[2] Dewi made her feature film debut in 1955 with Tamu Agung (Exalted Guest), a satirical political comedy directed by Usmar Ismail for Perfini.

However, she only gained recognition the following year, when she starred in the company's musical Tiga Dara (Three Maidens) alongside Mieke Wijaya and Indriati Iskak.

[4] According to the film historian Misbach Yusa Biran, Dewi was considered to represent the ideal Indonesian woman: softspoken and constrained.

This company produced five further films,[9] including three directed by Dewi herself— Bertjinta dalam Gelap (Making Love in the Dark), Dara-Dara (Maidens), and Penunggang Kuda Dari Tjimande (The Horseman of Cimande) (all 1971).

[10] In the 1970s and 1980s Dewi was cast predominantly in supporting roles, including in Fred Young's romance Putri Solo (Daughter of Solo, 1974), Asrul Sani's drama Kemelut Hidup (Complexities of Life, 1977), and Wahyu Sihombing's drama Gara-gara Isteri Muda (Because of a Young Wife, 1977).

Her poor health continued, however, and at 14:00 Western Indonesian Time (UTC +7) on 28 October 2008, she died at the home of her second and youngest child, Agus Erwin, in South Jakarta, at the age of 78.

[6] Dewi was also active in television, including in such series as Dr. Sartika (1989–1991), Jendela Hati (Heart's Window, 1994), Kedasih (1995), and Dua Pilar (Two Pillars, 1997).