Selma Lopes, born Maria de Carvalho Lopes on September 10, 1928, in Iguape, São Paulo, is a renowned Brazilian actress and voice actor considered one of the most influential figures in the history of dubbing in Brazil. Her stage name originated in her youth when, accompanying her younger brother to a radio program, she was asked to sing and needed to provide a name; she chose Selma after seeing a pack of Selma cigarettes.

Lopes began her artistic career in radio during the 1940s, working as a singer, announcer, and comedian at stations such as Rádio Atlântica in Santos, Rádio Mauá, and the prestigious Rádio Mayrink Veiga in Rio de Janeiro. Her work in radio theatre and comedy provided a foundation in performance that would prove essential when the dubbing industry emerged in Brazil. As dubbing developed, studios sought experienced radio actors, and Lopes successfully transitioned to this new medium, beginning a decades-long career as a voice actor.

In the realm of anime and animation, Selma Lopes has lent her voice to numerous memorable characters. Notably, she voiced the dual roles of the twin witches Yubaba and Zeniba in the Brazilian Portuguese dub of the acclaimed Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. She also voiced the character Professora Magnólia in Pokémon Journeys: The Series. Her extensive anime credits include Dora in Kiki's Delivery Service, an elderly wise woman in Princess Mononoke, the elderly Genkai in Yu Yu Hakusho, and roles in series such as Hunter x Hunter and Peter Pan & Wendy.

Beyond anime, Lopes is widely recognized as the official Brazilian Portuguese voice of actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg for several decades, dubbing her performances in numerous films including Ghost, the Sister Act movies, and The Color Purple. Another signature role is Marge Simpson in the long-running series The Simpsons, a character she has voiced during various periods of the show, including from the first season up to part of the eighth and from the fourteenth season onward. Her dubbing work also includes Disney characters such as Vovó Fá (Grandma Fa) in Mulan and Vovó Willow (Grandmother Willow) in Pocahontas, as well as roles in live-action telenovelas dubbed for the Brazilian market.

Parallel to her voice work, Lopes maintained a consistent career as an on-screen actress, particularly in comedies and telenovelas for TV Globo. Her television appearances include roles in Uma Rosa com Amor, Dancin Days, Anjo Mau, A Favorita, and long-running humoristic programs such as Balança Mas Não Cai, Zorra Total, and Os Trapalhões. It was on the set of Os Trapalhões that she met comedian Zacarias, to whom she was married for fifteen years.

Throughout her career, Selma Lopes has received recognition for her contributions to dubbing. She was honored at the Oscar da Dublagem (Dubbing Oscar) event and won the Yamato Award, considered the Oscar of Brazilian dubbing, for Best Dubbing Actress for her work as Marge Simpson in The Simpsons Movie in 2008. In 2012, she was honored at the 1st Prêmio da Dublagem in Rio de Janeiro.

Even in her nineties, Lopes remained active in the profession, continuing to dub and teaching dubbing techniques at acting workshops in Rio de Janeiro, sharing her extensive knowledge with new generations of voice actors. Her enduring career and iconic voice have earned her the informal title of "rainha da dublagem brasileira" (queen of Brazilian dubbing).