Esther de Carvalho (1858 – 1884) was a controversial Portuguese actress and opera singer who also became well-known in Brazil, where she died a young death.

[1][2][3] Carvalho was immediately hired in Lisbon by the Teatro da Trindade and her debut took place on 31 March 1880 in an operetta called O Cão de Malaquias.

The impresario, Francisco Palha, director of the Trindade theatre company, fined her numerous times and criticised her often.

This attracted a great following, rivalling that of Pepa Ruiz, generally considered the most popular actress in Rio de Janeiro at that time.

[1][2][3] Esther and the actor Ribeiro, joined the conductor Francisco Alvarenga, a friend of Sousa Bastos who came from Europe at his invitation, to became entrepreneurs of the Teatro Recreio Dramático [1] in Rio de Janeiro.

She was buried in the São João Baptista Cemetery in the Botafogo neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, her grave being next to that of Ribeiro.