Silvia Pinal

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Pinal and the second or maternal family name is Hidalgo.
Silvia Pinal

Silvia Pinal in the Mexican representation of Hello Dolly! (1996)
Born Silvia Pinal Hidalgo
September 12, 1931
Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico
Residence Mexico City, Mexico
Occupation Actress, producer
Years active 1949-present
Political party
 Institutional Revolutionary Party
Spouse(s) Rafael Banquells (1947-1952)
Gustavo Alatriste (1961-1967)
Enrique Guzmán (1967-1976)
Tulio Hernandez (1982-1995)
Children Sylvia Pasquel
Viridiana Alatriste (deceased)
Alejandra Guzmán
Luis Enrique Guzmán
Parent(s) Luis G. Pinal (deceased)
María Luisa Hidalgo (deceased)
Relatives Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (great-great-great granduncle)
Stephanie Salas (granddaughter)
Michelle Salas (great-granddaughter)
Mercedes Pinal (half-sister)
Beatriz Pinal (half-sister)
Eugenia Pinal (half-sister)
Awards Palme d'Or
1961 Viridiana
Golden Ariel 2008
Ariel Award for Best Actress:
1957 Locura Pasional
1958 La dulce enemiga
Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actress
1953 Un rincón cerca del cielo
Premios ACE
1978 Las Mariposas Disecadas
Diosas de Plata
2009 Trayectoria artística

Silvia Pinal (born Silvia Pinal Hidalgo on September 12, 1931 in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico) is a Mexican actress and producer. She is one of the most recognized and versatile Mexican actresses worldwide. She is internationally known for having starred in a famous movie trilogy with the famed film director Luis Buñuel, highlighting the classic film Viridiana (1961).

Pinal is considered one of the last living legends of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She is also considered one of the pioneers of the television and musical theater in Mexico. Her daughters and some of her descendants have dabbled in the stardom world, making Pinal the head of one of the most famous artistic dynasties of Mexico.

Early life

Silvia Pinal Hidalgo was born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, on September 12, 1931. She was the only daughter of Maria Luisa Hidalgo, a descendant (according to several sources) of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, founder of the independence movement in Mexico, and Luis G. Pinal a journalist, military and politician. By father's side, she had three half-sisters. She and her family lived in several cities in Mexico: Querétaro, Cuernavaca and Acapulco, and finally settling in Mexico City. In Mexico City she worked as a secretary for a pharmaceutical firm. Later, she had the opportunity to participate in the recording of some radio plays in the XEQ, a Mexican radio station: Dos pesos la dejada and Midsummer Night's Dream. She also took acting classes in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. She was chosen Queen of the Mexican Students and was presented with the Cuban actor and director Rafael Banquells, who included her in several plays that sat in the theater company of the Spanish actress Isabelita Blanch. Her first work was an experimental project called Los caprichos de Goya.

Career

Film

Film poster of Viridiana (1961).

She made her film debut in a brief role in the film La Bamba (1949), directed by Miguel Contreras Torres and starring Carmen Montejo. Immediately she filmed El pecado de Laura (1949), alongside Meche Barba. But the first Pinal solid steps towards the popularity were her interventions in two excellent comedies of the late 1940s: El portero (1949) with Mario Moreno Cantinflas and especially El Rey del Barrio (1950) with Germán Valdés "Tin Tan". Pinal also had small roles in movies like Orquídeas para mi esposa with Marga Lopez (1950), Mujer de medianoche (1951), with Ernesto Alonso and Katy Jurado, Una gallega baila mabmbo (1951), with the famous comedians Joaquín Pardavé and Niní Marshall and La estatua de carne (1951), with Elsa Aguirre, among others.

Silvia received her first important role in the film Un rincón cerca del Cielo (1952), with the popular Mexican actor Pedro Infante. For this role, she wins her first Silver Ariel Award as Best Supporting Actress. That same year, she made her first musical comedy Mis tres viudas alegres, with Lilia del Valle and the Cuban dancer Amalia Aguilar. She also works with Libertad Lamarque in the film Si volvieras a mí (1953).

Silvia reaches full consecration because of her brilliant role in the film Un extraño en la escalera (1954), directed by Tulio Demicheli and co-starring with Arturo de Córdova. Pinal filmed several of her best films in the 1950s, including: Historia de un abrigo de mink (1955), episodic film co-starring with Irasema Dilián, Columba Domínguez and María Elena Marqués; La sospechosa (1954), directed by Alberto Gout; El Inocente (1955), great comedy alongside Pedro Infante and Sara Garcia; Locura Pasional (1955), again directed by Demicheli and would report her first Silver Ariel for Best Actress. The second Silver Ariel would come for her role in La dulce enemiga (1957). Other important films were Cabo de hornos (1957), alongside Jorge Mistral; Desnudate Lucrecia (1958); Prestame tu cuerpo (1958) and Una cita de amor (1956), directed by Emilio Fernández. After her success in Mexico, Pinal, by the hand of Tulio Demicheli, shooting a series of titles in Spain and Italy, such as Las locuras de Barbara (1959), Charleston (1959) Uomini e Nobiluomini (1960), (in where she works with Vittorio de Sica), and Maribel y la extraña familia (1960). In 1958, while Pinal participated in the stage play Bells Are Ringing in Mexico, took an offer to work in Hollywood by the hand of the manager of Judy Holliday, but she refused to cut with her career in Mexico.[1]

Pinal achieved the international recognition through a trilogy of films that mark the final period in Mexico of the Spanish filmmaker Luis Bunuel. Silvia had her first contact with Buñuel through the Mexican actor Ernesto Alonso, with the firm intention of starring in the film version of the novel Tristana. However, little commercial success of Buñuel films, prevented producers fund the project, which eventually collapsed (Buñuel shot the film years later in Spain with Catherine Deneuve).[2]

Years later, Pinal, with the help of her second husband, the producer Gustavo Alatriste, sought to Buñuel in Spain and convinced him to film Viridiana (1961), with Fernando Rey and Francisco Rabal. The film was winner of the prestigious Palm d'Or of The Cannes Film Festival. Despite the success and prestige of the film, at the time, was rejected by the Spanish censorship and The Vatican, accusing her of blasphemy. The Spanish government ordered the destruction of the film. Only the Pinal intervention, who fled with a copy to Mexico, saved the film.

Pinal and Elke Sommer in the Italian film Uomini e Nobiluomini (1959).

She also worked with Buñuel in another of his representative films: El ángel exterminador (1962) and Simón del desierto (1964). Simon del desierto was erroneously presented as a short film, but was originally intended to be an episodic film. Pinal and her then husband and producer, Gustavo Alatriste, searched for Federico Fellini to direct a second episode, but Fellini accepted only if his wife, Giulietta Masina starred the film. Jules Dassin also accepted if the film was sterred by his wife Melina Merkouri. Silvia also rejected this request. The idea was that Silvia star in all episodes of the film, so the project ended up being filmed only with Buñuel.[3] Pinal also was to star in the Buñuel film Diary of a Chambermaid in France. Silvia learned French and was willing to charge nothing for her participation. However, the French producers ended up choosing Jeanne Moreau.[4] Silvia Pinal is (alongside Lilia Prado), the actress that worked with Buñuel in more than two films.

After her work with Buñuel, Pinal returns to the films with Buenas noches, Año Nuevo (1965) with Ricardo Montalban; Los Cuervos están de luto (1965); La soldadera (1967); La Bataille de San Sebastian (1968), alongside Anthony Quinn; Maria Isabel (1968) and Shark! (1969), with Burt Reynolds (her only film in Hollywood). In the late 1960s, she made a serie of comedy films alongside Mauricio Garcés and Enrique Rambal. Perhaps her only redeeming film in the 1970s was Divinas palabras (1977), directed by Juan Ibáñez. In the 1980s, she filmed some films in Spain and Argentina, and in Mexico her last works were Modelo antiguo (1992) and Ya no los hacen como antes (2003). In 2013 Pinal returns to the film with a special appearance in the comedy film La tercera llamada.

Stage

In the stage, Pinal debuted professionally in the stage play Celos del aire alongside the Mexican stage star Manolo Fabregas (1950). Since the 1950s, Pinal showed great interest in musical comedy. She was responsible for producing in Mexico the first musical comedy Bells Are Ringing, in 1958. In 1962, she performed the Mexican version of Irma La Douce. One of her most memorable works were in the Mexican version of Mame. Thanks to her success in this musical, Pinal represented the principal role in three occasions: 1972, 1985 and 1989. In 1976, she also starred in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. In the 1980s, Pinal acquired an old Cinema, located in the Colonia Roma in Mexico City, transforming it into her own theater, the Teatro Silvia Pinal, a space dedicated particularly to the musical comedy in Mexico, and where Silvia was free to set up her own productions.[5]

Another of her most important works in stage were Plaza Suite (1978), Sueños de cristal (1980), La señorita de Tacna (1985), Lettice and Lovage (1991), Hello Dolly! (1996) and Gypsy (1998). As a producer, she was also responsible for performing the Mexican versions of the musicals A Chorus Line (1989), Cats (1991) and La cage Aux Folles (1992). Unfortunately, several problems caused her to sell the Teatro Silvia Pinal, which stopped working in 2000 to become into a religious temple. Pinal returned to the stage in 2002 with the play Debiera haber obispas. Recently she has also participated in productions such as Adorables enemigas (2008) and Amor, dolor y lo que traía puesto (2012). Silvia also owned another Theatre in Mexico City, the Teatro Diego Rivera. In 2014, this theater became into the New Teatro Silvia Pinal.[6]

Television

Pinal ventured in the television since his appearance in Mexico, in the early 1950s. She participated in a TV Shows with the actor Domingo Soler, to eventually make the called "Televiteatros" for the TV company Televicentro. In 1968, Silvia Pinal makes her telenovela debut with the historical soap opera Los caudillos, inspired by the events of the War of Independence of Mexico. Another success on television was the highly successful comedy television show titled Silvia and Enrique, alongside her then husband, the singer and actor Enrique Guzmán. That show was inspired by the popular American television show Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Pinal also became a producer of telenovelas, being her first success Mañana es primavera (1982). To this, followed Cuando los hijos se van (1983), Eclipse (1984) and Tiempo de amar (1987). In the late 1980s, Pinal becomes producer and host of the hit television show Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real, that provided help topics, focusing on women and the family. This production was a success and lasted more than 20 years in Mexico and transmitted several countries of Latin America, until his cancellation in 2008. The Pinal's latest work in television have been in special appearances in various telenovelas. The most relevant were Carita de Ángel (2000) and Soy tu dueña (2010).

Politics

She became a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party and was elected to federal deputy, senator and member of the assembly of the Mexican Federal District. In these positions, she played an active role towards culture and women's causes.

Since the 1950s, Pinal actively involved in trade union movements of the actors in her country. She was part of the politic group "Rosa Mexicano", founded by Dolores del Río. Between 1988 and 1995, Silvia became leader of the Asociación Nacional de Interpretes (ANDI) of Mexico. In an attempt to protect the elderly actors, she became founder of the Asociación Rafael Banquells A.C., that was responsible for providing assistance to nonprofit performers.[7] As president of the association, Pinal is responsible for the delivery of the Bravo Awards to highlight in music, film, theater, radio, television, dubbing and conducting business during the year.

Pinal has problems with the law in 2000 by troubles in her tenure as leader of the Association of Thaetre Producers (Protea). She was exiled in Miami for a year.[8]

Between 2010 and 2014, Pinal also served as General Secretary of the Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA), the Mexican Screen Actors Guild.

Personal life

Silvia Pinal Statue in Mexico City, Mexico

The working relationship with the actor and director Rafael Banquells culminated in romance and marriage (1947). From this marriage, was born her eldest daughter, the also actress Sylvia Pasquel. The marriage ended in divorce in 1952.

In 1961, she remarried to businessman Gustavo Alatriste; result of this relationship born her second daughter, the actress Viridiana Alatriste, born in 1963. The relationship ended in divorce in 1965. Viridiana died tragically in 1982 in a car accident.

Silvia was also married to singer and actor Enrique Guzman with whom she had two children: the very popular rock singer Alejandra Guzman (b. 1967) and the musician Luis Enrique Guzman (b. 1969). The marriage ended in 1975. Her last marriage was to the politician Tulio Hernández Gómez. The relationship ended in divorce in 1995.

Today Pinal has become her in the matriarch of an artistic dynasty formed by her daughters, the singer Alejandra Guzman, the deceased actress Viridiana Alatriste and the also actress SYlvia Pasquel, who, in turn, is the mother of the singer and actress Stephanie Salas (born in 1970). The Pinal's family is completed by her other grandchildren: Frida Sofia Moctezuma (b. 1993) (daughter of Alejandra), Viridiana Frade (1985-1987) (the second daughter of Sylvia), Viviana (b. 1990 ) and Giordana Guzmán (b. 1992) (daughters of Luis Enrique), and the two great-granddaughters: Michelle Salas (b. 1989) (daughter of Stephanie and the singer Luis Miguel) and Camila (b. 1997) (Stephanie's second daughter).

When her daughter, Alejandra Guzman, was launched as a singer, in 1989, she included a controversial song dedicated to her mother titled Bye Mamá, in her self-titled album.

Awards and honors

Pinal has been inducted into the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City for her work. She and her daughters Sylvia Pasquel and Alejandra Guzmán are among the few mother and daughter pairs so honored.

Filmography

Telenovelas

Films

Stage

Stage (producer)

Bibliography

References

External links