She can speak Portuguese (her native language), English, Spanish and also French.
Dira made her first film at the age of 15. An English production called "The Emerald Forest" directed by John Boorman.
Dira is married to photographer Pablo Baião and together are biological parents of Inácio and Martim.
Dira Paes is one of the founders of the NGO "Humanos Direitos" that fights slave and child labor and is also in favor of demarcating indigenous lands and quilombola areas. The NGO is against child sexual exploitation and works with socio-environmental actions.
She was born in Abaetetuba, a region of Pará, northern Brazil rich in cultural, music and food diversity. Nowadays Dira lives in Rio de Janeiro.
Auditioned for Hector Babenco twice. At the first time, he thought she was "too pretty" for the role. At the second test, she was personally invited to audition but again turned down. Has credited this as a big disappointment in her career.
Was the only young candidate who could speak English during The Emerald Forest (1985) audition. The film was her acting and film debut.
Had been a film actress in Brazil for two decades before debuting on TV in The Cleaning Lady (2004). She acknowledges having been seen as the "cult" actress on set.