Silvia Pinal
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Silvia Pinal Hidalgo (born 12 September 1931) is a Mexican actress. She began her career in the theater, venturing into cinema in 1949. Her film work and popularity in her native country led her to work in Europe (Spain and Italy). Pinal achieved international recognition by starring in a famous film trilogy by director
Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians, and directors to be one of the greatest and m ...
: ''
Viridiana ''Viridiana'' () is a 1961 Spanish-Mexican film directed by Luis Buñuel and produced by Gustavo Alatriste. It is loosely based on the 1895 novel ''Halma'' by Benito Pérez Galdós. The film was the co-winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Canne ...
'' (1961), ''
El ángel exterminador ''The Exterminating Angel'' ( es, El ángel exterminador, links=no) is a 1962 Mexican surrealist film written and directed by Luis Buñuel, starring Silvia Pinal, and produced by Pinal's then-husband Gustavo Alatriste. It tells the story of a g ...
'' (1962) and ''
Simón del desierto ''Simon of the Desert'' ( es, Simón del desierto) is a 1965 Mexican surrealist film directed by Luis Buñuel and starring Claudio Brook and Silvia Pinal. It is loosely based on the story of the ascetic 5th-century Syrian saint Simeon Stylites, w ...
'' (1965). In addition to her film career, she has also excelled in other areas. She was a pioneer of
musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
in Mexico, ventured into television, and held some political office charges.


Early life

Silvia Pinal Hidalgo was born in
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Califo ...
,
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
, Mexico, on 12 September 1931. Her parents were María Luisa Hidalgo Aguilar and Moisés Pasquel. Pasquel was an orchestra conductor at the Mexican radio station XEW. Pinal's mother became pregnant with Pasquel when she was only 15 years old. Her father did not recognize her and Pinal did not know him until she was 11 years old. On the part of her biological father, Pinal had three more brothers: Eugenio, Moisés and Virginia. however, Pinal never spent time with the Pasquel family. Pinal spent her first years behind the counter of a seafood restaurant located near the XEW where her mother worked. When Pinal was five years old, her mother married Luis G. Pinal, whom they called "El Caballero Pinal", a journalist, military man and politician twenty years older than her. Pinal adopted Silvia as his daughter, and in later interviews she has asserted him as her only father. Mr. Pinal had three more daughters from a previous marriage: Mercedes, Beatriz and Eugenia. Her adoptive father held several public positions in Mexico. He was municipal president of
Tequisquiapan Tequisquiapan (; Otomi: Ntʼe) is a town and municipality located in the southeast of the state of Querétaro in central Mexico. The center of the town has cobblestone streets, traditional rustic houses with wrought iron fixtures, balconies, and w ...
,
Querétaro Querétaro (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro, links=no; Otomi language, Otomi: ''Hyodi Ndämxei''), is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. I ...
. The family lived in several cities of Mexico as Querétaro,
Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , also , nah, Acapolco), is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has bee ...
,
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 ...
,
Chilpancingo Chilpancingo de los Bravo (commonly shortened to Chilpancingo; ; Nahuatl: Chilpantsinko) is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. In 2010 it had a population of 187,251 people. The municipality has an area of in ...
,
Cuernavaca Cuernavaca (; nci-IPA, Cuauhnāhuac, kʷawˈnaːwak "near the woods", ) is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. The city is located around a 90-minute drive south of Mexico City using the Federal Highway 95D. The na ...
and
Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...
, finally settled in
Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
. Pinal was fascinated by show business since she was a child. In addition to film and music, she liked to write and recite poems. She studied first at Pestalozzi College in Cuernavaca, and then at the Washington Institute in Mexico City. Despite her artistic aspirations, her father conditioned her to study "something useful" and therefore she learned typing. At age 14 she started working at
Kodak The Eastman Kodak Company (referred to simply as Kodak ) is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorpor ...
as a secretary. Pinal wanted to study opera. She began to prepare taking classes with a private teacher and then with Professor Reyes Retana. Her first step towards fame occurred when she was invited to participate in a beauty pageant. In this contest Pinal obtained the title of Student Princess of Mexico. In her coronation she met the actors
Rubén Rojo Rubén Rojo Pinto (1922–1993) was a Spanish-Mexican actor.Durgnat p.171 Selected filmography * ''Ahora seremos felices'' (1938) - Radio Station boy #2 (uncredited) * '' My Children'' (1944) - Eduardo * ''Imprudencia'' (1944) * ''Adán, Eva y ...
and Manolo Fábregas, with whom she became close friends. While studying bel canto, Pinal went to work as a secretary in the pharmaceutical laboratories Carlos Stein. At the music academy, Pinal auditioned for a role in the opera
La Traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...
. However, this hearing was a failure. Then her teacher encouraged her to take acting courses in the
Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes The Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL, en, National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature), located in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, is the Mexican institution in charge of coordinating artistic and cultural ...
. In that academy, she was a classmate of figures such as
Carlos Pellicer Carlos Pellicer Cámara (10 January 1897 – 16 February 1977) was part of the first wave of modernist Mexican poets and was active in the promotion of Mexican art, pictures, and literature. An enthusiastic traveler, his work is filled with ...
,
Salvador Novo Salvador Novo López (30 July 1904 – 13 January 1974) was a Mexican writer, poet, playwright, translator, television presenter, entrepreneur, and the official chronicler of Mexico City. As a noted intellectual, he influenced popular percept ...
and
Xavier Villaurrutia Xavier Villaurrutia y González (27 March 1903 – 25 December 1950) was a Mexican poet, playwright and literary critic whose most famous works are the short theatrical dramas called ''Autos profanos'', compiled in the work ''Poesía y teatro c ...
. She debuted as an extra in a performance of ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
'' by
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
.


Career


Beginning

Pinal continued working in the pharmaceutical products firm, in her advertising department. Her boss, knowing that she was studying acting, gave her the opportunity to participate in the recording of some radio comedies in the XEQ. She debuted in the comedy ''Dos pesos la dejada''. At the radio station, she met some publicists, who invited her to be part of an experimental company. She made her debut in that company with a role in the play ''Los Caprichos de Goya''. The director of this work was the Mexican actor and director, of Cuban origin
Rafael Banquells Rafael Banquells (born Rafael Banquells Garafulla; 25 June 1917 – 27 October 1990) was a Cuban-born Mexican actor, director and TV producer known in Mexico as Rafael Banquells (I). Biography Banquells was born on 25 June 1917 in La Habana, ...
, with whom Pinal began an employment relationship and a close friendship that led to romance. Rafael Banquells got the master Carlos Laverne to allow them to use the Ideal Theater of Mexico City for their productions. Laverne chose Pinal to participate in a montage with the company of the Ideal Theater, directed by the Spanish actress Isabelita Blanch. The work was called ''Nuestra Natacha''. Pinal acted in numerous works for this company. Her first star work was ''Un sueño de cristal''.


Film

Just fifteen days after she debuted in the theater, Pinal made her debut in the cinema with a brief role in the film ''Bamba'' (1949), starring
Carmen Montejo Carmen Montejo (born María Teresa Sánchez González; May 26, 1925 – February 25, 2013) was a Cuban actress. Biography Real name: María Teresa Sánchez González. Montejo started her career in radio as a child at the age of 6 in Cuba in ...
and directed by
Miguel Contreras Torres Miguel Contreras Torres (September 28, 1899 – June 5, 1981) was a Mexican-born actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. Selected filmography Director * '' Juárez y Maximiliano'' (1934) * '' No te engañes corazón'' (1936) * ''La palo ...
. Contreras Torres had seen her work at the Ideal Theatre and invited her to take part in the project. Contreras Torres was a tough and strict director who made Pinal suffer for her inexperience. Eventually, in that same year, she performed in the film ''El pecado de Laura'', directed by
Julián Soler Julián Soler (born Julián Díaz Pavia; 17 February 1907 – 5 May 1977) was a Mexican film director, actor, and screenwriter of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In his career spanning half a century, Soler received two Ariel Award nominations ...
and starring
Meche Barba Meche Barba (born Mercedes Barba Feito; September 24, 1922 – January 14, 2000) was an American-born Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She was considered one of the icons of the "Rumbera ...
. In that film she worked for the first time in cinema with Rafael Banquells, who at that time was already her husband. Immediately she made another small role in the film ''Escuela para casadas'', by
Miguel Zacarías Miguel Zacarías Nogaim (19 March 1905 – 20 April 2006) was a Mexican film director, producer, and writer. Career Zacarías began directing for film in 1933. Even from his early career he developed a reputation for recognizing new acting ...
. Pinal met and worked for the first time with the popular actor and singer
Pedro Infante Pedro Infante Cruz (; 18 November 1917 – 15 April 1957) was a Mexican ranchera music singer and actor, whose career spanned the golden age of Mexican cinema. His popularity spread across Latin America. Infante was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa ...
in the film ''La mujer que yo perdí''. The actor and comedian
Cantinflas Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes (12 August 1911 – 20 April 1993), known by the stage name Cantinflas (), was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered to have been the most widely-accomplished Mexican comedian and is cele ...
(her wedding godfather), chose Pinal as his co-star in the film '' The Doorman'' (1950), which was a very big step for the young and new actress. But her first solid step towards popularity was her participation in the comedy ''
El rey del barrio ''The King of the Neighborhood'' (''El rey del barrio'') is a 1950 Mexican comedy film directed by Gilberto Martínez Solares. Synopsis Tin Tan is a highly popular inhabitant of his neighborhood, where he has a faithful band of followers. He's ...
'' (1949), where she formed a great comedic pair with Germán Valdés "Tin-Tán", directed by
Gilberto Martínez Solares Mario Gilberto Agustin Martinez Solares (January 19, 1906 – January 18, 1997) was a Mexican director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and actor who is considered one of the most prolific filmmakers in Mexican cinema having directed more than ...
. Pinal and Tin Tán acted together in two more films: ''La marca del zorrillo'' (1950) and ''Me traes de un ala '' (1952). Pinal participated in small roles in several more films. Pinal received her first major recognition, her first
Silver Ariel The Ariel Award ( es, Premio Ariel) is an award that recognizes the best of Mexican cinema. Given annually, since 1946, by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC), the award recognizes artistical and technical excel ...
Award as a co-starring actress, for her performance in the film '' Un rincón cerca del cielo'' (1952), where she worked again with Pedro Infante. In 1952, she performed with Joaquín Pardavé in the comedies ''Doña Mariquita de mi corazón]'' and ''El casto Susano''. In 1953, Pinal signed a contract with the FILMEX studios of
Gregorio Walerstein Gregorio Walerstein Weinstock (22 February 1913 – 24 January 2002) was a Mexican film producer and screenwriter of Jewish descent. He produced 193 films between 1941 and 1989. His productions include ''Ash Wednesday'' (1958), which was ente ...
, who gave her first stellar works in the films ''Reventa de esclavas'' (1953) and ''Yo soy muy macho'' (1953). In that same year, she made her first musical work with the film ''Mis tres viudas alegres'', where she shared credits with Lilia del Valle and the Cuban rumbera
Amalia Aguilar Amalia Isabel Rodríguez Carriera (3 July 1924 – 8 November 2021), known professionally as Amalia Aguilar, was a Cuban-Mexican dancer, actress and comedian. Early life Amalia Isabel Rodríguez Carriera was born in Matanzas, Cuba. She and her ...
. The success of the film led the three actresses to star, that same year, in the comedy ''Las cariñosas''. In that same year , she acted with
Libertad Lamarque Libertad Lamarque Bouza (; 24 November 1908 – 12 December 2000) was a Mexican-Argentine actress and singer, one of the icons of the Golden Age of Argentine and Mexican cinema. She achieved fame throughout Latin America, and became known as " ...
in ''Si volvieras a mí''. Pinal achieved success and recognition in 1954, after participating in the film ''Un extraño en la escalera'', directed by
Tulio Demicheli Tulio Demicheli (born August 15, 1914, Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. May 25, 1992, Madrid, Spain) was an Argentina, Argentine film director, born Spanish film director, screenwriter and film producer of the classic era. Born as Armando Bartolomé ...
, and starring opposite
Arturo de Córdova Arturo García Rodríguez (8 May 1908 – 3 November 1973), known professionally as Arturo de Córdova, was a Mexican actor who appeared in over a hundred films. Biography Career Arturo García Rodríguez was born in Mérida, Yucatán on 8 May 1 ...
. De Córdova wanted as his co-stars the Italian actress
Gina Lollobrigida Luigia "Gina" Lollobrigida (born 4 July 1927) is an Italian actress, photojournalist, and politician. She was one of the highest-profile European actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s, a period in which she was an international sex symbol. As o ...
or the Cuban rumbera
Rosa Carmina Rosa Carmina Riverón Jiménez (born November 19, 1929) is a Cuban-Mexican actress and dancer. She was discovered in Cuba by the Spanish filmmaker Juan Orol, and made her debut in Mexican cinema in Orol's film ''A Woman from the East'' in 1946. ...
, because he distrusted Pinal due to her youth. With the support of the producer Gregorio Walerstein, Pinal made a change of image, highlighting her sex appeal, which helped her to be approved by De Cordova for the film. The film was filmed in
Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.
, Cuba and it was a remarkable blockbuster, which consecrates Pinal as the first figure in the cinema. Another director who knew how to make the most of Pinal's histrionic abilities was
Alberto Gout Alberto Gout (1913–1966) was a Mexican screenwriter, producer and film director.Biltereyst & Gennari p.76 Selected filmography * ''Saint Francis of Assisi'' (1944) * '' Smoke in the Eyes'' (1946) * ''The Well-paid'' (1948) * ''Revenge'' (1948 ...
. Under the baton of Gout, Pinal made the film ''La sospechosa'' (1954). Another outstanding movie in which Pinal participates is ''Historia de un abrigo de mink'' (1954),an episodic film that Pinal co-stars with the actresses
María Elena Marqués María Elena Marqués Rangel (14 December 1926 – 11 November 2008) was a Mexican actress and singer who was a star during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. Biography She was born on December 14, 1926 in Mexico City. She wa ...
,
Columba Domínguez Columba Domínguez Alarid (March 4, 1929 – August 13, 2014) was a Mexican actress, singer, and painter. She is remembered particularly for her performance in the film ''Pueblerina'' (1949). Biography Early life Columba Domínguez Alarid was bo ...
and
Irasema Dilián Irasema Dilián (born Eva Irasema Warschalowska; May 27, 1924 – April 16, 1996) was an actress. Born in Brazil to Polish parents, she began her film career in Italy, and appeared in Italian, Spanish and Mexican films. Biography Irasema Dili ...
. With
Tito Davison Tito Davison (14 November 1912 – 21 March 1985) was a Chilean-born Mexican film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 60 films between 1937 and 1982. Selected filmography * '' Thus Is Life'' (1930) * ''Shadows of Glory'' (1930 ...
as director, Pinal also filmed the Mexican-Spanish-Chilean co-production ''Cabo de Hornos'' (1955), along with the actor
Jorge Mistral Modesto Llosas Rosell (24 November 1920 – 20 April 1972) known professionally as Jorge Mistral was a Spanish film actor. During the 1940s, he became a star in films produced by CIFESA. In the 1950s, he lived and worked in México and ap ...
. Pinal worked again with Pedro Infante, this time as his co-star in the famous comedy '' El inocente'' (1955). Pinal starred in several films by Tulio Demicheli. Among the most outstanding is ''Locura pasional'' (1955), which would bring her first Silver Ariel award as best actress. The second was thanks to her role in the film ''La dulce enemiga'' (1957), directed by Tito Davison. In 1956, Pinal starred in the film ''Una cita de amor'' (1956), where she worked for the first and only time under the direction of the director
Emilio Fernández Emilio "El Indio" Fernández Romo (; 26 March 1904 – 6 October 1986) was a Mexican film director, actor and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific film directors of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. He is best kn ...
. The popularity and success of Pinal in Mexico opened the doors for her to work in Europe following the advice of Tulio Demicheli. Her first work in the Old Continent is in the Spanish-Mexican co-production ''Las locuras de Bárbara'' (1958), directed by Demicheli. From the hand of Demicheli Silvia starred in Spain the musical film ''Charleston''. Given the success of her films in Europe, Pinal was invited to work in Italy, where she also served as producer of the film '' Uomini e Nobiluomini'' (1959), which she starred next to
Vittorio de Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: ''Sciuscià'' and ''Bicycle Thieves'' (honorary) ...
and
Elke Sommer Elke Sommer (; born Elke Baronin von Schletz, 5 November 1940) is a German actress. She appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including roles in ''The Pink Panther (1963 film), The Pink Panther'' sequel ''A S ...
. Under the direction of
José María Forqué José María Forqué Galindo (8 March 1923 – 17 March 1995) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. Biography He was the father of the actress Verónica Forqué and the director Álvaro Forqué. He died on 17 March 1995 in Madrid ...
, Pinal starred in Spain in the film ''Maribel y la extraña familia'' (1960). In 1961 she filmed the Spanish musical film ''Adiós, Mimí Pompom'', next to
Fernando Fernán Gómez Fernando Fernández Gómez (28 August 1921 – 21 November 2007) better known as Fernando Fernán Gómez was a Spanish actor, screenwriter, film director, theater director and member of the Royal Spanish Academy for seven years. He was born ...
. Pinal achieved international acclaim through a trilogy of films that marked the end of the Mexican era of the Spanish filmmaker
Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico, and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians, and directors to be one of the greatest and m ...
. Pinal had her first contact with Buñuel through Mexican actor
Ernesto Alonso Ernesto Alonso (February 28, 1917 – August 7, 2007) was a Mexican producer, director, cinematographer and actor. He was nicknamed "''El Señor Telenovela''" ("Mr. Soap Opera") because most of his work centered on telenovelas known around the w ...
, with the firm intention of starring in the film version of the novel ''
Tristana Tristana may refer to: * ''Tristana'' (novel), a novel published in 1892 by Benito Pérez Galdós ** ''Tristana'' (film), a 1970 Spanish film directed by Luis Buñuel based on the eponymous novel * ''Tristana'' (song), a 1987 song recorded by the ...
''. However, the little commercial success of Buñuel's films prevented the producers from financing the project, which ended up collapsing (Buñuel filmed the film years later in Spain with
Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress as well as an occasional singer, model, and producer, considered one of the greatest European actresses. She gained recogni ...
). Years later, Pinal, with the help of her second husband, producer
Gustavo Alatriste Gustavo Miguel Alatriste (25 August 1922 – 22 July 2006) was a Mexican actor, director, and producer of films. Biography He was married from 1961 through 1967 to the actress Silvia Pinal. They had one daughter, actress Viridiana Alatriste ( ...
, looked for Buñuel in Spain and convinced him to film ''
Viridiana ''Viridiana'' () is a 1961 Spanish-Mexican film directed by Luis Buñuel and produced by Gustavo Alatriste. It is loosely based on the 1895 novel ''Halma'' by Benito Pérez Galdós. The film was the co-winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Canne ...
'' (1961). This, without a doubt, is her most famous film. She was co-starred by
Francisco Rabal Francisco Rabal Valera (8 March 1926 – 29 August 2001), better known as Paco Rabal, was a Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter born in Águilas, a town in the south-western part of the province of Murcia, Spain. Throughout his career, Raba ...
and
Fernando Rey Fernando Casado Arambillet (La Coruña (Spain), 20 September 1917 – Madrid (Spain), 9 March 1994), best known as Fernando Rey, was a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor, who worked in both Europe and the United States. A suave, i ...
, and was the winner of the
Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
at the prestigious
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
. Despite the success and prestige enjoyed by the film, it was at the time, rejected by the Spanish censorship and the
Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...
, accusing it of blasphemy. The Spanish government ordered its destruction. Through the intervention of Pinal, who fled with a copy to Mexico, the film was saved. In Mexico, Vatican censorship had also resonated. However, with the help of Salvador Novo, the film premiered in some rooms. Her second film with Buñuel was ''
El ángel exterminador ''The Exterminating Angel'' ( es, El ángel exterminador, links=no) is a 1962 Mexican surrealist film written and directed by Luis Buñuel, starring Silvia Pinal, and produced by Pinal's then-husband Gustavo Alatriste. It tells the story of a g ...
'' (1962), which Pinal starred in with a choral cast. The film also received critical acclaim worldwide. In 2004, the ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' recognized it among the best films of all time. Her third and last project with Buñuel was ''
Simón del desierto ''Simon of the Desert'' ( es, Simón del desierto) is a 1965 Mexican surrealist film directed by Luis Buñuel and starring Claudio Brook and Silvia Pinal. It is loosely based on the story of the ascetic 5th-century Syrian saint Simeon Stylites, w ...
'' (1964). The film, misrepresented as a medium-length film, was originally conceived to be an episodic film. Pinal and Gustavo Alatriste looked for
Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most i ...
to direct a second episode, but Fellini accepted with the condition that his wife,
Giulietta Masina Giulia Anna "Giulietta" Masina (22 February 1921 – 23 March 1994) was an Italian film actress best known for her performances as Gelsomina in ''La Strada'' (1954) and Cabiria in ''Nights of Cabiria'' (1957), for which she won the Cannes Film F ...
, starred in it.
Jules Dassin Julius "Jules" Dassin (December 18, 1911 – March 31, 2008) was an American film and theatre director, producer, writer and actor. A subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, he subsequently moved to France, and later Greece, whe ...
was then sought, who likewise accepted on the condition that it was starred by his wife
Melina Mercouri Maria Amalia "Melina" Mercouri (, 18 October 1920 – 6 March 1994) was a Greek actress, singer, activist, and politician. She came from a political family that was prominent over multiple generations. She received an Academy Award nomination a ...
. Pinal also rejected this request. The idea was that Pinal starred in all the episodes of the film, so the project ended up filming only with Buñuel. In the film Pinal also made the first nude appearance of her career, something still rare in Mexican cinema and also the first naked scenes of Buñuel's cinema. Pinal was also on the verge of starring with Buñuel in the film '' Diary of a Chambermaid'', in France. Pinal learned French and was willing to charge nothing for her participation. However, the French producer
Serge Silberman Serge Silberman (1 May 1917 – 22 July 2003) was a French film producer. Early life Silberman was born in Łódź, then a part of the Regency Kingdom of Poland in a Jewish family. During World War II, Silberman survived Nazi concentration camps ...
ended up choosing
Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Mo ...
. Even so, Pinal (along with
Lilia Prado Lilia (Latin plural, meaning "lilies" in English; singular, ''lilium'') are pit traps arranged in a quincunx pattern dug by the Roman armies in front of their defences. Frequently they had sharpened stakes set inside them as an extra obstacle to a ...
), who is the actress with whom Buñuel worked with the most, made a total of three classic films. Pinal was also going to shoot with Buñuel in Spain on ''Divinas palabras'', but there were problems with copyrights. Years later, Pinal was finally able to do it in Mexico with another director. After her work with Buñuel, Pinal returned to the cinema with the comedy ''Buenas noches, Año Nuevo'' (1965), where she alternated with
Ricardo Montalbán Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino, KSG (; ; November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican and American film and television actor. Montalbán's career spanned seven decades, during which he became known for performances in a var ...
. In 1966 she made the mythical film ''La soldadera'', directed by José Bolaños and inspired by the events of the
Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...
. In that same year she participated in the Mexican-Brazilian co-production ''Juego peligroso'', directed by
Luis Alcoriza Luis Alcoriza de la Vega (September 5, 1918 – December 3, 1992) was a respected Mexican screenwriter, film director, and actor. Alcoriza was born in Spain and, exiled because of the Spanish Civil War, established himself in Mexico from 1940 ...
and based on a script by
Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one ...
. She also appeared in the Franco-Italian-Mexican co-production ''
La bataille de san sebastian ''Guns for San Sebastian'' () is a 1968 action- adventure film based on the 1962 novel ''A Wall for San Sebastian'', written by Rev. Fr. William Barnaby "Barby" Faherty, S.J. The film is directed by Frenchman Henri Verneuil, it stars Anthony ...
'', along with
Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known professionally as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican-American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental v ...
and
Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...
. In 1967 Pinal films ''
Shark! ''Shark!'' (also known as ''Caine'' and ''Man-Eater'') is a 1969 Mexican-American action film directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Burt Reynolds and Silvia Pinal. Plot Caine, a gunrunner, becomes stranded in a small port on the Red Sea. Whi ...
'', together with
Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...
and directed by
Samuel Fuller Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American film director, screenwriter, novelist, journalist, and World War II veteran known for directing low-budget B movie, genre movies with controversial themes, often ...
, making this the only
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
production in which Pinal has appeared. Pinal achieved a huge blockbuster with the film ''María Isabel'' (1968), based on a popular cartoon by
Yolanda Vargas Dulché Yolanda Vargas Dulché de la Parra (; July 18, 1926 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico– August 8, 1999 in Mexico City) was a List of Mexican writers, Mexican writer principally known for the creation of the comic book character of Memín Pinguín and ...
. Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, Pinal mainly made comic films directed by the filmmaker René Cardona Jr. In 1976, Pinal starred in ''Las mariposas disecadas'', a thriller of psychological suspense. In 1977 she finally starred in the controversial film '' Divinas palabras'' (1977), directed by Juan Ibáñez, a film where she made an integral nude scene. At the end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties, Pinal filmed some films in Spain, Italy and Argentina as part of a project by
Televisa Grupo Televisa is a Mexican multimedia mass media company. A major Latin American mass media corporation, it often presents itself as the largest producer of Spanish-language content. In April 2021, Televisa and Univision Communications announce ...
to unify the Spanish and Latin American markets. After ten years of absence in the cinema, Pinal returned in 1992 with the tape ''Modelo antiguo'', directed by
Raúl Araiza Raúl Araiza (; born Raúl Araiza Herrera on 14 November 1964) is a Mexican actor and television presenter. He studied drama in the Centro de Educación Artística of Televisa Grupo Televisa is a Mexican multimedia mass media company. A m ...
. The decline of Mexican cinema and the activity of Pinal on television and other media (such as politics), made her practically withdraw from the big screen. In recent years, her film appearances are limited to films ''Ya no los hacen como antes'' (2002), and a brief special appearance on the movie ''Tercera llamada'' (2013).


Stage

Pinal made her debut at the theater in the
Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes The Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL, en, National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature), located in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, is the Mexican institution in charge of coordinating artistic and cultural ...
. Eventually she did experimental plays, to then work at the Ideal Theater in Mexico City, in the company of the Spanish actress Isabelita Blanch, where she was directed in numerous productions by Rafael Banquells. Outside of this company, in 1950 participates in the play ''Celos del aire'', with Manolo Fábregas and
Carmen Montejo Carmen Montejo (born María Teresa Sánchez González; May 26, 1925 – February 25, 2013) was a Cuban actress. Biography Real name: María Teresa Sánchez González. Montejo started her career in radio as a child at the age of 6 in Cuba in ...
. In that same year she represented ''Doña Inés'' in ''
Don Juan Tenorio ''Don Juan Tenorio: Drama religioso-fantástico en dos partes'' (Don Juan Tenorio: Religious-Fantasy Drama in Two Parts) is a play written in 1844 by José Zorrilla. It is the more romantic of the two principal Spanish-language literary interpr ...
'', next to Jorge Mistral. Of her most outstanding plays from the beginning of her career stand out ''
The Madwoman of Chaillot ''The Madwoman of Chaillot'' (french: La Folle de Chaillot) is a play, a poetic satire, by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, written in 1943 and first performed in 1945, after his death. The play is in two acts. The story concerns an eccentric woma ...
'', next to
Prudencia Griffel Prudencia María Victoria Grifell Masip (27 December 1879 – 7 June 1970) was a Spanish-Mexican actress and comedian. Biography Early life Grifell was born to Spanish stage actors and started her acting career herself at the age of ten in the ...
and ''El cuadrante de la soledad'', by
José Revueltas José Revueltas Sánchez (November 20, 1914 in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango – April 14, 1976 in Mexico City) was a Mexican writer, essayist, and political activist. He was part of an important artistic family that included his siblings Silves ...
, with sets by the artist
Diego Rivera Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, known as Diego Rivera (; December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957), was a prominent Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the ...
. In 1954, Pinal participates in the play ''La Sed'', with Ernesto Alonso and the Argentinean actor
Pedro López Lagar Pedro López Lagar (18 June 1899, in Madrid – 21 August 1977, in Buenos Aires) was a Spanish born Argentine film actor of the 1940s and 1950s. Although born in Madrid he moved to Argentina as a young man and began acting in film in 19 ...
. In 1955 she obtained the recognition in the theater scene in the assembly ''
Anna Christie ''Anna Christie'' is a play in four acts by Eugene O'Neill. It made its Broadway debut at the Vanderbilt Theatre on November 2, 1921. O'Neill received the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this work. According to historian Paul Avrich, the orig ...
'', along with
Wolf Ruvinskis Wolf Ruvinskis (October 31, 1921 – November 9, 1999), born Wolf Ruvinskis Manevics, was a Latvian-Mexican actor and professional wrestler. He was married to dancer Armida Herrera. Born to a Latvian mother and a Ukrainian father, of Jewish backg ...
. In 1957 Pinal staged the play ''Desnúdate, Lucrecia'', in Chile, next to Jorge Mistral, who eventually starred in the cinema in Mexico. In 1958, Pinal was responsible for producing in Mexico the first
Musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
'' Bells Are Ringing'', directed by Luis de Llano Palmer. For this work, Pinal had an offer to work on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
with the manager of
Judy Holliday Judy Holliday (born Judith Tuvim, June 21, 1921 – June 7, 1965) was an American actress, comedian and singer.Obituary ''Variety'', June 9, 1965, p. 71. She began her career as part of a nightclub act before working in Broadway plays and music ...
, but Pinal refused to cut her career in Mexico. In 1964 she made the Mexican version of the musical ''
Irma La Douce ''Irma la Douce'' (, "Irma the Sweet") is a 1963 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond, based on the 1956 French stage musical of the same name by Marguerite Monnot and Alexa ...
'', alongside
Julio Alemán Julio Méndez Alemán (November 29, 1933 – April 11, 2012) was a Mexican actor.Enrique Rambal Enrique Rambal (8 May 1924 – 15 December 1971) was a Spanish-Mexican actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1952 and 1971. Enrique had married actresses Mercedes Borque and Lucy Gallardo. Selected filmography * '' The Martyr of ...
. José Luis Ibáñez will end up becoming her head theater director. Under the baton of Ibañez, Pinal starred in the work ''Vidas privadas''. One of her most memorable works in musical comedy, was the Mexican version of ''
Mame MAME (formerly an acronym of Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a free and open-source emulator designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. Its intention is to preserve ...
'', successful Broadway musical, which thanks to her success, Pinal rode three times (1972, 1985 and 1989). In 1976 he also starred in the musical '' Annie Get Your Gun''. In 1977, to commemorate her twenty-five year career, Pinal set up her own cabaret show entitled ''¡Felicidades Silvia!''. The show was presented with great success, first at the nightclub
El Patio The untitled first studio album by the Spain, Spanish rock band Triana (band), Triana, commonly known as El patio, was released on 14 April 1975. At first it was a commercial failure but as the band became popular the album sales increased. The fi ...
, and then at the
Teatro de la Ciudad The (Theater of the City) was built as the (Esperanza Iris Theatre) in 1918 and is now one of Mexico City’s public venues for cultural events. The theater is located in the historic center of Mexico City on Donceles Street 36. The former Espe ...
in Mexico City. In 1978, she starred in the musical ''
Plaza Suite ''Plaza Suite'' is a comedy play by Neil Simon. Plot The play is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, ''Visitor From Mamaroneck'', introduces the au ...
''. The death of her daughter Viridiana, truncated the theatrical project '' Agnes of God'', which starred together in 1982. In 1983, Pinal starred in and produced the Mexican montage of the work ''La señorita de Tacna'', based on the work of
Mario Vargas Llosa Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquess of Vargas Llosa (born 28 March 1936), more commonly known as Mario Vargas Llosa (, ), is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and former politician, who also holds Spanish citizenship. Vargas Ll ...
. In 1985, while serving as First Lady of the state of
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala (; , ; from nah, Tlaxcallān ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipaliti ...
, Pinal remodeled the Xicohténcatl Theater, which reopened with the assembly ''The memories of the Divine Sarah''. In 1986, Pinal starred in the work ''
Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writte ...
'', which despite the success obtained, was not to the liking of the actress, and the assembly only reached 100 performances. In 1988, in association with
Margarita López Portillo Margarita López Portillo y Pacheco (1914–2006) was a Mexican novelist who earned several awards for her novels and also had three of them adapted for film. She was a public servant, serving under three presidents in various capacities of regu ...
, Pinal acquired the Cine Estadio, located in
Colonia Roma Colonia Roma, also called La Roma or simply, Roma, is a district located in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City just west of the city's historic center, and in fact is no longer a single '' colonia'' (neighbourhood) but now two officially de ...
in Mexico City, transforming it into its own theatrical venue, the Silvia Pinal Theater, a space dedicated mainly to musical comedy. which Pinal was free to set up her own productions. The theater was inaugurated in 1989 with the third representation of the musical ''Mame'', with Pinal at the head of the cast. In 1992, Pinal acquired the former Cine Versalles, located in Colonia Juárez in Mexico City and turned it into his second theater, the Diego Rivera Theater. The Diego Rivera Theater was inaugurated in 1991 with the assembly ''
Lettice and Lovage ''Lettice and Lovage'' is a comical and satirical play by Peter Shaffer.''A Dictionary of Writers and their Works'' (2 ed.) (2012) Oxford University Press; It is centered around a flamboyant tour guide who loves to embellish the history behind a ...
''. In 1996, Pinal returned to the musical theater with the second Mexican version of '' Hello, Dolly!'', opposite
Ignacio López Tarso Ignacio López López (born 15 January 1925), known professionally as Ignacio López Tarso, is a Mexican actor of stage, film and television. He has acted in about 50 films and appeared in documentaries and in one short feature. In 1973 he was g ...
. The last work that Pinal starred in her previous theater was ''
Gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
'' (1998), starring alongside her daughter, the singer
Alejandra Guzmán Gabriela Alejandra Guzmán Pinal (born February 9, 1968), known professionally as Alejandra Guzmán, and nicknamed "La Reina de Corazones" (The Queen of Hearts) is a Mexican musician, singer, composer, and actress. With more than 30 million album ...
. As a producer, she was responsible for making the Mexican versions of the musicals ''
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is centered on seventeen Broadway dancers ...
'' (1989), ''
Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...
'' (1991) and '' La Cage aux Folles'' (1992). Unfortunately, several problems caused Pinal to close the Silvia Pinal Theater, which stopped functioning in 2000 to become a religious temple. Pinal returned to the theater in 2002 with the play ''Debiera haber obispas''. In recent dates she has also participated in productions such as ''Adorables enemigas'' (2008) and ''Amor, dolor y lo que puesto'' (2012). In 2014, the Diego Rivera Theater changed its name to become the new Silvia Pinal Theatre.


Television

Pinal dabbled in television since its appearance in Mexico in the early 1950s. In 1952, she participated in her television show titled ''Con los brazos abiertos''. Eventually she participates in numerous telecasts, produced by Luis de Llano Palmer. That's where Pinal first introduced the use of playback on Mexican television. In the mid-sixties, Pinal staged her own comic-musical show on Televisa entitled ''Los especiales de Silvia Pinal''. When Silvia married the actor and singer
Enrique Guzmán Enrique Guzmán (born February 1, 1943) is a Venezuelan-born Mexican singer and actor. He is one of the pioneers of Rock & Roll in Mexico, along with César Costa, Angélica María, Johnny Laboriel and Alberto Vasquez, among others. He is als ...
, both produced and starred in the variety show ''Silvia y Enrique'' (a comedy-musical program in the style of ''
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour ''The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'' was an American variety show that starred American pop singers Sonny Bono and Cher, who were married to each other at the time. The show ran on CBS in the United States, and premiered in August 1971. The show was ...
''), which presented during four years (1968–1972) with a great success. Once separated from Guzmán, Silvia continued with her variety show titled ''¡Ahora Silvia!!. In 1985, she became a producer and presenter of the TV show '' Mujer, casos de la vida real''. Initially, the show was created to respond to cases and needs of the public focused on locating victims of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. With the passage of time, the show evolved to present current issues and daily life that included from domestic violence to legal issues and public health. This production was a success and lasted more than 20 years transmitting in Mexico, Spain, Italy and several countries in Latin America. The program was canceled in 2007. In 2009 Pinal also participated in a chapter of the series '' Mujeres asesinas''. In 1968, Pinal makes his debut in
telenovelas A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include ''teleserye'' (P ...
with the historical telenovela ''Los caudillos'', inspired by the events of the War of Independence of Mexico. The telenovela was produced by Ernesto Alonso. Her second foray into the genre was with the telenovela ''¿Quién?'' (1973), produced by Guillermo Diazayas and based on a cartoon by Yolanda Vargas Dulché. Eventually, Pinal decided to produce her own telenovelas, her first hit being '' Mañana es primavera'' (1982), the last acting work of her daughter Viridiana, before dying. In 1985 he also produced and starred in ''Eclipse''. Her last works in television have been in special participations in various telenovelas and television series. The most relevant ones are ''
Carita de ángel ''Carita de ángel'' (English title: ''Little Angel Face'') is a Mexican children's telenovela produced by Nicandro Díaz González for Televisa in 2000. It is a remake of the telenovela ''Papa Corazon'', which also was adapted for ''Mundo de j ...
'' (2000), in which she went on to replace the actress Libertad Lamarque, who at the time of her death left her character unfinished in this childhood melodrama), ''
Fuego en la sangre ''Fuego en la sangre'' (Translated to "Fire in the Blood", but in English called ''Burning for Revenge'') is a Mexican telenovela that began transmissions on January 21, 2008, through Mexico's Canal de las Estrellas network. Starring Adela Norieg ...
'' (2008), '' Soy tu dueña'' (2010) and ''
Mi marido tiene familia ''Mi marido tiene familia'', also known as ''Mi marido tiene más familia'' for the second season and stylized onscreen as ''Mi marido tiene + familia'', is a Mexican comedy telenovela that premiered on Las Estrellas on June 5, 2017 and ended on ...
'' (2017). In addition to the aforementioned telenovelas that she starred, Pinal also produced the melodramas ''Cuando los hijos van'' (1983) and ''Tiempo de amar'' (1987).


Politics

Pinal dabbled in the world of politics as a result of her fourth marriage, with the politician Tulio Hernández Gómez, who was governor of the State of
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala (; , ; from nah, Tlaxcallān ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipaliti ...
. Between 1981 and 1987, Pinal was the First Lady of that state. Eventually she became a member of the
Institutional Revolutionary Party The Institutional Revolutionary Party ( es, Partido Revolucionario Institucional, ; abbr. PRI) is a political party in Mexico that was founded in 1929 and held uninterrupted power in the country for 71 years, from 1929 to 2000, first as the Nati ...
and was elected to federal deputy in 1991. Later, she became a senator and member of the Asamblea de Representantes del Federal District. In these positions, Pinal had some achievements. Among the most outstanding are to achieve that the Cinematographic Law contemplate the right of interpreter, worked on the Law of Condominiums and the Law of Tourism, did tasks in favor of
ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...
, promoted the dissemination of theater books and fought for the Ministry of Finance to lower taxes on the theater. Since the fifties, Pinal actively participated in trade union movements of the actors of his country. She was part of the group "Rosa Mexicano" , founded by
Dolores del Río María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete (3 August 1904 – 11 April 1983), known professionally as Dolores del Río (), was a Mexican actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is regarded as the first major female Latin Am ...
. Between 1988 and 1995, Pinal became a leader of the National Association of Interpreters (A.N.D.I.) of Mexico. Pinal had problems with justice in the year 2000 due to problems in her management as leader of the Association of Theater Producers (Protea) in the early 1990s. For this reason the actress lived some time in
Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, United States. After eleven months, the actress was declared innocent and returned to her country. Between 2010 and 2014, Pinal also served as General Secretary of the Screen Actors Guild of México (ANDA) of Mexico. In an attempt to protect the mature actors, she became the founder of the ''Asociación Rafael Banquells'', in charge of providing non-profit help to the interpreters. As president of the association, Pinal is in charge of the delivery of the Bravo Awards to the highlights in music, film, theater, radio, television, dubbing and commercial realization during the year. The awards are given annually since 1991.


Personal life

Pinal has been married four times. Her first marriage was with the actor and director
Rafael Banquells Rafael Banquells (born Rafael Banquells Garafulla; 25 June 1917 – 27 October 1990) was a Cuban-born Mexican actor, director and TV producer known in Mexico as Rafael Banquells (I). Biography Banquells was born on 25 June 1917 in La Habana, ...
, who was her first formal boyfriend. Pinal married Banquells in 1947. Pinal acknowledges that her marriage at such an early age was partly due to escape from her father's repression: ''"I changed my father for a softer one that stimulated me in my career."'' The couple divorced in 1952, a year after the birth of their daughter,
Sylvia Pasquel Sylvia Pasquel (born Silvia Banquells Pinal, 13 October 1949) is a Mexican actress. Career 1960s At the age of nineteen, Pasquel did her first movie, '' El Despertar del Lobo'' (''The Wolf's Awakening''). That movie was made in 1968, the year i ...
, who later had an outstanding career as an actress. Her second marriage was with the businessman and film producer
Gustavo Alatriste Gustavo Miguel Alatriste (25 August 1922 – 22 July 2006) was a Mexican actor, director, and producer of films. Biography He was married from 1961 through 1967 to the actress Silvia Pinal. They had one daughter, actress Viridiana Alatriste ( ...
. Pinal has revealed on numerous occasions that Alatriste was the love of her life, a husband with whom she could have stayed forever. Pinal met Alatriste at a meeting at Ernesto Alonso's house when he was about to divorce the actress
Ariadne Welter Ariadne Welter (June 29, 1930 – December 13, 1998) was a Mexican movie actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She appeared in the Luis Buñuel film ''The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz'' (1955). In 1956 she starred in the film '' ...
. It was thanks to Alatriste that Pinal was able to make her film projects with Luis Buñuel. The marriage ended in 1967 due to Alatriste's infidelities and business problems between the couple. From her relationship with Alatriste, she had a daughter, actress Viridiana Alatriste (1963-1982). Unfortunately, Viridiana died tragically in a car accident in Mexico City in 1982, only 19 years old. Her third marriage was with the popular singer and idol of
Rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...
Enrique Guzmán Enrique Guzmán (born February 1, 1943) is a Venezuelan-born Mexican singer and actor. He is one of the pioneers of Rock & Roll in Mexico, along with César Costa, Angélica María, Johnny Laboriel and Alberto Vasquez, among others. He is als ...
. Pinal and Guzmán met when he came as a guest on the Pinal's television show ''¡Ahora Silvia!''. Pinal and Guzmán were married in 1967 despite some resistance from Pinal being 11 years older than her husband. Their marriage lasted nine years. They worked together and procreated two children: the popular singer
Alejandra Guzmán Gabriela Alejandra Guzmán Pinal (born February 9, 1968), known professionally as Alejandra Guzmán, and nicknamed "La Reina de Corazones" (The Queen of Hearts) is a Mexican musician, singer, composer, and actress. With more than 30 million album ...
(born in 1968) and the musician and composer Luis Enrique Guzmán (born in 1970). Her last marriage was with the politician, and then governor of the state of Tlaxcala, Tulio Hernández Gómez. The couple married in 1982. It was through Hernández that Pinal entered the world of politics. Pinal and Hernandez divorced in 1995. In addition to her marriages, at various times in her life, Pinal held various romances. In 1954, when filming ''Un extraño en la escalera'', Pinal fell in love with her co-star, the actor
Arturo de Córdova Arturo García Rodríguez (8 May 1908 – 3 November 1973), known professionally as Arturo de Córdova, was a Mexican actor who appeared in over a hundred films. Biography Career Arturo García Rodríguez was born in Mérida, Yucatán on 8 May 1 ...
. Others of her romances were with the Mexican businessman
Emilio Azcárraga Milmo Emilio Azcárraga Milmo or Emilio Azcárraga Jr. (September 6, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas - April 16, 1997 outside Miami, Florida) was a Mexican-American businessman and the son of Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta and Laura Milmo Hickman. He was educa ...
, the Egyptian actor
Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the ...
and with the American businessman Conrad Nicholson Hilton, Jr. With the passage of time, Pinal has become the head of one of the most famous artistic dynasties in Latin America. Her daughters Sylvia and Viridiana followed in her footsteps as an actress. The youngest of her daughters, Alejandra, is one of the most popular singers in Mexico. Alejandra's daughter Frida Sofía is also a model, currently living in Miami Fl. In addition, her granddaughter Stephanie Salas (daughter of Sylvia) has also forged a career as an actress and singer. Stephanie's daughters, Michelle Salas and Camila Valero, are both models and actresses.


Awards and honors

* In 1954, the beer
Corona Corona (from the Latin for 'crown') most commonly refers to: * Stellar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun or another star * Corona (beer), a Mexican beer * Corona, informal term for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 di ...
, sent an advertisement that included a song in which they mentioned to Pinal next to the Italian divas
Gina Lollobrigida Luigia "Gina" Lollobrigida (born 4 July 1927) is an Italian actress, photojournalist, and politician. She was one of the highest-profile European actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s, a period in which she was an international sex symbol. As o ...
,
Silvana Mangano Silvana Mangano (; 21 April 1930 – 16 December 1989) was an Italian film actress. She was one of a generation of thespians who arose from the neorealist movement, and went on to become a major female star, regarded as a sex symbol for the 195 ...
and
Silvana Pampanini Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian film actress, director and singer. She was also the niece of the well-known soprano of the golden era of opera, Dame Rosetta Pampanini. Silvana Pampanini caused a sensation ...
. * In 1955, Pinal was immortalized in a portrait by the famous painter
Diego Rivera Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, known as Diego Rivera (; December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957), was a prominent Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the ...
, who occupies a special place in the Pinal residence in Mexico City. * In addition to Rivera, Pinal has also been painted by other artists such as
Oswaldo Guayasamín Oswaldo Guayasamín (July 6, 1919 – March 10, 1999) was an Ecuadorian painter and sculptor of Kichwa and Mestizo heritage. Biography Early life Guayasamín was born in Quito, Ecuador, to a native father and a Mestiza mother, both of Kichwa de ...
, Mario Chávez Marión, Sylvia Pardo and General Ignacio Beteta Quintana. * In 1978, Pinal posed naked in a photo shoot of the Spanish magazine ''
Interviú ''Interviú'' (a Spanish Anglicism for "interview") was a Spanish language weekly news magazine published in Madrid, Spain. It was in circulation between 1976 and 2018. History and profile ''Interviú'' was established in 1976 by a group led by ...
''. * Pinal is represented as one of the Seven Muses of Art in a stained glass window of Xicohténcatl Theatre in
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala (; , ; from nah, Tlaxcallān ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipaliti ...
. * When her daughter Alejandra Guzmán launched as a singer in 1988, she dedicated a controversial song to her mother titled "Bye Mama" and included in her debut album. * In 2002, Pinal was recognized when a statue in her honor in Mexico City. The work was done by renowned sculptor Ricardo Ponzanelli. * In 2006, Pinal was awarded in Spain with the Orden de Isabel la Católica in the grade of Commander for her cultural contribution to the world of cinema. * In 2013, Pinal was honored by the Wax Museum of Mexico City to unveil a figure in her honor. * In 2015, Pinal published her autobiographical book entitled ''Esta soy yo''. * In 2016,
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
of
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
chose Pinal as one of its members in recognition of her long career and contribution to the international film industry. * At some point, Matt Casella, a headhunter for
DreamWorks DreamWorks may refer to: * DreamWorks Pictures, an American film production company of Amblin ** DreamWorks Television, an American television production company and division of the film studio ** DreamWorks Records, an American record label and f ...
, looked for Pinal to make a biographical series about her life. However, the project did not materialize.''Quién: Matt Casella and Silvia Pinal biographical serie''
/ref> * In 2019, Televisa produces a television series based on the Pinal's life. The series is titled ''
Silvia Pinal, frente a ti ''Silvia Pinal, frente a ti'' is a Mexican biographical television series directed by Carla Estrada and Mónica Miguel based on the life of the Mexican producer and actress Silvia Pinal. It stars Itatí Cantoral as the titular character. The serie ...
'', and Pinal is portrayed by Mexican actress
Itatí Cantoral Itatí Guadalupe Cantoral Zucchi (born May 13, 1975) is a Mexican actress, singer, dancer, and producer, She is of Spanish and Italian descent. She is best known for her roles as Soraya Montenegro in Televisa's telenovela ''María la del Barrio ...
.


Filmography


Films


Television

* '' Relatos macabrones'' (2020) as Doña Teresa * '' Juntos el corazón nunca se equivoca'' (2019) as Doña Imelda Sierra Vda. de Corcega * ''
Silvia Pinal, frente a ti ''Silvia Pinal, frente a ti'' is a Mexican biographical television series directed by Carla Estrada and Mónica Miguel based on the life of the Mexican producer and actress Silvia Pinal. It stars Itatí Cantoral as the titular character. The serie ...
'' (2019) as Herself * ''
Mi marido tiene familia ''Mi marido tiene familia'', also known as ''Mi marido tiene más familia'' for the second season and stylized onscreen as ''Mi marido tiene + familia'', is a Mexican comedy telenovela that premiered on Las Estrellas on June 5, 2017 and ended on ...
'' (2017–2019) as Doña Imelda Sierra Vda. de Córcega * ''
La tempestad ''La tempestad'' (International translation: ''The Tempest'', dubbed ''The Storm'' by Univision) is a 2013 Mexican telenovela produced by Salvador Mejía Alejandre for Televisa. It is loosely based on the Colombian telenovela '' La Tormenta'', ...
'' (2013) as Soraya Alcántara * ''
Un refugio para el amor ''Un refugio para el amor'' (English title: ''A Shelter For Love'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ignacio Sada for Televisa. It aired on Canal de las Estrellas from February 6, 2012 to September 23, 2012 It is a remake of the Venezuelan te ...
'' (2012) as Herself * ''
Una familia con suerte ''Una familia con suerte'' (A Fortunate Family) is a Mexican telenovela produced by Juan Osorio for Televisa in 2011. It is based on the Argentinean telenovela '' Los Roldán''. Arath De La Torre, Mayrín Villanueva and Luz Elena González sta ...
'' (2011) as Herself * '' Soy tu dueña'' (2010) as Isabel Rangel Vda. de Dorantes * ''
Mañana es para siempre ''Mañana es Para Siempre'' (English title: ''Tomorrow is Forever'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Nicandro Díaz González for Televisa in 2008. It is an adaption of the 2007 Colombian telenovela '' Pura sangre''. It aired on Canal de las ...
'' (2009) as Herself * ''
Fuego en la sangre ''Fuego en la sangre'' (Translated to "Fire in the Blood", but in English called ''Burning for Revenge'') is a Mexican telenovela that began transmissions on January 21, 2008, through Mexico's Canal de las Estrellas network. Starring Adela Norieg ...
'' (2008) as Santa Margarita Lorenza Vda. de Gómez * ''
Una familia de diez ''Una familia de diez'' (English title: ''The 10 of Us''), also known as Una familia de diez + 2 for the second season, is a Mexican television sitcom that centers on the López household, a middle class Mexican family that constantly endures hila ...
'' (2007-2019) as Herself * ''
Amor sin maquillaje ''Amor sin Maquillaje'' (''Love without Makeup'') is a mini novela that was shown in 2007. It is a production of Rosy Ocampo, who also produced ''La Fea Mas Bella''. It stars Marlene Favela, Sergio Goyri, Lucía Méndez and Carmen Montejo. It was ...
'' (2007) as Herself * ''
Aventuras en el tiempo ''Aventuras en el tiempo'' (English title: ''Adventures in Time'') is a Mexican comedy drama telenovela produced by Rosy Ocampo for Televisa in 2001. On March 19, 2001, Canal de las Estrellas started broadcasting ''Aventuras en el tiempo'' weekd ...
'' (2001) as Silvia * ''
Carita de ángel ''Carita de ángel'' (English title: ''Little Angel Face'') is a Mexican children's telenovela produced by Nicandro Díaz González for Televisa in 2000. It is a remake of the telenovela ''Papa Corazon'', which also was adapted for ''Mundo de j ...
'' (2000-2001) as Mother Lucía * '' El privilegio de amar'' (1998) * ''
Lazos de amor ''Lazos de amor'' (English title: ''Τies of love'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Carla Estrada for Televisa in 1995. It stars Lucero (entertainer), Lucero and Luis José Santander. Plot The series centers around María Guadalupe, María ...
'' (1995) as Herself * '' Mujer, casos de la vida real'' (1986-2007) as Host * ''
Eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ce ...
'' (1984) * '' Mañana es primavera'' (1983) as Amanda González de Serrano * ''Y ahora, ¿qué?'' (1980) * '' ¿Quién?'' (1973) * ''Los caudillos'' (1968) as Jimena * '' Al rojo vivo''


Stage


Stage (producer)

* ''
A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is centered on seventeen Broadway dancers ...
'' (1989) * ''
Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...
'' (1991) * '' La Cage aux Folles'' (1993)


References


Bibliography

* * *


External links


Silvia Pinal at the telenovela database
* *

at the
cinema of Mexico 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 ...
site of the
ITESM Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) ( en, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education), also known as Tecnológico de Monterrey or just Tec, is a secular and Mixed-sex education, coeducational private ...
*
Silvia Pinal
at the
Mexican Academy of Film Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous peopl ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinal, Silvia 1931 births Living people Pinal family Mexican telenovela actresses Mexican television actresses Mexican film actresses Mexican stage actresses Mexican telenovela producers Mexican television presenters Mexican television talk show hosts Best Supporting Actress Ariel Award winners Golden Age of Mexican cinema Golden Ariel Award winners Ariel Award winners 20th-century Mexican actresses 21st-century Mexican actresses Commanders of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Institutional Revolutionary Party politicians Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Mexico) Members of the Senate of the Republic (Mexico) Women members of the Senate of the Republic (Mexico) Mexican actor-politicians People from Guaymas Women members of the Chamber of Deputies (Mexico) Women television producers Mexican women television presenters