Maria da Conceição Martínez (Martins) de Sousa Bastos was born on 30 May 1875, in the municipality of Alenquer in the Lisbon District of Portugal.

[1][2] 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.

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.

[1][2][3] Palmira Bastos made only one film, the silent movie called O Destino (The Destiny), in 1922, with the French Director George Pallu.

Most of her most memorable work was during this latter period including in Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill (1943), Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde (1944), and Tartuffe by Molière (1966).