Mecha Ortiz (née María Mercedes Varela Nimo Domínguez Castro; 1900–1987) was a classic

Argentine Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...

actress who appeared in film between 1937 and 1981, during the

Golden Age of Argentine Cinema Cinema of Argentina refers to the film industry based in Argentina. The Argentine cinema comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of Argentina or by Argentine filmmakers abroad. The Argentine film industry has histor ...

. At the

1944 Argentine Film Critics Association Awards The 1944 Argentine Film Critics Association Awards ceremony was held in Buenos Aires on 4 April 1944 to honour the best films and contributors to Argentine cinema in 1943. Awards given *Best Film (Mejor Película): '' Juvenilia'' *Best Direct ...

, Ortiz won the

Silver Condor Award for Best Actress The Silver Condor Award for Best Actress ( es, Premio Cóndor de Plata a la mejor actriz), given by the Argentine Film Critics Association, awards the best actress in Argentina each year: References {{Reflist Argentine Film Critics Asso ...

for her performance in ''

Safo, historia de una pasión ''Safo, historia de una pasión'' is a 1943 Argentine erotic melodrama film directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen and starring Mecha Ortiz and Roberto Escalada. At the 1944 Argentine Film Critics Association Awards, Ortiz won the Silver Condor Awa ...

'' (1943) and won it again in

1946 Events January * January 6 - The 1946 North Vietnamese parliamentary election, first general election ever in Vietnam is held. * January 7 – The Allies recognize the Austrian republic with its 1937 borders, and divide the country into f ...

for her performance in '' El canto del cisne'' (1945). She was known as the Argentine

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragedy, ...

and for playing mysterious characters, who suffered by past misfortunes in love, mental disorders, or forbidden love. ''Safo, historia de una pasión'' was the first erotic Argentine film, though there was no nudity. She also played in the first film in which a woman struck a man and the first film with a lesbian romance. In 1981, she was awarded the Grand Prize for actresses from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Early life and background

María Mercedes Varela Nimo Domínguez Castro, known as Mecha was born 24 September 1900. Until she was 29, Mecha, was married to a farmer and was busy being a wife and mother. She had enrolled for acting classes in the Conservatorio Nacional de Música y Declamación (National Conservatory of Music and Speech) in the inaugural class under the direction of

Carlos López Buchardo Carlos Félix López Buchardo (October 12, 1881 – April 21, 1948) was an Argentine composer of Classical music whose work was inspired by native music. He founded the Conservatorio Nacional Superior de Música in Buenos Aires, an instituti ...

and

Enrique García Velloso Enrique () is the Spanish variant of the given name Heinrich of Germanic origin. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (English), Enric (Catalan), Enrico (Italian), Henrik (Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian), Heinrich (German), Hendrik, Henk (Dut ...

. This first class of 1926, which included Ortiz, Miguel Mileo and

Paulina Singerman Paulina Singerman Begun (1911 – 9 February 1984) was an Argentine actress and businesswoman who primarily worked during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema, performing on both stage and in films. In the later part of her career, she spent a d ...

, among others, sought to teach acting using a standardized manual. When her husband was thrown from a horse and had a serious back injury, she took a job in the prosecutor's office, refusing help from her well-to-do family. Her sister,

Amanda Varela Amanda Varela was an Argentine actress who primarily worked during the Cinema of Argentina#1930s–1950s: The Golden Age, Golden Age of Argentine Cinema, performing on stage and in films of Argentina and the US. She made 9 films in Argentina and ...

, was an established actress and got her a screen test with

Paramount Studios Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production and distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldest film studio in the world, the second-oldest ...

of France. She was selected but no films were made, so her sister introduced her to a friend, influential film critic

Chas de Cruz Chas is a Municipal Corporation in the Chas subdivision of the Bokaro district in the state of Jharkhand, India. It is often referred to as a suburb of Bokaro Steel City, though it predates the steel plant. Chas is one of the fastest-growing ur ...

, who helped her find work.

Career

She began her entertainment career as a supporting actress in the Rivera-De Rosas Theatre Company of

Enrique de Rosas Enrique () is the Spanish variant of the given name Heinrich of Germanic origin. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (English), Enric (Catalan), Enrico (Italian), Henrik (Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian), Heinrich (German), Hendrik, Henk (Du ...

. She debuted on stage with ''El Proceso de Mary Duggan'', by

Bayard Veiller Bayard Veiller (January 2, 1869 – January 16, 1943) was an American playwright, screenwriter, producer and film director. He wrote for 32 films between 1915 and 1941. Biography He was born on January 2, 1869, in Brooklyn, New York to Phi ...

on 20 June 1929, at the Ateneo Theater. In 1933, she was in the production of ''Mirandolina'' by

Carlo Goldoni Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Char ...

which was put on by the Theater Company of

Antonio Cunill Cabanellas Antonio Cunill Cabanellas (August 27, 1894 – February 18, 1969) was an influential Spanish-Argentine playwright, theatre actor, director and instructor. Life and work Cunill Cabanellas was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1894. His father, Juan Cuni ...

. Also in 1933, she appeared in ''Corine'' with

Guillermo Battaglia Guillermo Battaglia (December 7, 1899September 26, 1988) was a prolific Argentine film actor of the classic era of Argentine cinema. Born in Buenos Aires, he began his film career in 1937 in ''Melodías porteñas''. Battaglia starred in over 1 ...

, Nedda Francy, Miguel Faust Rocha and Iris Marga at the Odeón Theater. She had a theatrical season on the Smart Theater, in 1938 with "Mujeres", written by US actress and writer

Clare Boothe Luce Clare Boothe Luce ( Ann Clare Boothe; March 10, 1903 – October 9, 1987) was an American writer, politician, U.S. ambassador, and public conservative figure. A versatile author, she is best known for her 1936 hit play '' The Women'', which h ...

, and co-starring

Amelia Bence Amelia Bence (born María Amelia Batvinik; 13 November 1919 – 8 February 2016) was an Argentine film actress and one of the divas of the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema (1940–60). Born to Belarusian Jewish immigrants, Bence began her c ...

. In 1936 she had her first film role as "Rubia Mireya", with

Florencio Parravicini Florencio Parravicini (24 August 1876 – 25 March 1941) was an Argentine actor who primarily worked during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema, performing on both stage and in films. From an aristocratic family, he was a relative of the artist B ...

Irma Córdoba Irma Córdoba (July 20, 1913 – May 18, 2008) was an Argentine film actress of the classic era. She entered the film industry in 1932 and appeared in over 30 films, spanning 65 years of Argentine film. She appeared in films such as '' Fuera de ...

and

Santiago Arrieta Santiago Arrieta (1897, Uruguay – 1975, Buenos Aires, Argentina) was a Uruguayan film actor, also known as Santiago Donadío.Finkielman pg. 219 After emigrating to Argentina, Arrieta appeared in 26 films between 1935 and 1962. Selected filmog ...

, in the classic '' Los muchachos de antes no usaban gomina'' directed by Manuel Romero. The role was the first of many wherein she played a character who could not be with the man she loved, but made personal sacrifices to be honorable. Mecha was often cast as mysterious characters, plagued by past misfortunes in love, mental disorders, or forbidden love and was frequently compared with

. She was also seen as a symbol of sophistication and was referred to in other works to denote the line between what was chic or provincial. Years later the character was brought back for Ortiz in the film '' La Rubia Mireya'' (1948) with

Fernando Lamas Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos (January 9, 1915 – October 8, 1982) was an Argentine-American actor and director, and the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas. Biography Argentina Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos was born in Buenos Aires, Arg ...

also directed by Manuel Romero. In this version, a woman who had reluctantly married, divorced and is rejected by her daughter. Safo, historia de una pasión

In 1938 she starred with

Niní Marshall Marina Esther Traveso (June 1, 1903 – March 18, 1996), known by her stage name Niní Marshall, was an Argentine humorist, comic actress and screenwriter; nicknamed ''The Chaplin with a skirt'' and ''The Lady of Humour''. Life and work S ...

in ''Mujeres que trabajan'', which was directed by Manuel Romero,Rist (2014), pp 494-495 ''Con las alas rotas'' directed by

Orestes Caviglia Orestes Caviglia (; November 9, 1893 in Buenos Aires – April 1, 1971 in Tucumán) was an Argentine film actor and film director of the classic era of the Cinema of Argentina. He appeared in films such as ''La cabalgata del circo'' 1945 and '' ...

and ''

Maestro Levita ''Maestro Levita'' is a 1938 Argentine film directed by Luis César Amadori. The film premiered in Buenos Aires. Cast * Pepe Arias as ''Simón Galván'' * Mecha Ortiz as ''Elena Acevedo de Lerena'' * Juan Carlos Thorry as ''Roberto Casaval'' * ...

'' with

Pepe Arias Pepe Arias (''José Pablo Arias Martinez''; 16 January 1900 – 23 February 1967) was an Argentine actor and comedian. Early years José Pablo Arias Martinez was born in the former Mercado de Abasto district of Buenos Aires on 16 January 1900. ...

. In 1943

Lumiton Lumiton is a former film production company and current museum located in Munro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lumiton Studios was founded in 1932 at the start of the golden age of film in that country. Its lowbrow, populist films appealed to local aud ...

produced, ''Safo, historia de una pasión'', adapted from

Alphonse Daudet Alphonse Daudet (; 13 May 184016 December 1897) was a French novelist. He was the husband of Julia Daudet and father of Edmée, Léon and Lucien Daudet. Early life Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the ''bo ...

, directed by

Carlos Hugo Christensen Carlos Hugo Christensen (Santiago del Estero, 15 December 1914 – Rio de Janeiro, 30 November 1999) was an Argentina, Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer. He was of Danes, Danish descent through his paternal side. Christensen ...

with

Roberto Escalada Roberto Escalada born Aldo Roberto Leggero (4 July 1914 – 5 December 1986 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine actor, an icon of the classic era of Argentine cinema. Roberto Escalada began his career working on the radio, and it was his voice ...

. ''Safo'' was Argentina's first erotic film and was forbidden to minors. There was no nudity in the film, but the innuendo of a sexual encounter between the characters played by Ortiz and Escalada arose from their smoking a cigarette together. She won her first

for Safo at the 1944 ceremony. The "forbidden" romance of an older woman and a younger man, was repeated in the 1945 sequel '' El canto del cisne'' (Swan Song) for which Ortiz won acting awards in Cuba and Brazil, as well as the Argentine Silver Condor Award for Best Actress. Stability and permanence was rarely found in Argentine theatre companies. One of the exceptions was La Compañía Argentina de Comedias Mecha Ortiz (the Argentine Comedy Company of Mecha Ortiz) which included a cast of Ortiz, Lola Membrives,

Rosa Rosen Rosa Rosen (1916–2004) was an Argentine stage, television and film actress.Finkielman p.233 Born in Buenos Aires of German and Russian descent, she made her stage debut in 1933 and her first film the following year. Selected filmography * '' Lo ...

and

Narciso Ibáñez Menta Narciso Ibáñez Menta (; August 25, 1912 – May 15, 2004) was a Spanish theatre, film, and television actor. Biography Born in Langreo, Asturias, Spain, Ibáñez Menta made his first stage appearance at the age of seven at the Teatro La Come ...

. In early 1949, she and the director

Luis Mottura Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish language, Spanish form of the originally Germanic language, Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese language, Portuguese and ...

, led and managed their own cast, which stayed together for almost a decade, disbanding in 1958. They produced over 15 productions—the best being "Iremos a Valparaíso " by

Marcel Achard Marcel Achard (5 July 1899 – 4 September 1974) was a French playwright and screenwriter whose popular sentimental comedies Garzanti p. 3 maintained his position as a highly recognizable name in his country's theatrical and literary circles ...

at the Odeón Theater on 13 May 1949; " “Un tranvía llamado deseo” (A Streetcar Named Desire) by

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the thre ...

at the Casino Theater on 7 July 1952; "Rueda de amantes" by Regás Luz Maria and Juan Albornoz at the Casino Theater on 27 July 1953; "Anna Karenina" by

Raymond Rouleau Raymond Rouleau (4 June 1904 – 11 December 1981) was a Belgian actor and film director. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1928 and 1979. He also directed 22 films between 1932 and 1981. Rouleau studied at the Royal Conservatory of B ...

, based on

Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...

's novel at the Casino Theater on 11 June 1953; " Tú el ángel y yo el demonio " by Maria Luz Regás and Juan Albornoz at the Versailles Theater on 6 April 1954; "Sandra" by

Sixto Pondal Ríos Sixto Pondal Ríos (April 8, 1907 - September 29, 1968) was an Argentine screenwriter, poet and dramatist. Rios was born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. Although most of his film work took place in Argentina, the 1948 film ''Romance o ...

and Carlos Olivari at the Versailles Theater on 6 April 1955; and "Ardelé (la margarita del amor) " by

Jean Anouilh Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (; 23 June 1910 – 3 October 1987) was a French dramatist whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1944 play ''Antigone'', an ad ...

and translated by Maria Luz Regás at the Athenaeum Theatre on 23 May 1957. She starred in films such as ''Una mujer sin importancia'' (1945) with

Santiago Gómez Cou Santiago Gómez Cousillas (September 26, 1903 in Montevideo, Uruguay – March 24, 1984 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) was a classic Uruguayan - Argentine actor who appeared in films between 1936 and 1980. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Cou move ...

, which was the first film in which a woman slapped a man; ''Camino del infierno'' by

Luis Saslavsky Luis Saslavsky (April 21, 1903 – March 20, 1995) was an Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer, and one of the influential directors in the Cinema of Argentina of the classic era. Personal life Saskavsky was born in Rosario, Sa ...

with

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 ...

and

Elsa O'Connor Elsa O'Connor (1905–1947) was an Argentine stage and film actress. Life and career The daughter of actress and journalist Amelia Monti, who introduced her to the stage, she debuted with the Blanca Podestá company in 1923. O`Connor was award ...

; ''Las tres ratas'' (1946) by

Carlos Schlieper Carlos Schlieper (23 September 1902 – 11 April 1957 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentina, Argentine film director and screenwriter of the classic era. His father, Hermann Heinrich Schlieper Feldmann (1842-1925), was an industrialist of Germans, ...

with

María Duval María Dussauge Ortiz (born 2 August 1937), commonly known as María Duval, is a Mexican actress and singer who has worked in film, television, and the stage. Career Duval made her film debut in the musical ''Melodías inolvidables'' (1959), a ...

; ''Madame Bovary'' (1947), ''Cartas de amor'' (1951), and ''Mi vida por la tuya'' (1951) with

Emma Gramatica Emma Gramatica (born Aida Laura Argia Gramatica; 25 October 1874 – 8 November 1965) was an Italian stage and film actress. She appeared in 29 films between 1919 and 1962. She was born in Borgo San Donnino, today Fidenza, Province of Parma ...

, in which Ortiz's singing voice was dubbed by

Nelly Omar Nilda Elvira Vattuone (10 September 1911 – 20 December 2013), better known by her stage name Nelly Omar, was an Argentine actress and singer during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema. She was successful as a tango singer, performing on numero ...

; She played a prison guard in the 1952 film ''Deshonra'' by

Daniel Tinayre Daniel Tinayre (14 September 1910 – 24 October 1994) was a French-born Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer. Moving to Buenos Aires at a young age, Tinayre directed some 23 films between 1934 and 1974, directing films such ...

with

Fanny Navarro Fanny Navarro (1 June 1920 - 18 March 1971) was an Argentine actress. She starred in films such ''Melodías porteñas'' (1937), '' Doce mujeres'' (1939), '' Ambición'' (1939), '' El hijo del barrio'' (1940), '' Hogar, dulce hogar'' (1941), '' ...

, which featured the first lesbian love affair on Argentine film. ''La sombra de Safo'' (1957) under the direction of

Julio Porter Julio Porter (July 14, 1916 in Buenos Aires – October 24, 1979 in Mexico City) was an Argentina, Argentine screenwriter and film director known as one of the most prolific screenwriters and film directors in the history of the Cinema of Arge ...

, reunited Ortiz and Robert Escalada and she made ''Las Furias'' (1960) with

Elsa Daniel Elsa Daniel born Elsa Nilda Gómez Scapatti (13 November 1936 – 25 June 2017) was an Argentine film actress. She entered film in the 1954 classic '' The Grandfather'' and made some 30 appearances in film between then and 1987. Daniel, a blon ...

, Aida Luz,

Alba Mujica Alba Mujica (née Alba Mugica; 1916 in Carhué – 1983 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine film and stage actress. She was the sister of actor and film director René Mugica. Her mother was the actress Emilia Rosales (Emilia Mugica). She was t ...

, and

Olga Zubarry Olga Zubarry (30 October 1929 – 15 December 2012) was a classic Argentine actress who appeared in film between 1943 and 1997. She made over 60 appearances in film, spanning 6 decades of Argentine cinema, but is best known for her work during t ...

. Between 1940 and 1950 she broadcast on the radio on the ''Teatro del Aire Palmolive'' with

, and

Francisco Petrone Francisco Petrone (August 14, 1902 – March 11, 1967) was an Argentina, Argentine film actor. He is best known for his roles in the 1940s in the classic film ''La Guerra Gaucha'' (1942) and ''A Real Man (film), A Real Man'' (''Todo un hombre' ...

. Then beginning in the late 1950s, she appeared in television series, including ''El mar profundo y azul'' (1956), ''Estrellita, esa pobre campesina'' (1968-1969), ''Rolando Rivas, taxista'' (1972-1973), ''Invitación a Jamaica'' (1977) and ''Aventura '77'' (1977). Her last appearance on TV was in 1981 for the ATC Special ''Christmas 2000'' with

Duilio Marzio Duilio Marzio (November 27, 1923 - July 25, 2013) was a well-known Argentine cinema and theatre actor. Life and work Marzio was born Duilio Bruno Perruccio La Stella in Buenos Aires to Sicilian immigrants, in 1923. He enrolled at the University ...

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and Iris Marga. In the 1960s, her career began to decline and she made a suicide attempt, which was stopped by her son. She returned to the theatre and did a revival of ''El proceso de Mary Duggan'' (1965-1966), Así es la vida (1967), ''Canción para un crepúsculo'' (1968) and several television roles. Her return to the screen came a decade later in 1974 with ''Boquitas pintadas'', based on a novel by

Manuel Puig Juan Manuel Puig Delledonne (December 28, 1932 – July 22, 1990), commonly called Manuel Puig, was an Argentine author. Among his best-known novels are '' La traición de Rita Hayworth'' (''Betrayed by Rita Hayworth'', 1968), ''Boquitas pint ...

, directed by

Leopoldo Torre Nilsson Leopoldo Torre Nilsson (5 May 1924 – 8 September 1978), also known as Leo Towers and as Babsy, was an Argentine film director, producer and screenwriter. Born as Leopoldo Torres Nilsson (he later changed his paternal surname from Torres to ...

, with Alfredo Alcon and Marta González. In 1976 along with other stars, like

Arturo García Buhr Arturo García Buhr (16 December 1905 – 4 October 1995) was an Argentine actor and film director. He appeared in 30 films between 1933 and 1985. He starred in the film '' The Party Is Over'', which was entered into the 10th Berlin Internat ...

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Bárbara Mujica Bárbara Mujica (née Bárbara Moinelo Múgica; stage name Barbara Moinelo; Buenos Aires, March 13, 1944 - Buenos Aires, August 1, 1990) was an Argentine film, stage, and television actress of the 1960s and 1970s. Her mother was the actress Alb ...

and

, Ortiz plays in ''Los muchachos de antes no usaban arsénico''. The plot is a black comedy about aging, friendships, madness and greed. ''Piedra libre'' (1976) was her last film also directed by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson with

Marilina Ross Marilina Ross (born María Celina Parrondo, February 16, 1943, Liniers, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine singer and actress. She went into exile in Spain during the years of the military dictatorship (1976–1983), because this would not allow he ...

and

Juan José Camero Juan José Camero (born September 15, 1943) is an Argentine film, television, and theatre actor. Camero started out as an advertising model and worked his way into television roles. In the 1970s he did quite a lot of work in Argentine ''teleno ...

. In 1981, she was awarded the Grand Prize for actresses from the National Endowment for the Arts. She wrote her memoirs under the title Mecha Ortiz by Mecha Ortiz. They were published in 1982.

Family

Her husband, Julián Ortiz, was a farmer in

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. When she was 29, her husband was injured in a fall from a horse. Some articles have said he became a paraplegic, and others that he spent nearly 3 decades in a coma after the accident. Ortiz was dedicated to him and their privacy, which in many instances escalated the mystery and speculation about her. Their son, Julián, became a translator and playwright. Her brother, José, was a theatre director, and a sister, Amanda, was also an actress.

Death

She died on 20 October 1987 in

Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

Filmography

Movies

* '' Los muchachos de antes no usaban gomina'' (La Rubia Mireya) (1937) * ''

Melgarejo ''Melgarejo'' is a 1937 Argentine film directed and written by Luis Moglia Barth. The film premiered in the US on September 19, 1937 and starred Santiago Gómez Cou and Mecha Ortiz. Editing to the film was performed by Carlos Rinaldi. Cast ...

'' (Clotilde Contreras) (1937) * ''

'' (Elena Acevedo de Lerena) (1938) * ''

Con las alas rotas ''With Broken Wings'' ( es, Con las alas rotas) is a 1938 Argentine drama film directed by Orestes Caviglia. The film premiered in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Au ...

'' (Nelly Rover) (1938) * ''

Mujeres que trabajan ''Women Who Work'' ( es, Mujeres que trabajan) is a 1938 Argentine comedy film drama directed by Manuel Romero. The film premiered in Buenos Aires and starred Tito Lusiardo. In a 2022 poll of The 100 Greatest Films of Argentine Cinema presen ...

'' (Ana María del Solar) (1938) * ''

Margarita, Armando y su padre ''Margarita, Armando y su padre'' is a 1939 Argentine romantic comedy film directed by Francisco Múgica. The film is based a play by Enrique Jardiel Poncela who himself adapted the film for the silver screen. The film premiered in Buenos Aires ...

'' (Margarita) (1939) * '' Último refugio'' (Albareda) (1941) * '' Joven, viuda y estanciera'' (Elena Ocampo) (1941) * ''

Vidas marcadas ''Vidas marcadas'' is a 1942 Argentine film. Cast * Mecha Ortiz as Malena * George Rigaud * Sebastián Chiola * Roberto Fugazot * Haydeé Larroca * Alberto Terrones * Cayetano Biondo Cayetano Amadeo Biondo (1902–1986) was an Arg ...

'' (Malena) (1942) * ''

El gran secreto ''El Gran secreto'' is a 1942 Argentine film. A remake of the French Film “Conflict”, 1939 Cast Mecha Ortiz Mecha Ortiz (née María Mercedes Varela Nimo Domínguez Castro; 1900–1987) was a classic Argentine actress who appeared in f ...

'' (Alicia) (1942) * ''

'' (Selva Moreno – Safo) (1943) * ''

Mi novia es un fantasma ''Mi novia es un fantasma'' is a Argentine films of 1944, 1944 Argentina, Argentine romantic comedy film directed by Francisco Múgica and starring Mirtha Legrand, Pepe Iglesias, and Nuri Montsé. At the 1945 Argentine Film Critics Association Awar ...

'' (1944) * '' Una mujer sin importancia'' (Raquel Miramar) (1945) * '' El canto del cisne'' (Flora Jordán) (1945) * '' Road of Hell'' (Laura Simrok) (1945) * '' The Three Rats'' (Mercedes de la Fuente) (1946) *''

Madame Bovary ''Madame Bovary'' (; ), originally published as ''Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners'' ( ), is a novel by France, French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. The eponymous character lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities ...

'' (Emma Bovary) (1947) * '' Vacaciones'' (Estela Arenal) (1947) * ''

El precio de una vida EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

'' (Princesa Fedora Romanov) (1947) * '' María de los Ángeles'' (Maria de los Angeles Ermosilla y Albarracín) (1948) * '' La Rubia Mireya'' (Ana María Peña de Robles – La Rubia Mireya) (1948) * '' Sangre en Castilla'' (Alcaldesa Teresa Marquesa de Pinorrey) (1950) * '' Cartas de amor'' (Antonieta Lear) (1951) * ''Mi vida por la tuya'' (Gloria Rivas) (1951) * ''

Deshonra ''Deshonra'' is a 1952 Argentine film directed by Daniel Tinayre. It was the first portrayal of a lesbian love affair. Plot Framed and convicted of a crime she did not commit, Flora, played by Fanny Navarro is sent to prison, where she meets Ro ...

'' (Directora Interventora) (1952) * '' El Abuelo'' (Lucrecia Vélez) (1954) * '' El mal amor'' (Marcela) (1955) * '' Pájaros de cristal'' (Irina Galowa) (1955) * ''

Bendita seas ''Bendita seas'' is a 1956 Argentine film. A drama directed by Luis Mottura, script by Eliseo Montaine and María Luz Regás based on the theater play by Alberto Novión. The movie was released on March 8, 1956. Premise A woman cannot reveal t ...

'' (María) (1956) * ''

La sombra de Safo LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

'' (Selva Moreno – Safo) (1957) * ''

Las furias ''Las furias'' (Spanish for "the furies") is a 1960 Argentine drama film directed by Vlasta Lah, based on the 1950 play of the same name by Enrique Suárez de Deza. The first Argentine sound film directed by a woman, it was the directorial debu ...

'' (Madre) (1960) * '' Bajo un mismo rostro'' (Madre Superiora) (1962) * '' Las locas del conventillo (María y la otra)'' (Remedios) (1966) * '' La señora Ana luce sus medallas'' (Ann Dewey) (1967) * ''

Boquitas pintadas ''Heartbreak Tango'' (Spanish: ''Boquitas pintadas'') is a 1974 Argentine drama film, directed by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson. It was adapted from Argentine writer Manuel Puig's 1969 novel of the same name (English: '' Heartbreak Tango''). In a surv ...

'' (Gitana) (1974) * ''

La casa de las sombras ''La casa de las sombras'' (English: ''House of Shadows'') is a 1976 Argentine mystery thriller film starring Yvonne De Carlo, John Gavin, Leonor Manso and Mecha Ortiz. Plot As Audrey walks alone on a stormy night, she hears a woman's voice plea ...

'' (Mrs. Randall) (1976) * ''

Los muchachos de antes no usaban arsénico ''Yesterday's Guys Used No Arsenic'' ( es, Los Muchachos de antes no usaban arsénico) is a 1976 Argentine black comedy crime film directed by José A. Martínez Suárez. The film was selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language ...

'' (Mara Ordáz) (1976) * ''

Piedra libre Piedra is a hair disease caused by a fungus, which causes formation of nodules on the hair shaft.Veasey JV, Avila RB, Miguel BAF, Muramatu LH. White piedra, black piedra, tinea versicolor, and tinea nigra: contribution to the diagnosis of superfic ...

(Amalia Pradere/Amalia Grande) (1976)

Television

*''Los especiales de ATC'' -Ep: "Navidad en el año 2000" (Mercedes)- *ATC* (1981) *''

Aventura '77 Aventura may refer to: * Aventura (band), a bachata music group from the Bronx, New York * ''Aventura'' (TV series), a 1970 Mexican telenovela * Aventura, Florida, a city on the Florida coast in Miami ** Aventura Mall, an upscale super-regional ...

'' *Channel 9* (1977) *'' Invitación a Jamaica'' (Victoria) *Channel 13* (1977) *'' Dulce Anastasia'' (Gran Duquesa rusa) *Channel 13* (1977) *''

Alta Comedia Alta or ALTA may refer to: Acronyms * Alt-A, short for Alternative A-paper, is a type of U.S. mortgage * American Land Title Association, a national trade association representing the land title industry * American Literary Translators Associatio ...

'' -Ep:"Mesas separadas (Sra Meacham)"- *Channel 9* (1974) *''

Rolando Rivas, taxista ''Rolando Rivas, taxista'' is a 1972-3 Argentine telenovela and a 1974 romantic drama film directed by Julio Saraceni and starring Claudio García Satur and Soledad Silveyra. It was created by Alberto Migré. Film cast *Claudio García Satur as ...

'' (Malú) *Channel 13* (1972-1973) *'' Ciclo de teatro argentino'' -Ep: "El organito" (Angiulina)- *Channel 7* (1970) *'' La botica del ángel'' -Seg: "Setenta pecados siete"- *Channel 11* (1970) *'' Estrellita, esa pobre campesina'' (Mercedes de Castro) *Channel 13* (1968-1969) *'' Standard Electric Show'' *Channel 11* (1965) *''

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 ...

'' (Marty) (1965) *'' La hora Fate'' -Ep: "Los acosados" *Channel 9* (1960) *'' Elizabeth está muerta'' (Elizabeth I) *Channel 9* (1960) *'' Los cuatro posters'' (Ana) *Channel 7* (1959) *'' La esposa constante'' (Costanza) *Channel 7* (1959) *'' Un tranvía llamado Deseo'' (Blanche Dubois) *Channel 7* (1956) *''

El mar profundo y azul EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

'' (Esther Collins) *Channel 7* (1956)

Theater

*''Los cien rejóvenes años'' (1973) *''Canción para un crepúsculo'' (1968) *''Así es la vida'' (1967) *''El proceso de Mary Duggan'' (1965-1966) *''Culpables'' (1963) *''Amantes en verano'' (1962) *''Lecho nupcial'' (1961) *''La esposa constante'' (1961) *''Jano'' (1961) *''Delito en la isla de las cabras'' (1961) *''Castillo en Suecia'' (1961) *''La visita de la anciana dama'' (1961) *''La esposa constante'' (1958) *Actor and director *''Frenesí'' (1956 ) *''Un tranvía llamado Deseo'' (Blanche Dubois) (1956) *''El mar hondo y azul'' (1955) *''Sandra'' (1955) *''Iremos a Valparaíso'' (1955) *''También las mujeres han perdido la guerra'' (1955) *''Tú, el ángel y el demonio'' (1954) *''La cama'' (1954) *''Anna Karenina'' (1953) *''Rueda de amantes'' (1953) *''La hechicera del Corinto'' (1953) *''Un tranvía llamado Deseo'' (Blanche Dubois) (1952) *''El mal amor'' (1951) *''El mago escondido'' (1949) *''La esposa constante'' (1949) *''Iremos a Valparaíso'' (1949) *''La señora Ana luce sus medallas'' (1945) *''Mujeres'' (1938 ) *''Corine'' (1933) *''Mirandolina'' (1933) *''El proceso de Mary Duggan'' (1929)

Autobiography

* ''Mecha Ortiz por Mecha Ortiz'' Moreno: Buenos Aires (1982) (In Spanish)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ortiz, Mecha 1900 births 1987 deaths Argentine film actresses Actresses from Buenos Aires Silver Condor Award for Best Actress winners 20th-century Argentine actresses Burials at La Recoleta Cemetery