''Amigas y rivales'' (English: ''Friends and Rivals'') is a Mexican juvenile

telenovela 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'' ...

produced by Emilio Larrosa for

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 ...

in 2001. On Monday, February 26, 2001,

Canal de las Estrellas Las Estrellas ("The Stars"; previously El Canal de las Estrellas, or "The Channel of the Stars") is one of the cornerstone networks of TelevisaUnivision, with affiliate stations all over Mexico, flagshipped at XEW-TDT in Mexico City. Many of t ...

started broadcasting ''Amigas y rivales'' weekdays at 7:00pm, replacing ''

Primer amor, a mil por hora ''Primer amor, a mil por hora'' (English: ''First Love, A Thousand per Hour'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Pedro Damián for Televisa in 2000. It is a remake of another Televisa telenovela titled '' Quinceañera''. This teen-oriented soap ...

''. The last episode was broadcast on Friday, November 9, 2001 with ''

El juego de la vida ''El juego de la vida'' (English: ''The game of life'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Roberto Gómez Fernández and Giselle Gonález Salgado for Televisa. It premiered on November 12, 2001 and ended on June 28, 2002. Sara Maldonado and ...

'' replacing it the following Monday. Ludwika Paleta,

Michelle Vieth Michelle Jacqueline Vieth Paetau (; born November 19, 1979) is a Mexican-American television personality, actress, and model best known for her starring roles in Mexican telenovelas between the late 1990s and early 2000s. Biography Michelle's ...

, Angélica Vale, Adamari López, Arath de la Torre,

Gabriel Soto Gabriel Soto Díaz (born April 17, 1975) is a Mexican actor and model. He won the national male pageant El Modelo Mexico, and placed first runner-up in Mister World 1996. He was also a member of the former Mexican boy band Kairo, and acts i ...

, Rodrigo Vidal, and

Johnny Lozada Johnny Lozada Correa (born December 21, 1967 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer, actor, host, and television personality. Lozada was a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo during its golden years, joining the group in 1980 and ...

star as protagonists, while

Joana Benedek Joana Benedek (, ; born Roxana Joana Benedek Godeanu on January 21, 1972) is a Romanian-born Mexican actress. She left her native land in search of work. She first moved to Venezuela before moving to Mexico. In Caracas she continued to study, bu ...

stars as antagonist.

Eric del Castillo J. Eduardo Eric del Castillo-Negrete Galván (born 22 July 1934) is a Mexican actor of theater, film and television who has dabbled as a screenwriter, director and arguer film, beginning his career in the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Early yea ...

, Chela Castro, and

Rafael Inclán Rafael Jiménez Inclán (born February 22, 1941) is a Mexican actor. He has starred in movies (several of them of which are so-called ficheras), telenovelas (Spanish soap operas), and stage works. His career began in 1969. He is actor Alfonso ...

made special guest appearances.

Plot

''Amigas y Rivales'' tells the story of four women from different social backgrounds. The first is Laura, a studious, sensitive, serious girl from a middle-class family; she studies data processing in a private university because she received a scholarship. Jimena is the typical rich girl, dissipated and irresponsible, for whom sex is just another amusement. At one point she is kidnapped although she doesn't realize it. She lives with Sebastián, a drug dealer who gives her drugs in exchange for her having sex with men in his home. Ofelia is Jimena's best friend. Like Jimena, she is rich and lives for pleasure and fun, until she gets infected with

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

. The fourth protagonist is Nayeli, who has a humble background and works as a maid in Jimena's home. Nayeli dreams of being a Hollywood actress, like her idol,

Salma Hayek Salma Hayek Pinault ( , ; born Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez; September 2, 1966) is a Mexican and American actress and film producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela ''Teresa'' (1989–1991) as well as the ...

. This dream takes her to the United States illegally, where she meets boxer Johnny Trinidad, who falls in love with her. She is reported to the immigration service and deported back to Mexico. Laura's emotions are divided between Robertito and his father, Don Roberto de la O, who hired Laura to instruct his firm in how to use their new computers. Don Roberto becomes determined to attract Laura, who unconsciously compares him with her own father, a man of weak character. Laura and Don Roberto date briefly; their relationship ends when Laura's mother lies to Don Roberto, telling him she's his daughter. Later Laura discovers that he is not her biological father, and that she was the result of a one-night stand. Her parents separate. She resumes dating Don Roberto until she realizes, weeks later, that she isn't in love with him after all. She is caught kissing his son Robertito. When Don Roberto discovers, thanks to Roxana's deceitful efforts to keep him, that Laura loves Robertito, he suffers a stroke. Roxana, Don Roberto's second wife, is extremely beautiful but hiding an unscrupulous criminal soul under the mask of an ideal wife. Her real name is Carolina. She attempted to kill her own father, Tomás, for which he sent her to an asylum, but she escaped and established the new identity of Roxana. She poisoned Don Roberto's first wife so he'd be free to marry her, but secretly desired her new stepson Robertito and killed his fiancée so she would have a chance with him. They became romantically involved, but Robertito realizes how much he loves Laura and tries to end his relationship with Roxana, which angers her. Roxana teams up with Sebastián to take revenge on the friends. She goes to jail but manages to escape. Georgina sleeps with Sebastián and gets pregnant but she later shoots and kills him. After having been unwilling to live, Ofelia chooses to fight for her life. Roberto proposes to Laura. Jimena sheds her bad habits, and Nayeli manages to carry on a successful acting career. At the friends' graduation party, Roxana appears with a group of armed men planning to take revenge on Jimena and Laura. Laura is absent because she felt sick. Roxana mentions killing Roberto's first wife. Joaquin is accidentally killed. Pepe is shot in the arm. Carlota reveals that Robertito and Roxana are half-siblings, as Padre Tomás is the father of both of them. Roxana wants to throw sulfuric acid on Jimena's face but Nayeli, Ofelia and Tamara hold her and Nayeli manages to make Roxana pour the acid on her own face. The police arrive and detain Roxana, and she ends in an asylum with a disfigured face. Jimena chose Pepe because Carlos failed her when he chose Ángela over her and will not forgive him. He wishes her happiness with Pepe. Paula gives up Ernesto so he can be happy with Nayeli. Nayeli ends up with Ernesto. Tamara ends up alone because of her bad luck with men. Ofelia and Ulises reunite the whole group Jimena, Nayeli, Tamara, Georgina, Robertito, Johnny, Ernesto, and Pepe at the end. Laura is absent because she is sick. Ulises announces that Ofelia has a life expectancy of at least 10 more years. They celebrate life and friendship together after so much pain and suffering.

Cast

* Ludwika Paleta as Jimena de la O Terán *

as Laura González Uribe * Angélica Vale as Wendy Nayeli Pérez * Adamari López as Ofelia Villada Ruvalcabal *

as Roxana Brito de la O/Carolina Vallejo *

as Don Roberto de la O * Arath de la Torre as Roberto "Robertito" de la O Terán * Rodrigo Vidal as Armando del Valle *

as Johnny Trinidad *

as Ulises Barrientos "El Feo" *

Alejandro Ávila Alejandro Ávila (born Alejandro Aranda Ávila on November 24, 1973) is a Mexican telenovela actor. Biography His birth name is Alejandro Aranda and his artistic name was chosen to honor his stepfather A stepfather or stepdad is a non-bi ...

as Sebastián Morales * Manuela Ímaz as Tamara de la Colina *

as Ramón "Moncho"/Jacaránda/Manuel de la Colina * Susana González as Ángela Riveira * Chela Castro as Carlota Olmedo * Eugenio Cobo as Pedro González * Alicia Fahr as Alma Uribe de González * Marisol Mijares as Andrea González Uribe *

Mayrín Villanueva Mayrín Villanueva Ulloa (born 8 October 1970) is a Mexican actress and model. Villanueva has also posed for multiple magazines. She was considered for the role of Julia Montaño in the 2004 telenovela '' Apuesta por un Amor''; the role was ev ...

as Georgina Sánchez *

René Strickler René Strickler (born April 27, 1962) is an Argentine actor. Telenovelas Show hosting * ''TVyNovelas Award The Premios TVyNovelas are presented annually by Televisa and the magazine TVyNovelas to honor the best Mexican television producti ...

as Carlos Torreblanca * Eduardo Santamarina as José "Pepe" Alcántara *

Ernesto Laguardia Ernesto Laguardia (; born October 5, 1959) is a Mexican actor known for his performances in Mexican telenovelas. Biography Laguardia was born in Mexico City and started as a model while he was in elementary school. His enthusiasm eventually led ...

as Himself *

Nailea Norvind Nailea Norvind (born 16 February 1970) is a Mexican theater, television and film actress. She appeared in the critically acclaimed 1987 film ''Gaby: A True Story''. She also lent her voice to play Princess Kida in the Spanish dubbing of ''Atla ...

as Paula Morell * Felicia Mercado as Sonia Villalobos Vda. de Torreblanca * Imperio Vargas as Yolanda * Zoila Quiñones as Adelaida * Irina Areu as La Güera * Marina Marín as Amada *

Luis Roberto Guzmán Luis Roberto Guzmán (born April 9, 1973) is a Puerto Rican actor known for his performances in Mexican telenovelas like '' Alborada'', and for his title role in Mexican series ''El Pantera''. Guzmán also worked on the film '' Ladies' Night'' ...

as Francisco "Frank" * Carlos Miguel as Guillermo Morales "El Chacal" * Sergio deFassio as Chema * Sergio Acosta as Gardenia * Ricardo Silva as Joaquin Dorantes * Elías Chiprout as Luis Santoscoy * Edgar Ponce as Ricardo * Benjamín Rivero as Eduardo *

Rudy Casanova Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to: People Given name or nickname *Rudolf Rudy Andeweg (born 1952), Dutch poli ...

as Antonio "Tony" * Ana Liz Rivera as Marilú * Claudia Troyo as Mónica * Salim Rubiales as Germán de la Colina * Ramón Valdés Urtiz as Rodrigo * Paulo César Quevedo as Edgar Romero * Martha Julia as Margarita Reyes Retana * Luis Couturier as Emilio Larrosa * Damián Mendiola as Abelardo * Alejandro de la Madrid as Rolando * Silvia Suárez as Leonora * Miguel Palmer as Alberto * Arsenio Campos as Father Tomás Vallejo * Rosángela Balbó as Magdalena de Morell * Maki as Alejandra del Valle * Patricia Ramírez as Natalia Solís * Shirley as Julieta * Maricruz Nájera as Camelia * Alejandra Gollas as Jessica * Christina Pastor as Irene * Claudio Sorel as Lorenzo Riveira * Juan Romanca as Pascual * Mariana Rivera as Juanita * Abril Campillo as Susana * Rodrigo Ruiz as Father Emiliano * Krystian Mohzo Díaz as "El Mosh" *

Elizabeth Álvarez Elizabeth Álvarez (, ; Born Elizabeth Álvarez Ronquillo on August 30, 1977, in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico) is a Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in ...

as Rocío del Toro * Bibelot Mansur as Stephany *

Guillermo Capetillo Guillermo Eduardo Capetillo de Flores (born 30 April 1958) is a Mexican actor, singer and matador. Family Capetillo was born in Mexico City, and is a member of the Capetillo family. His father (Manuel Capetillo, Sr.) (1926-2009) and his brother ...

as Esteban * Kelchie Arizmendi as Gisela * Joemy Blanco as Rebeca * Jorge Veytía as Miguel * Eduardo Cuervo as Óscar * Vanessa Arias as Isabel * Julio Becker as Javier * Pablo Osuna as Octavio * Lorena Velázquez as Itzel de la Colina * Fabián Fuentes as Brian Pérez * Karen Sandoval as Gemma Pérez * Ángel Claude as Jonathan Pérez * María Luisa Coronel as Johnny's mother * Ana Hally as Josefina * Joana Brito as Mother Superior * Alejandro Calva as Jorge * Enrique Hidalgo as Enrique "Quique" Montegarza * Alondra Torres as Jennifer *

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 ...

as Eduviges *

Maribel Guardia Maribel Guardia (; born Maribel Del Rocío Fernández García on May 29, 1959, in San José, Costa Rica) is a Costa Rican-Mexican actress, model, singer and TV hostess. She was winner of Miss Costa Rica 1978 and contestant in Miss Universe 1 ...

as Herself *

Sergio Sendel Sergio Sendel Santealla (born November 4, 1966) is a Mexican actor, most notable for playing villainous roles in Mexican telenovelas. He won the TVyNovelas for Best Male Antagonist in 2008 for his role as Aarón Montalvo Iturbe in Destilando Amo ...

as Himself * Andrea Legarreta as Herself * Martha Carrillo as Herself * Salvador Garcini as Himself * José Ángel García as Himself * Amelia Zapata as "La Cara Cortada" * Arturo Lorca as Julio * Benjamín Islas as Comandante *

José Luis Reséndez José Luis Reséndez Santos (born October 14, 1978 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico) is a Mexican actor and model. He won the national male pageant El Modelo México and represented his country in Mister World 2003, held in London, England, wh ...

as Juan * Gustavo Negrete as Doctor * Jorge Robles as "El Chino" * Juan ángel Esparza as Francisco * Néstor Leoncio as Alfredo * Marco Muñoz as Investigator * Raúl Macías as Kid Dinamita * Roberto "Flaco" Guzmán as Jimmy * Roberto Tello as Silvio * Rocío Yaber as Francisco's mother * Sylvia Valdés as Martha *

Roger Cudney Roger Cudney (June 22, 1936 – July 5, 2021) was an American actor, singer, dubbing director, radio and television announcer. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudney was known for starring in numerous Mexican films and telenovelas in which he ...

as Mr. Jones * Rubén Morales as Ofelia's father * Tania Prado as Lorena * Alexandra Graña as Daniela * Jan as Julio

Soundtrack

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* at esmas.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Amigas y rivales 2001 telenovelas Mexican telenovelas 2001 Mexican television series debuts 2001 Mexican television series endings Spanish-language telenovelas Television shows set in Mexico City Televisa telenovelas Teen telenovelas