At 11 years of age he was invited to star on a soap opera at Rede Globo Television, so he moved with his entire family to Rio de Janeiro, where he still lives.

He played André in the Brazilian film To the left of the father which was directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho and based on the eponymous novel by Raduan Nassar.

He has also played João da Ega in Os Maias, also directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho, based on the eponymous novel by Eça de Queiroz.

Beyond that, Selton Mello has many memorable performances in his trajectory, such as the roles he played in the movies Lisbela and the Prisoner (Lisbela e o Prisioneiro - more than 3.5 million tickets sold); Auto da Compadecida (more than 2.5 million tickets sold), by Guel Arraes; Drained (O cheiro do Ralo), by Heitor Dhalia; and My Name Ain't Johnny (Meu Nome Não É Johnny - more than 2.5 million tickets sold), by Mauro Lima and Four Days in September by Bruno Barreto (nominated for Best Foreign Language Film for the 1997 Oscar Awards).

His second film feature, The Clown (in which he directed, co-wrote, co-edited and played the lead character), launched in October 2011, was selected as the Brazilian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.