Gilda de Abreu
Born 1904 (age 74) · Paris, France
Appears in 12 titles

Gilda de Abreu (23 September 1904 – 4 June 1979) was a Brazilian actress, singer, writer and film director. Born to a wealthy family, Gilda de Abreu began her career as a singer, performing in stage musicals and operettas. She first started appearing in theater productions in 1936, when she starred in the romantic comedy Bonequinha de Seda, produced by Adhemar Gonzaga. The film acted as a break-out role for Abreu, allowing for a transition from her previous stage-based career to one in the Brazilian film industry. She was one of the first women to direct films in Brazil, coming to renown for her directorial debut, O Ébrio (The Drunkard) in 1946. The film, in addition to being the first sound film directed by a woman, was a commercial and critical success, with approximately 4 million viewings between 1946 and 1950. It is still regarded as "one of the great successes of Brazilian Cinema", according to film historian João Luiz Vieira. After O Ébrio, Abreu directed Pinguinho de gente (Tiny Tot) in 1949 and Coração materno (Mother's Heart) in 1951. Neither achieved the same critical or commercial success as O Ébrio. These were her final films as director until 1977, when she directed the short film Canção de Amor (Love Song).

Filmography

Coração Materno
Mulheres de Cinema
10.0
Mulheres de Cinema
1978
as Self
Bonequinha de Seda
7.0
Bonequinha de Seda
1936
as Marilda
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
Women's Cinema
Women's Cinema
2020
as Self
As Mulheres no Cinema Brasileiro