Carmen Miranda
Biography
Carmen Miranda was a Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress of Portuguese birth. Born in Várzea da Ovelha e Aliviada, she worked in a hat shop and designed clothing before recording with Josué de Barros in 1929. Her 1930 record Taí (Pra Você Gostar de Mim) turned her into a major samba star in Brazil. During the 1930s she sang on radio and appeared in Brazilian chanchadas, including Hello, Hello Brazil! and Hello, Hello, Carnival!. After Broadway producer Lee Shubert saw her perform in Rio de Janeiro, she joined The Streets of Paris in 1939. She made her Hollywood debut in Down Argentine Way (1940), then appeared in That Night in Rio (1941), Busby Berkeley's The Gang's All Here (1943), Copacabana (1947), A Date with Judy (1948), and Nancy Goes to Rio (1950). Her final film was Scared Stiff (1953). She died in 1955.
46years old at death
- Born Várzea da Ovelha e Aliviada
- Died Beverly Hills
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- María do Carmo Miranda da Cunha (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 13 years1940 to 1953
First and latest
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
Before she became a singer, Miranda worked in a boutique, designing hats and clothes. In 1929 she made her first recording with the composer Josué de Barros.
A role that slipped away
Miranda turned down Shubert's deal unless he hired her band, the Bando da Lua. He said New York had capable musicians, but she held firm, so he agreed to hire the six members without paying their transport to New York.
A first
In 1933, Miranda became Brazilian radio's first contract singer by signing a two-year deal with Rádio Mayrink Veiga, which was the country's most popular station during the 1930s.
First role
Carmen Miranda introduced her "Baiana" image in the 1939 musical Banana da Terra, which Ruy Costa directed. The look drew on Afro-Brazilians from Bahia, a state in the north east.
Big break
Miranda's Broadway part in The Streets of Paris was small, only four spoken words, but she became a media sensation and critics said she made the show.
Carmen Miranda movies on Netflix
Scared Stiffas Carmelita Castinha
Nancy Goes to Rioas Marina Rodrigues
A Date with Judyas Rosita Cochellas
Copacabanaas Carmen Novarro / Mlle. Fifi
The Gang's All Hereas Dorita
That Night in Rioas Carmen
Down Argentine Wayas Carmen Miranda
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Irving Cummings directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
Bess Flowers3 films together, 1941 to 1953
Bess Flowers's page Scared Stiff1953IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmelita CastinhaFlowers as Nightclub Patron
Nancy Goes to Rio1950IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Marina RodriguesFlowers as Party Guest
That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenFlowers as Nightclub Extra
Fortunio Bonanova3 films together, 1940 to 1950
Fortunio Bonanova's page Nancy Goes to Rio1950IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Marina RodriguesBonanova as Ricardo Domingos
That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenBonanova as Pereira, the Headwaiter
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen MirandaBonanova as Hotel Manager
J. Carrol Naish2 films together, 1940 to 1941
J. Carrol Naish's page That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenNaish as Machado
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen MirandaNaish as Casiano
Frank Puglia2 films together, 1940 to 1941
Frank Puglia's page That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenPuglia as Pedro, Manuel's Valet
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen MirandaPuglia as Montero
Don Ameche2 films together, 1940 to 1941
Don Ameche's page That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenAmeche as Larry Martin / Baron Manuel Duarte
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen MirandaAmeche as Ricardo Quintana
Leonid Kinskey2 films together, 1940 to 1941
Leonid Kinskey's page That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as CarmenKinskey as Monsieur Pierre Dufond
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen MirandaKinskey as Tito Acuna
Irving CummingsDirector, 2 films, 1940 to 1941
All films by Irving Cummings That Night in Rio1941IMDb rating 6.7Miranda as Carmen
Down Argentine Way1940IMDb rating 6.4Miranda as Carmen Miranda
Also two films together4 more actors
- Scotty BeckettNancy Goes to Rio (1950) and A Date with Judy (1948)
- Alice FayeThe Gang's All Here (1943) and That Night in Rio (1941)
- Charlotte GreenwoodThe Gang's All Here (1943) and Down Argentine Way (1940)
- Jane PowellNancy Goes to Rio (1950) and A Date with Judy (1948)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Three awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry | Won | ||
| Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil) | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.





