Carmen Sofía Álvarez Caicedo (23 May 1913 – 30 April 1985) was a Colombian-Mexican actress and singer. She is best remembered for her work in the

Golden Age of Mexican cinema The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema (Spanish: la Época de Oro del Cine Mexicano), spanning the 1930s to 1950s, was a prolific era during which Mexico emerged as the leading film producer in Latin America. Filmmakers during this period tackled themes ...

Life and career

Born and raised in Colombia, she moved with her family to Mexico in 1928. Her film debut was a small part, in the role of a prostitute in ''

Santa Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christma ...

'' (1930), the first talkie of Mexican cinema. Popularly known as ''the lady of the long braids'', she enjoyed popularity during the 1930s and 1940s as an actress and singer. Subsequently, she performed with Mario Moreno

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 well ...

in the popular film ''

Ahí está el detalle ''You're Missing the Point'', or ''Ahí está el detalle'' (Spanish, 'There's the rub', literally 'There lies the detail') is a 1940 Mexican comedy film starring Cantinflas. It was produced by Jesús Grovas and directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, who ...

'' (1940). In the 1940s, Álvarez is characterized by her interpretation of elegant ladies in films like ''El sombrero de tres picos'' and ''México de mis recuerdos'' (1943). She performed with the popular

Pedro Infante Pedro Infante Cruz (; 18 November 1917 – 15 April 1957) was a Mexican ranchera singer and actor whose career spanned the golden age of Mexican cinema. Infante was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, and raised in nearby Guamúchil. He died on 15 Apri ...

in three films: ''Si me han de matar mañana'' (1946), ''La barca de oro'' (1947) and ''Soy charro de Rancho Grande'' (1947). One of her most celebrated films was ''La Reina de la Opereta'' (1945). In 1950 she left the cinema to continue as a radio singer. She returned to the cinema between 1957 and 1966, when she retired from acting. Her last film was ''El Gángster'' (1965), with

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 ...

. She was noted for her excellent voice.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1930) * ''

Martín Garatuza Martín Garatuza (born c. 1601, Puebla, Mexico) was a famous trickster whose frauds and escapes became legendary in colonial New Spain and whose name has passed into Spanish language, folklore and literature. Garatuza, whose real name was Martín ...

'' (1935) * ''

You're Missing the Point ''You're Missing the Point'', or ''Ahí está el detalle'' (Spanish, 'There's the rub', literally 'There lies the detail') is a 1940 Mexican comedy film starring Cantinflas. It was produced by Jesús Grovas and directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, who ...

'' (1940) * ''Flor de fango'' (1941) * ''El sombrero de tres picos'' (1943) * ''

My Memories of Mexico ''My Memories of Mexico'' (Spanish: ''México de mis recuerdos'') is a 1944 Mexican historical musical film directed as well as written by Juan Bustillo Oro and starring Fernando Soler, Sofía Álvarez, Joaquín Pardavé, Dolores Camarillo an ...

'' (1944) * ''

A Woman's Diary ''A Woman's Diary'' (Spanish: ''Diario de una mujer'') is a 1944 Mexican drama film directed by José Benavides (director), José Benavides and starring Sofía Álvarez (actress, born 1913), Sofía Álvarez, Luis Aldás and Rafael Baledón. Tuñó ...

'' (1944) * ''

The Operetta Queen ''The Operetta Queen'' (Spanish: ''La reina de la opereta'') is a 1946 Mexican musical drama film directed by José Benavides and starring Fernando Soler, Sofía Álvarez and Joaquín Pardavé. Riera p.240 It was shot at the Azteca Studios in Me ...

'' (1946) * '' If I'm to Be Killed Tomorrow'' (1947) * '' The Golden Boat'' (1947) * ''

I Am a Charro of Rancho Grande ''I Am a Charro of Rancho Grande'' (Spanish: ''Soy charro de Rancho Grande'') is a 1947 Mexican musical comedy drama film directed by Joaquín Pardavé and starring Sofía Álvarez, Pedro Infante and René Cardona. Avila p.189 It was shot at the ...

'' (1947) * ''

Angels of the Arrabal ''Angels of the Arrabal'' (Spanish: ''Ángeles de arrabal'') is a 1949 Mexican crime film directed by Raúl de Anda and starring Sofía Álvarez, David Silva and Carlos López Moctezuma.Riera p.163 It was shot at the Azteca Studios in Mexico City ...

'' (1949) * ''El Gángster'' (1965)

References

Bibliography

External links

* 1913 births 1985 deaths 20th-century Mexican actresses Actresses from Bogotá Singers from Bogotá Colombian emigrants to Mexico 20th-century Mexican women singers {{Mexico-singer-stub