
Helena Ignez
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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
Credits

Eclipse (2026)
as Dona da Kitnet

Nosferatu (2025)
Actor

The Red Light Bandit (1968)
as Janete Jane

Embodiment of Evil (2008)
as Cabíria

Belair (2009)
Actor

The Long Voyage of the Yellow Bus (2023)
Actor

Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional (1997)
as Self

Oswaldianas (1992)
Actor
O Cinema Foi à Feira (2016)
as Ela mesma

Assault on the Pay Train (1962)
as Marta

Face to Face (1967)
as Luciana

Hotel Atlântico (2009)
as Dona da Pousada

A Última Vanguarda (2024)
as Self

Flesh (2019)
as (voice)

Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit (2012)
Actor

Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Century (2017)
as Self

All Paulos in the World - Paulo José (2017)
Actor

Extracts (2019)
Actor

Ralé: The Lower Depths (2016)
as Sonia Silk

Sem Essa, Aranha (1970)
Actor

Watch Out, Madame (1970)
Actor

Abry (2003)
as Self

Love Film Festival (2014)
as Herself

The Welles Raft (2022)
as Herself

A Mulher de Todos (1969)
as Ângela Carne e Osso

Candango: Memoirs from a Festival (2020)
as Self

A Grande Feira (1961)
as Ely

The Monsters of Babaloo (1970)
Actor

The Outsiders (1968)
Actor

Scent of Gardenias (1992)
as Bandida

Meu Mundo em Perigo (2007)
as Mãe de Ísis

It's Not All True (1986)
Actor

The Priest and the Girl (1966)
as Mariana

The End of an Age (2014)
as (voz)

Baron Olavo, The Horrible (1970)
as Isabel

A Man and His Cage (1974)
as Aeromoça

Memórias do Grupo Opinião (2019)
as Self (archive footage)

Memoirs of a Strangler of Blondes (1971)
as Multiple Characters (Archive Footage)

Um Intruso no Paraíso (1973)
Actor

A Mulher da Luz Própria (2019)
as Self

The Good Cinema (2021)
Actor

Not Even God Is As Fair As Your Jeans (2025)
as Dra. Marina Consiglio

The Hullabaloo Family (1970)
as Prostituta

Joy Is the Acid Test (2023)
as Jarda Ícone

Benjamim Zambraia e o Autopanóptico (2020)
as Mother

Helena de Guaratiba (2023)
as Helena

Terno (2013)
as Mãe

Antes do Fim (2018)
Actor

Mulheres de Cinema (1978)
as Self (archive footage)

São Jerônimo (1999)
as Marcela

A Film to Remind Us of Utopia (2026)
as Self (archive footage)

Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinth (2003)
as Self

Nelson Carneiro: Knight of Democracy (2023)
as Self

Inaudito (2017)
as Voice

Rio de Topless (2020)
as Self

O Signo do Caos (2003)
as Guida

My Calendar Girl (2018)
as Helena / Palestrante (voz)

Subterrânea (2021)
as Senhora Ônibus

In Memoriam: O Roteiro do Gravador (2019)
Actor

Bring me the Head of Carmen M. (2019)
as Diretora

Poder dos Afetos (2013)
as Ritual Xamânico

Natureza Morta (2020)
as Narradora 3

Venus – Filly the Lesbian Little Fairy (2017)
as Narração

A Miss e o Dinossauro (2005)
as Herself (archive footage) / (Voz em Off)

O Engano (1967)
as Mulher do médico

Anônimo e incomum (1990)
Actor

Ugly, Me? (2013)
as Jarda

Estátua! (2014)
as Mãe (voz)

The Lady Who Died in the Trailer (2020)
Actor

If I'm Here It Is by Mystery (2024)
as Arlete

Perigo Negro (1992)
as Tiafa

Ossos (2014)
as Voz Off

The Mother (2022)
as Dulce

Fakir (2019)
as Narrator

A Vermelha Luz do Bandido (2009)
Actor
Helena Zero (2006)
Actor

Retrato da Terra (2004)
as Ela mesma

Race Antenna (2020)
as Self

Paixão e Virtude (2014)
Actor

O Desmonte do Monte (2018)
Actor

Message from Sergipe (2025)
Actor

Gravidade (2025)
Actor

Copacabana, Mon Amour: A Restauração (2014)
as Self

Copacabana Mon Amour (1970)
as Sônia Silk

Um Documentário Brasileiro (2021)
as Self

Helena! Cinema! (2026)
Actor

A Bela P... (2008)
Actor

Mulher Oceano (2020)
as Mulher Caminhando de Costas (uncredited)

Avacalha e se Esculhamba (2010)
Actor

Ensaio Sobre o Fracasso (2020)
Actor

O Pátio (1959)
as The woman

Mr. Sganzerla: Os Signos da Luz (2012)
Actor

Flying Geraldo (1994)
Actor

Lost Media (—)
as A Colecionadora

Febre (2017)
Actor

Fogo Baixo, Alto Astral (2020)
Actor

Grito da Terra (1964)
as Mariá

B2 (2001)
Actor
Carnaval na Lama (1970)
Actor
Sinais de Cinza, A Peleja de Olney Contra o Dragão da Maldade (2013)
Actor

Deuses da Peste (2025)
Actor

Cartas Para Rian (2026)
as Nair de Tefé

Spray Jet (1986)
as Bossy Lady

Trópico de Leão (2025)
as Medéia

Reinvenção da Rua (2003)
as Herself
A Balada do Provisório (2012)
as Provisório's Mother
Flesh (—)
Actor

O Mel é Mais Doce Que o Sangue (2023)
Actor

Esse fim de semana vou me dedicar as paredes (2020)
Actor

Nova Pasta, Antigo Baú (2021)
as Voiceover

Desculpa, Dona Madama (2013)
as Patroa

Luz-Lux-Lúcia (2005)
Actor





