Emma Roldán (February 3, 1893 – August 29, 1978) was a Mexican character actress and costume designer. She is remembered as the sharp-tongued, domineering matron of

Mexican cinema Mexican cinema dates to the late nineteenth century during the rule of President Porfirio Díaz. Seeing a demonstration of short films in 1896, Díaz immediately saw the importance of documenting his presidency in order to present an ideal ...

, and was nominated three times for a Silver Ariel Award. Acted in some of

Fernando de Fuentes Fernando de Fuentes Carrau (December 12, 1894 – July 4, 1958) was a Mexican film director, considered a pioneer in the film industry worldwide. He is perhaps best known for directing the films ''El prisionero trece'', ''El compadre Mendoza'', an ...

most important movies, like ''

El prisionero trece ''Prisoner 13'' (Spanish: ''El prisionero trece'') is a 1933 Mexican film. It was directed by Fernando de Fuentes Fernando de Fuentes Carrau (December 12, 1894 – July 4, 1958) was a Mexican film director, considered a pioneer in the film indu ...

'' and ''

El compadre Mendoza ''Godfather Mendoza'' (Spanish: ''El compadre Mendoza'') is a 1934 Mexican film. It was directed by Fernando de Fuentes, and is the second of his '' Revolution Trilogy'', preceded by '' El prisionero trece'' and followed by '' Vámonos con Panch ...

'', both from his Revolution Trilogy, and first Mexican box-office ''

Allá en el Rancho Grande ''Allá en el Rancho Grande'' ( en, Out on the Great Ranch) is a 1936 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Fernando de Fuentes and starring Tito Guízar and Esther Fernández. The film is considered to be the one that started the Golden A ...

''.

Early life

San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí), is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and i ...

native, Roldán was born Emma Roldán Reyna to hotel owners José María Roldán and Virginia Reyna, the second of four siblings. Her parents' hotel was located in front of the "Teatro de la Paz" in San Luis Potosí, where theatrical companies would perform. It is there where she met her husband Pedro Jesús Ojeda with whom she procreated two children, Emma Ojeda Roldán and Pedro Ojeda Roldán. She and her husband moved to

Monterrey Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...

, but they would tour across the country, a life she disliked. They later divorced and Roldán relocated to her parents' home in Potosí.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1933) as Margarita Ramos * ''

'' (1934) as ''the mute'' * ''

'' (1936) as Ángela * '' Women of Today'' (1936) * '' These Men'' (1937) * '' Jesusita in Chihuahua'' (1942) as Tula Tulares de Tulancingo * ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'' (1943) * '' The Escape'' (1944) * ''

The Hour of Truth ''The Hour of Truth'' (Spanish: ''La hora de la verdad'') is a 1945 Mexican drama film directed by Norman Foster and starring Ricardo Montalbán, Virginia Serret, Lilia Michel.Mora p.70 It is set in the world of bullfighting. Cast * Ricardo Monta ...

'' (1945) * ''

The Museum of Crime ''The Museum of Crime'' (Spanish: ''El museo del crimen'') is a 1945 Mexican mystery film directed by René Cardona and starring David T. Bamberg, Pituka de Foronda and Ricardo Mondragón. It was one of a six-film series featuring Bamberg as Fu ...

'' (1945) as Enfermera * ''

Dizziness Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness. It can also refer to disequilibrium or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness. Dizziness is a common medical c ...

'' (1946) as Nana Joaquina * ''

La reina del trópico ''La reina del trópico'' (''The Queen of the Tropics'') is a Mexican drama film directed by Raúl de Anda. It was released in 1946 and starring María Antonieta Pons and Luis Aguilar. Plot In Papantla, Veracruz, the orphan girl Maria Antonia (M ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Flesh Commands ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1948) * ''

Jalisco Fair Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal ...

'' (1948) * ''

Rough But Respectable ''Rough But Respectable'' or ''I Am a Chic Charro'' (Spanish: ''Soy charro de levita'') is a 1949 Mexican comedy film directed by Gilberto Martínez Solares and starring Germán Valdés, Marcelo Chávez and Rosita Quintana.Holmstrom, p. 225 Parti ...

'' (1949) * ''

The Masked Tiger ''The Masked Tiger'' (Spanish:''El tigre enmascarado'') is a 1951 Mexican western film directed by Zacarías Gómez Urquiza and starring Luis Aguilar, Flor Silvestre and Aurora Segura.Pitts p.356 The film's art direction was by Jorge Fernánde ...

'' (1951) * ''

Los hijos de María Morales ''The Children of Maria Morales'' (Spanish: "Los hijos de María Morales") is a 1952 Mexican film. It was directed by Fernando de Fuentes. Cast * Pedro Infante - José Morales * Antonio Badú - Luis Morales * Emma Roldán - María Morales * Carm ...

'' (1951) as María Morales * ''

A Tailored Gentleman ''A Tailored Gentleman'' (Spanish: ''Caballero a la medida'') is a 1954 Mexican comedy film, directed by Miguel M. Delgado and starring Cantinflas, Martha Valdés and Ángel Garasa.Pilcher, p. 156. The film's art direction was by Gunther Gerszo ...

'' (1954) as Doña Pelos, portera * ''

The Soldiers of Pancho Villa ''The Soldiers of Pancho Villa'' ( es, La Cucaracha) is a 1959 Mexican epic historical drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Ismael Rodríguez, inspired by the popular Mexican Revolution corrido "La Cucaracha". It stars María Félix a ...

'' (1959) as Comadrona * ''

Beyond All Limits ''Beyond All Limits'' ( es, Flor de mayo) is a 1959 Mexican drama film directed by Roberto Gavaldón. It was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * María Félix - Magdalena Gombai * Jack Palance - Jim Gatsby * Pedro Ar ...

'' (1959) as Carmela * ''

Black Skull KNM-WT 17000 (also known as "The Black Skull") is a fossilized adult skull of the species ''Paranthropus aethiopicus''. It was discovered in Lake Turkana, West Turkana, Kenya by Alan Walker (anthropologist), Alan Walker in 1985. Estimated to be ...

'' (1960) * ''

Chucho el Roto Jesus Arriaga, better known as Chucho el Roto (1858–1885), was a Mexican bandit active in the late 19th century, whose life story has been the basis of number of books, plays and other media since before his death. His real name was Jesús Arriag ...

'' (1960) * ''

Dangers of Youth ''Dangers of Youth'' (Spanish: ''Peligros de juventud'') is a 1960 Mexican drama film directed by Benito Alazraki and starring Elvira Quintana, Tere Velázquez and Fernando Luján.Riera p.107 Cast * Elvira Quintana as Sue * Tere Velázquez as ...

'' (1960) * ''

Invincible Guns ''Invincible Guns'' (Spanish: ''Pistolas invencibles'') is a 1960 Mexican western film directed by Benito Alazraki and starring Elvira Quintana, Armando Silvestre and Roberto G. Rivera.Riera p.86 Cast * Elvira Quintana as Carmen Montenegro * Ar ...

'' (1960) * ''

Immediate Delivery ''Immediate Delivery'' (Spanish: ''Entrega inmediata''), originally known as ''Agente XU 777'' (English: ''Agent XU 777'') is a 1963 Mexican comedy film directed by Miguel M. Delgado and starring Cantinflas, Gina Romand, Claudio Brook and Fanny Ca ...

'' (1963) * ''

El rey del tomate ''El rey del tomate'' ("The Tomato King") is a 1964 Mexican comedy-drama film, directed by Miguel M. Delgado and starring Eulalio González, Luz Márquez, and Emma Roldán. With Lupe Carriles and María Elena Velasco performing in uncredited role ...

'' (1963) as Tía Mila * ''

El miedo no anda en burro ''El miedo no anda en burro'' (Fear Doesn't Ride a Donkey) is a 1976 Mexican comedy horror film directed by Fernando Cortés and starring María Elena Velasco, Eleazar García, Fernando Luján, Emma Roldán and Óscar Ortiz de Pinedo. Literally, ...

'' (1976) as Doña Paz * '' El lugar sin límites'' (1978) as Ludovinia

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* 1893 births 1978 deaths Mexican film actresses Mexican television actresses 20th-century Mexican actresses Golden Age of Mexican cinema Actresses from San Luis Potosí {{Mexico-film-actor-stub