Dores started acting at the age of four at the D. Maria II theatre, being called on whenever a play had roles for children. Later, her participation in plays by Eugène Scribe, Jean-François Bayard and Adolphe d'Ennery became famous. Staying at the same theatre until 1869, she began to get increasingly important roles, as other actresses moved on. A particularly popular role was in La Tireuse de cartes (The Woman who draws cards) by Victor Séjour. She often played the role of the ingénue. In 1869 she joined the Lacerda-Machado company at the Teatro do Ginásio where she progressed to being promoted as the "first ingénue" of that theatre. While at the Ginásio she started a relationship with her future husband, the actor César Polla, who was still married to his first wife. With him, she toured cities in Portugal and Brazil.[1][2][3]
In 1876, Dores moved to the Teatro do Príncipe Real, where she was very successful. Her daughter, Matilde Polla, who would also become an actor, was born in February 1877. She was not legitimized until after the marriage of Polla and Dores in 1889. In 1881, Dores returned to the Ginásio. She would later return to the Príncipe Real, by now renamed as the Teatro Apolo, and also work at Lisbon's Coliseu dos Recreios. Until it closed down, she also performed with the Teatro Livre (Free theatre) dramatic group. She continued to be very active until 1907, when she retired. After being widowed, Dores experienced financial difficulties and was also going blind. In the early 1920s she emigrated to the United States with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. She died on 27 January 1928 in New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1][2][3]
