Seema Biswas is an award-winning film and stage actress best known for her harrowing performance in the titular role of Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's biopic Bandit Queen (1994).

Born in Nalbari, Assam, Seema Biswas was introduced to theatre at a very tender age as her mother Meera Biswas was one of the pioneering female theatre artistes in the northeastern state. Seema's early spark and passion led her to join the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, soon after obtaining a degree in political science. After graduation from the NSD, she joined the NSD Repertory Company.

Seema Biswas made her film debut with Krishnan Kartha's Amshini (1988), which was screened at the Indian Panorama section of Filmotsav, a part of the International Film Festival of India. However, she got her big break when actor-director Shekhar Kapur spotted her in Khubsoorat Bahu, a play organized by the NSD Repertory Company, and offered her the role of Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen. Seema Biswas was awarded the National Best Actress award for her outstanding performance as the dreaded dacoit turned politician and was also honoured with the Filmfare award for Best Female Debut.

Refusing to be cast in stereotypical roles, Seema Biswas has continued to act in films in different languages, including Marathi, Bengali and Tamil. Among her noted performances are her portrayal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Ram Gopal Verma's Company (2002), Bhoot (2003), Chandra Prakash Dwivedi's Pinjar (2003), and Deepa Mehta's Midnight's Children (2012).

In 2001, Seema Biswas was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award. Among her other achievements are the 26th Genie award and the Canadian Screen award for her outstanding performances in Deepa Mehta's Water (2005) and for Midnight's Children.

Biswas was part of the five-member jury for the 45th International Film Festival of India in Goa. She is a life member of the International Film and Television Club of the Asian Academy of Film & Television.