Maria das Dores Costa Polla was born in the former parish of Socorro in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon on 11 June 1843.

[1][2][3] Dores started acting at the age of four at the D. Maria II theatre, being called on whenever a play had roles for children.

A particularly popular role was in La Tireuse de cartes (The Woman who draws cards) by Victor Séjour.

While at the Ginásio she started a relationship with her future husband, the actor César Polla, who was still married to his first wife.

She would later return to the Príncipe Real, by now renamed as the Teatro Apolo, and also work at Lisbon's Coliseu dos Recreios.