatro Vila Velha. The four artists got together and, in 1964, staged Nós, por exemplo (We, for example). The show was a success and was presented again twenty months later, with the participation of singer-songwriter Tom Zé. That same year, the group mounted another show called Nova Bossa Velha e Velha Bossa Nova (New Old Bossa and Old New Bossa). Still in that year, directed by Caetano and Gil, Bethânia performed another musical, this time on her own, called Mora na Filosofia (Lives in Philosophy). She began performing again with her brother, as well as Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Tom Zé, at the opening of the Vila Velha Theater in the next year. During one of these performances, the bossa nova musician Nara Leão offered her an opportunity to take her place in a series of performances titled "Opinião". ... Source: Article "Maria Bethânia" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Acting credits
7.1Set against the turbulent atmosphere of the 1960s, Tropicália is a feature length documentary exploring the Brazilian artistic movement known as Tropicália, and the struggle its artists endured to protect their right to freely express revolutionary thought against the traditional Brazilian music of that time.
Tropicália
2012
NRThis film shines a light at the story of Jards Macalé, polemic artist and controversial character of Brazilian culture over the last four decades. Author of songs such as "Vapor Barato" and "Movimento dos Barcos", a partner in crime of poet Waly Salomão, guitar player and songwriter for Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso, actor and author of soundtracks in Nelson Pereira dos Santos' films, a personal friend of visual artists Lygia Clarke and Hélio Oiticica, but, first and foremost, someone who dreams of seeing the word "love" in the Brazilian flag.
Jards Macalé - Um Morcego na Porta Principal
2008
NRMaria Bethânia takes her poetic narrative to Mozambique for the first time. The interpreter presents excerpts of works connected by different forms of expression in the Portuguese language. With testimonies from Mia Couto, José Agualusa and several Mozambican and Angolan writers and literary critics, the documentary shows the development of literature in these countries, delving on its importance during the anti-colonial resistance, the connection with native languages, the oral traditions and the influence of Brazilian writers.
Karingana - Licença para contar
2017
8.0On the iconic sands of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Shakira sets Copacabana Beach ablaze in the third edition of “Todo Mundo no Rio”. Before a historic crowd of 2 million people, the Colombian superstar celebrates three decades of hits in an electrifying performance that bridges her new album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” with the timeless classics that defined her career. Featuring guest appearances by Brazilian music icons and a high-tech visual spectacle, the night transforms the coastline into the stage for an epic celebration of power, music, and the artist’s unbreakable connection with Brazil.
Todo Mundo no Rio com Shakira
2026
NRWhile the differences in religious beliefs tend to separate and divide, the image of Nossa Senhora de Aparecida is like her cloak, covering and protecting the body of her followers. Aparecida has devout followers of all social classes, religions and regions of the country. Aparecida is a symbol of the maternal heart, kindness and tolerance. All people fit underneath the mother’s cloak. Aparecida goes beyond the church which she represents and transcends the differences so that all feel welcome in her home. The film is constructed by different characters that have emotional, relevant and particular stories about their faith in Aparecida.
A Imagem da Tolerância
2017
7.5Originally produced for German TV, Improvised and Purposeful is a firsthand look at the "Cinema Novo" movement (otherwise known as the 'Brazilian New Wave'). Director Joaquim Pedro de Andrade focuses on six Cinema Novo filmmakers working in Rio in 1967.
Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novo
1967
10.0Writer and poet Clarice Lispector investigates and develops the old question of what came first, the egg or the chicken.
The Egg
2003
8.8Almost thirty years after the first reunion of Doces Bárbaros (four of Brazil's major popular music stars: Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Maria Bethânia), the artists involved decided to get together again for limited concerts in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in December 2002. The film documents the group's live performances, rehearsals and interviews.
Outros (Doces) Bárbaros
2002
8.1It explores Rita Lee's personal life and her creative process, revealing her musical talent and her ability to transform on stage. Rita herself guides the narrative through past interviews she gave throughout her career and current testimonies.
Ritas
2025
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo
2025
NRThe documentary narrates the life of Toquinho, one of the greatest Brazilian artists, a musician who transcends the barriers of time and language with his sensitivity. A story that shapes Brazilian popular music.
Toquinho Maravilhoso
2024
A woman reads a poem, but the world doesn't seem to care.
Ruin
2016
6.0The film discusses decisive moments in the life and career of Cauby Peixoto. In addition to interviews and recordings of the singer's concerts, the film uses testimonials from fans and artists such as Maria Bethânia, Emílio Santiago, Agnaldo Timóteo and Agnaldo Rayol, in addition to researchers Ricardo Cravo Albin and Rodrigo Faour.
Cauby: Começaria Tudo Outra Vez
2015
10.0A unique and intimate portrait of singer Maria Bethania, that starts at the artist’s 60th birthday, celebrated during a concert in El Salvador and a Mass in Santo Amaro, her hometown, in 2006. In the same house where she spent her childhood and adolescence, and beside her mother, Dona Canô, and brother Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia tells us her own story and about the tunes that followed her throughout her life.
Maria Bethânia: Pedrinha de Aruanda
2007
7.8Chico Buarque is a constant presence in Brazil's art scene and makes up its citizen's popular culture. This wealth in music, poems, theater and novels has been created over the last 50 years and in this film Chico Buarque converses about his memories, shows, daily life, work methods, creative process, in summary all his trajectory. The musician’s search for his German brother, whom he never got to meet, serves as one of the axis for the narrative.
Chico: Brazilian Artist
2015
8.0Mulher 80 emerged as a result of the success of 'Malu Mulher' (1979), a miniseries starring Regina Duarte, which addressed the female situation in Brazilian society at that time. The main focus of the special was the female presence in music, honouring the singers and songwriters of MPB with musical numbers and testimonials.
Mulher 80
1979
7.4A record on Brazilian samba school Estação Primeira de Mangueira's victory on the 2016 carnaval parade. Mangueira's parade that year was a homage to singer Maria Bethânia. The documentary also follows Bethânia on the celebrations of Our Lady of Purification, in Bahia, northeast of Brazil.
Fevereiros
2019
NRNo synopsis available yet.
A Última Ceia Segundo Ziraldo
1968
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Vento Bravo
2007
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Eu, Meu Pai e Os Cariocas
2017
5.0No synopsis available yet.
26º Prêmio da Música Brasileira - Homenagem a Maria Bethânia
2015
6.3Chronicles the life of a 17 year-old girl living in the upper-class Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood of Ipanema. Márcia lives a life of parties and spend her days among bohemians, musicians and intellectuals. While seeming happy in the outside, she's extremely anguished inside. Based on the famous song by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes.
The Girl from Ipanema
1967
10.0The documentary "Chico e as Cidades" was directed by José Henrique Fonseca in 2001 and re-released by Biscoito Fino in June 2009 with three previously unreleased extras: Cecília's music video and takes of the songs "Injuriado" and "Futures Amantes." The DVD was made from the show "As Cidades" – premiered by Chico in 1999, based on the repertoire from the album of the same name. However, far from being a video version of the show, it is a documentary that covers various themes from the composer's life and work, as well as special appearances by Maria Bethânia, Jamelão, Oscar Niemeyer, Tostão, and the Velha Guarda da Mangueira.
Chico e as Cidades
1999
NRThe documentary follows the commemorative tour for the 20th anniversary of singer Jorge Vercillo's career.
Extrafísico - Jorge Vercillo
2019
