Maeve Jinkings was born in Brasília, Brazil’s capital. She graduated from the University of São Paulo’s School of Dramatic Arts (EAD), and studied at the renowned director Antunes Filho’s Center for Theatrical Research, two of Brazil’s most prestigious schools for actors. During her studies, she had her first experience as a supporting actress in cinema, acting in the feature Falsa Loura (“Fake Blonde”), by Carlos Reichembach.

In 2010, in Pernambuco, she stars in the feature film Neighboring Sounds, by Kleber Mendonça Filho. The film was in The New York Times’ list of best films of the year of 2012 and was the Brazilian Oscars entry.

In 2014, Maeve was the leading actress in the feature film Neon Bull by Gabriel Mascaro. The film was selected to several film festivals. It premiered in 2015 at the Orizzonti Competition of the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. Its American premiere was at Platform at Toronto Film Festival, where the film was awarded again.

In 2016, Maeve stars in Aquarius, the eagerly awaited follow-up feature film directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Sônia Braga. This film premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was met with acclaim from critics, and since then distributed to more than 65 countries and nominated for the prestigious Spirit Awards in the USA.

In 2017, Maeve Jinkings stars in Quando a Terra Treme (“When the Earth Shakes”), a short film directed by Walter Salles. The film explores the consequences of the environmental disaster in Mariana, Minas Gerais, and is part of Where Has the Time Gone? A collective project by Jia Zhang-ke (China).

In 2021, Maeve takes on the lead role in the feature film “Carvão” (Chacoal) by Carolina Markowicz, which premiered worldwide as part of the prestigious Platform competition at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, before heading to the San Sebastian Festival for its European debut.

Markowicz’s second feature, “Pedágio,” (Toll) produced by Biônica Filmes (Brazil) and O Som e a Fúria (Portugal) featured Maeve Jinkings again as the main character and had its world premiere in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Carolina received the Emerging Talent Award at TIFF Tribute Awards, followed by San Sebastian Festival in Spain. The film has received numerous awards, with Maeve Jinkings winning the Best Actress Award at the International Rio Film Festival (Brazil) and the Stockholm Film Festival (Sweden). The film is currently in the festival run with worldwide acclaim. Among more than 20 awards so far, Toll has won Best Film in Rome International Film Festival, in a jury presided by Gael Garcia Bernal. For performance in this film, Maeve was recognized with the Best Actress Award at Stockholm International Film Festival, and at Rio International Film Festival.

In 2022, Maeve stars in “Sem Coração,” (Heartless), a Nara Normande and Tião’s film, produced by Cinemascópio Filmes. Its world premiere took place at the 2023 Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Competition.

Her first collaboration with Netflix, under the artistic direction of Heitor Dhalia, premiered in November 2023. Maeve stars in the crime series Criminal Code (DNA do Crime) as a federal police officer. Within 24 hours, the series reached the number one spot on the platform, and within 48 hours, it achieved a TOP 10 status in countries such as the USA, Germany, France, Argentina, and Mexico.

Currently, Maeve is a guest star in the feature film “Ainda Estou Aqui,” directed by director Walter Salles, alongside Oscars’ nominee Fernanda Montenegro.

In March 2024, after the USA premiere of TOLL at SXSW, Maeve Jinkings starts the rehearsals to CRIMINAL CODE’s second season, which is going to be shot between June and August of this current year.