Adelina Abranches
Adelina Abranches (August 15, 1866– November 21, 1945) was a Portuguese stage actress.
She was born in Lisbon, Portugul. A theatrical child prodigy, she first performed at four years old in the piece Meninos Grandes ("Big Kids") at the National Theatre D. Maria II in Lisbon. She became known as "the Spanish girl" because of the dress she wore in her first role. She then began a brilliant career in Rio de Janeiro, playing, in spite of her small figure, drag roles, soubrettes, and ladies of the night. She stood out in plays such as Os Velhos ("The Old Ones"), Avô ("Grandfather"), Pranto de Maria Parda ("Maria Parda's Tears"), and The Lady of the Camellias, with which she had great success.
In 1930 she was in the cast of in the Portuguese silent film, Maria do Mar, directed by José Leitão de Barros. She played the role of Aunt Aurélia. In Portugal she worked with Amélia Rey Colaço alongside actors such as Eunice Muñoz and Estêvão Amarante. She was married to Luís Ruas, owner of the Teatro do Príncipe Real, and was the mother of actor Luís Ruas and actress Aura Abranches, who published her mother's memoirs in 1947. She was awarded the Order of St. James of the Sword.
References
- Grande História Universal Ediclube, 2006.
- Grande Enciclopédia Portuguesa e Brasileira.
- Nova Enciclopédia Portuguesa, Ed. Publicações Ediclube, 1996.