She was born on 24 April 1936 in Paio Mendes, a village located in the municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere in Portugal's Santarém District.

Following the advice of close friends, who insisted that the theatre was her natural vocation, she decided to stay in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, making her debut at the Teatro ABC in the play Vamos à Festa (Let's go to the party).

As a consequence of this success she became the headline star in her next revue or variety show (known in Portugal as Teatro de Revista), called Chapéu Alta (High Hat).

However, she had more impact on television, particularly in the 1981 comedy series Sabadabadu on RTP, written by Nuno Texeira, which won several awards, with Silva and Camilo de Oliveira becoming famous for playing two alcoholics, "Agostinho and Agostinha", who criticised politics and society at the time.

[1][2][6] In December 1986, Silva interrupted her work on a variety show at the Teatro Maria Vitória, due to health problems.