At 16, she became a photographic model. She studied journalism but gave it up to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She joined the theatre group Asdrúbal Trouxe o Trombone alongside Regina Casé, before getting her first film role in Para Viver um Grande Amor, alongside singer Djavan. That role granted her a part in the famous 1985 Rede Globo telenovela Roque Santeiro, created by Dias Gomes. Since then, she has starred in twelve other Globo telenovelas. She has also starred in eleven feature films, including the 1995 Academy Award-nominated O Quatrilho, alongside Glória Pires.
