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
Trópico de Leão
Medéia
2025
Not Even God Is As Fair As Your Jeans
Dra. Marina Consiglio
2025
Deuses da Peste
2025
A Última Vanguarda
Self
2024
If I'm Here It Is by Mystery
Arlete
2024
Nelson Carneiro: Knight of Democracy
Self
2023
Helena de Guaratiba
Helena
2023
O Mel é Mais Doce Que o Sangue
2023
The Long Voyage of the Yellow Bus
2023
Joy Is the Acid Test
Jarda Ícone
2023
The Mother
Dulce
2022
The Welles Raft
Herself
2022
Nova Pasta, Antigo Baú
Voiceover
2021
Um Documentário Brasileiro
Self
2021
The Good Cinema
2021
Subterrânea
Senhora Ônibus
2021
Benjamim Zambraia e o Autopanóptico
Mother
2020
Candango: Memoirs from a Festival
Self
2020
Mulher Oceano
Mulher Caminhando de Costas (uncredited)
2020
Race Antenna
Self
2020
The Lady Who Died in the Trailer
2020
Esse fim de semana vou me dedicar as paredes
2020
Fogo Baixo, Alto Astral
2020
Ensaio Sobre o Fracasso
2020
Natureza Morta
2020
Rio de Topless
Self
2020
Extracts
2019
Flesh
(voice)
2019
Fakir
Narrator
2019
In Memoriam: O Roteiro do Gravador
2019
A Mulher da Luz Própria
Self
2019
Memórias do Grupo Opinião
Self (archive footage)
2019
Bring me the Head of Carmen M.
Diretora
2019
My Calendar Girl
Helena / Palestrante (voz)
2018
O Desmonte do Monte
2018
Antes do Fim
2018
Inaudito
Voice
2017
All Paulos in the World - Paulo José
Self
2017
Febre
2017
Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Century
Self
2017
Venus – Filly the Lesbian Little Fairy
Narração
2017
O Cinema Foi à Feira
Ela mesma
2016
Ralé: The Lower Depths
Sonia Silk
2016
Love Film Festival
Herself
2014
The End of an Age
(voz)
2014
Estátua!
Mãe (voz)
2014
Paixão e Virtude
2014
Copacabana, Mon Amour: A Restauração
Self
2014
Ossos
Voz Off
2014
Desculpa, Dona Madama
Patroa
2013
Ugly, Me?
Jarda
2013
Poder dos Afetos
Ritual Xamânico
2013
Terno
Mãe
2013
Sinais de Cinza, A Peleja de Olney Contra o Dragão da Maldade
2013
A Balada do Provisório
Provisório's Mother
2012
Mr. Sganzerla: Os Signos da Luz
2012
Light in Darkness: The Return of Red Light Bandit
2012
Avacalha e se Esculhamba
2010
Belair
2009
Hotel Atlântico
Dona da Pousada
2009
A Vermelha Luz do Bandido
2009
Embodiment of Evil
Cabíria
2008
A Bela P...
2008
Meu Mundo em Perigo
Mãe de Ísis
2007
Helena Zero
2006
Luz-Lux-Lúcia
2005
A Miss e o Dinossauro
Herself (archive footage) / (Voz em Off)
2005
Retrato da Terra
Ela mesma
2004
The Sign of Chaos
Guida
2003
Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinth
Self
2003
Abry
Self
2003
Reinvenção da Rua
Herself
2003
B2
2001
São Jerônimo
Marcela
1999
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
Self
1997
Flying Geraldo
1994
Scent of Gardenias
Bandida
1992
Tereza Batista
Maricota · (28 episodes)
1992
Oswaldianas
1992
Perigo Negro
Tiafa
1992
Anônimo e incomum
1990
It's Not All True
1986
Spray Jet
Bossy Lady
1986
Mulheres de Cinema
Self (archive footage)
1978
A Man and His Cage
Aeromoça
1974
Um Intruso no Paraíso
1973
Memoirs of a Strangler of Blondes
Archive Footage
1971
The Hullabaloo Family
Prostituta
1970
No Way, Spider
1970
Carnaval na Lama
1970
Copacabana Mon Amour
Sônia Silk
1970
Watch Out, Madame
1970
The Monsters of Babaloo
1970
The Woman of Everyone
Ângela Carne e Osso
1969
Baron Olavo, The Horrible
Isabel
1969
The Red Light Bandit
Janete Jane
1968
The Outsiders
1968
Face To Face
Luciana
1967
O Engano
Mulher do médico
1967
The Priest and the Girl
Mariana
1966
Grito da Terra
Mariá
1964
Assault on the Pay Train
Marta
1962
A Grande Feira
Ely
1961
Flesh
Era Preciso Voltar
Regina · (75 episodes)
1969
O Pátio
The woman
1959