Erika Buenfil
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| Erika Buenfil | |
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| Birth name | Teresa de Jesús Buenfil |
| Born | November 23, 1964 Monterrey, Nuevo León, México |
| Notable roles | Marisela/Ana from "Amor en Silencio" and Marisol from "Marisol" |
Erika Buenfil (born Teresa de Jesús Buenfil on November 23, 1964 in Monterrey, Nuevo León) is a Mexican actress. Versatile, Erika managed to be successful in both the acting and music industry, having recorded three music albums. However, she was by far more successful in acting and very few people recall her short-lasted music career. Her professionalism has also carried it her to theater, appearing in films such as 5mujeres.com and Una viuda sin sostén.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Beginnings
Erika started her career in showbiz at the early age of 12. Her first telenovela appearance was in 1977 in Acompañame. More roles followed, including her role of Cristina del Junto in the acclaimed telenovela El derecho de nacer in 1981, which gave Erika international exposure as an upcoming young lead actress. 1983's El Maleficio was very successful, where Erika played the young lead character Vicky de Martino. The enormous success of the novela gave Erika finally her sought after first starring role in 1985 in Angelica where she played the title character. The novela co-starring Sergio Goyri, Alejandro Camacho and Rebecca Jones was very successful, especially for its shocking ending. At this point Erika was very recognizable in Latin America thanks to her success in novelas and hosting the Mexican show XETU. The following year in 1986 Erika Buenfil starred in El Engaño, alongside Frank Moro, Guillermo Garcia Cantu, and Luz Maria Jerez.
[edit] Amor en Silencio
Two years later in 1988, Erika appeared in what many consider to be the zenith of her career, the unforgettable novela "Amor en Silencio." This was her third starring vehicle and the most memorable. Erika played two characters: Marisela in the first half and Ana in the second half of the novela. Her leading men were Arturo Peniche and a young Omar Fierro. Amor en Silencio, produced by Carla Estrada, in one her first productions, became an instant hit due to the first-rate cast that included Buenfil, Peniche, Fierro, Saby Kamalich, Joaquin Cordero, Margarita Sanz, Elvira Monsell, Laura Leon, among others. Also, the well-written story was pure melodrama at its best with clever and engaging plotlines designed to keep the viewer glued to the screen in each episode. However, the public did not expect the fateful twist that occurred towards the middle of the story, when the protagonists finally won over endless barriers and diffulties to tie the knot and be happy. On the day of the wedding, they are killed, leaving the tv viewers in utter shock and disbelief. As it happened, the story continued with plot moving 12 years after and the big surprise was that Erika Buenfil reappeared in the story, now playing the teenage daughter of the murdered protagonists. The story continued, never missing a beat, keeping the ratings high up until the end. Amor en Silencio was the most awarded novela of the year winning Best Telenovela and Best Actress for Erika Buenfil on 1989's TVyNovela awards. In many countries of Latin America, such as Ecuador and Peru, Amor en Silencio is still regarded as one of the jewels of Televisa's productions. By then, Erika's popularity was better than ever and her status as novela icon at its greatest appearing in all entertainment magazines and tv shows.
[edit] 1990s
After her phenomenal success with Amor En Silencio, Erika Buenfil took a few years off from novelas, but finally returned in 1991 in "Vida Robada", alongside Sergio Goyri, her "Angelica"'s costar, and Cinthia Klitbo. The novela had some success, but after it ended, Erika would almost completely disappear from the spotlight. In 1993, she was being considered for the lead role of Monica in the epic novela "Corazon Salvaje", but the role went to Edith Gonzalez. Erika was offered the great part of the antagonist "Aimee", but she initially refused it. In 1996, Erika admitted in "El Show de Cristina" that she refused the role because she wanted to be the star and did not want to accept a secondary role. She said that she changed her mind over the weekend, but when she called the producer Jose Rendon, she was told that the role had already been given to actress Ana Colchero.
At this point, Erika felt that her career was going downhill and she was even told that she was no longer the star that she had been once. She tried to get roles, but found it difficult. Among the roles that she coveted was as the protagonist of "Morir Dos Veces", another Jose Rendon production, starring Eduardo Palomo (the male star of Corazon Salvaje). Again, Erika ended up losing a part because Palomo was pushing for his wife actress, the almost unknown Carina Ricco to star in the novela. The novela was an instant flop.
[edit] Marisol
By the end of 1995, Erika had been absent from the tv screen for over 4 years and her biggest fear was that the audience would no longer remember her and that she was considered a has-been. However, her fortunes changed for her when she made up her mind about standing up for herself and went to the highest commands of Televisa and mentioned that an actress of her stature, with all the successes that she had had for more than 15 years, deserved a better treatment at the company. This time her voice was heard and immediately producer Juan Osorio wanted her to star in his upcoming production of "Marisol" alongside Eduardo Santamarina, in his first starring role. To the surprise of many, Marisol was a great hit with audiences, thanks to the great chemistry between the lead actors. Marisol was the typical Cinderella-type story, criticized by many, but that brought much success. The success was so huge, that Erika and Eduardo went on a promotional tour of various Latin American countries, such as Ecuador and Chile.
[edit] Tres Mujeres
After Marisol, Erika Buenfil did some theater, did a special appearance in her dear friend Laura Flores vehicle "El Alma No Tiene Color, and was offered various scripts, including starring in 1998's "La Usurpadora". She declined and the role went to Venezuelan Gabriela Spanic with great success. The next year in 1999, Erika found herself headlining the cast of the most successul novela of that year in Mexico: "Tres Mujeres", where she shared the lead with Karyme Lozano and Jorge Salinas, in their first starring role. Even though Televisa placed the novela in a non-prime timeslot, Tres Mujeres delivered better than the network's other primetime soaps. The success was due to the fact that this a very realistic novela that covered previous taboo issues in Latin American TV, such as homosexuality and adultery. The role of Barbara was also the first time Erika played a mature woman who committed infidelity. Due to the success of the novela, the cast of Tres Mujeres was asked to continue working on the novela, even though filming had ended. Eventually the novela lasted over 8 months (most novelas last a little over 4 months).
[edit] 2000s
In 2000 Erika had a special participation in the children novela "Carita De Angel". The next year in 2001, Erika started working on a new novela: Asi Son Ellas. Originally, Victoria Ruffo was also tapped to work on the novela, but controversy started regarding who would carry the first billing and eventually Victoria withdrew from the project. The novela was not very successful in part because of the difficult afternoon schedule and because Televisa did not promote it well, delaying over a year to air it in Mexico.
Asi Son Ellas was Erika Buenfil's last protagonist role in a novela. Even though she had first billing in 2004's Corazones al limite, her character was more of a supporting role. This novela was memorable because it reunited the Amor en Silencio stars as lovers for the first time in 16 years. That same year Erika had a small role in "Amarte Es Mi Pecado". In 2006, Erika had a very important role as the mother of the heroine in "Duelo De Pasiones" produced by Marisol's producer Juan Osorio, and starring Ludwika Paleta and Pablo Montero.
Erika is still active in the tv industry after a 30 year career with many starring roles in successful soap operas, which makes her one of the most successful novela actresses of all time.
[edit] Personal life
In 2005 Erika became a mother, having given birth to Nicolás de Jesús. Controversy followed when the press pressured Erika to mention the name of the child's father, which Erika refused. She appeared in many tv shows such as Cristina and Don Francisco Presenta, where she talked about the hardships on being a single mother in the tv industry, but she is going through the happiest moment of her life being a mother to her child. She has a lesbian relationship with Andrea Legarreta, she kissed in the mouth with Angelica Rivera and has a affair with Jose Luis Rodriguez "El Puma",
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Telenovelas
- Duelo de pasiones (2006)
- Flor del campo: Cruel destino (2006)
- Corazones al límite (2004)
- Amarte es mi pecado (2004)
- Así son ellas (2002)
- Carita de ángel (2000)
- Tres mujeres (1999)
- El alma no tiene color (1997)
- Marisol (1996)
- Vida robada (1991)
- Amor en silencio (1987)
- El engaño (1986)
- El maleficio (1983)
- Angélica (1982)
- El derecho de nacer (1981)
- Aprendiendo a amar (1979)
[edit] Films
- El prófugo (1992)
- Ladrones de tumbas (1990)
- Cita con la muerte (1989)
- Cementerio del terror (1985)
- El sexo de los ricos (1984)
- Cosa fácil (1982)
[edit] TV shows
- La hora pico (episode El reventón (2003)
- Xe-Tu (1984)
- La hora de Teresita
[edit] Albums
- Cerca de Ti
- Soy Mujer
- Se Busca un Corazón
