Palmira Bastos's debut as an actress took place on 18 July 1890 at the
Teatro da Rua dos Condes, when she received an ovation for her performance. She continued to perform there for several years, in 1893 having her first starring role and making the first of eleven tours to Brazil. In 1894 she moved to the
Teatro da Trindade, which was managed by the
dramaturge and
impresario,
António de Sousa Bastos, who had given her her first role in 1890. She married Sousa Bastos, 30 years her elder, in 1894 and they had two daughters. Between 1900 and 1903 she performed at
Teatro Avenida and in April 1904, she made her debut at the
D. Maria II National Theatre in Lisbon. In the seasons from 1905 to 1907, as well as in the season of 1909/10, she was part of the cast of the
Teatro Dona Amélia. Her dedication to serious or
legitimate theatre caused displeasure among the admirers of her performance in lighter works. To their satisfaction Palmira then joined a company performing Viennese operas, at the
Teatro da Trindade until 1913. Her husband died in 1911 and in 1917 she married António Maria Monteiro de Sousa de Almeida Cruz, who was both an actor and a
tenor. The marriage did not last long. Palmira Bastos made only one film, the silent movie called
O Destino (The Destiny), in 1922, with the French Director
George Pallu. in Lisbon ==Tributes and decorations==