Jacinta Roseiro

Jacinta Roseiro (b. Maputo, 24/10/1914 – d. 16/02/1999) was an actress. Also credited as Jessie Moss.

Biography

Jacinta Roseiro was born in Mozambique in what was then Lourenco Marques, the daughter of Firmo Roseiro and Rebecca Morris. When she went to England in 1935, the ship’s manifest stated that she was a teacher of languages and, in fact, she spoke English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and German. Not surprisingly, during World War II she worked as an interpreter. Her first husband was Henry Moss, who would become the deputy manager of the famed Polana Hotel in Lourenco Marques, but eventually the couple moved to Johannesburg, where he continued his career in the hospitality business.

Though not a professional actress, Jacinta appeared in a number of plays, where her linguistic versatility came in handy. Initially she used her married name of Jessie Moss, but after she and Henry were divorced she reverted to her maiden name of Jacinta Roseiro. Subsequently, in 1971, she married film director Alfred Travers.

Theatre Credits

1946 – Play with Fire (Johannesburg Repertory Players) (Library Theatre), 1949 – Cockpit (Producer: Dolfanna Brown for the Playmakers) (Library Theatre), 1950 – Hellfire Corner (Producer: Kathleen Jameson) (Library Theatre), 1955 – I Am a Camera (Producer: Ruth Oppenheim) (Windmill Theatre), 1956 – The Waltz of the Toreadors (Producer: Taubie Kushlick) (Library Theatre), 1960 – The Aspern Papers (Director: Leonard Schach for the Cockpit Players) (Hofmeyr Theatre), 1966 – Baby Talk (Brooke Theatre), 1977 – The Director of the Opera (Director: Taubie Kushlick for PACT) (Alexander Theatre).

Sources

Rand Daily Mail, 3 November 1960

SACD 1978/79.

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