{{Short description|Argentine actress (1911–2000)}} {{family name hatnote|Varela|Domínguez|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox person | name = Amanda Varela | image = Velarde y Varela.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Amanda Varela Domínguez | birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|10|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina | death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|07|1|1911|10|24|df=y}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California | other_names = | occupation = actress, judge | years_active = 1920-1980 | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Amanda Varela''' was an Argentine actress who primarily worked during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema, performing on stage and in films of Argentina and the US. She made 9 films in Argentina and 2 in the US and appeared on stage in numerous productions in both countries. Varela is usually credited with helping her sister, Mecha Ortiz, secure her first acting roles. In the 1950s, Varela retired from acting, moved to the United States, and became a matrimonial judge.
==Biography== Amanda Varela Domínguez was born on 24 October 1911<ref name=SSDI>{{cite web|title=Amanda Varela United States Social Security Death Index|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JTWD-Z65|website=Family Search|publisher=Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref> in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was the younger sister of Mecha Ortiz,<ref name="Gallina (2000)">{{cite book|last1=Gallina|first1=Mario|title=De Gardel a Norma Aleandro: diccionario sobre figuras del cine argentino en el exterior|date=2000|publisher=Corregidor|location=Buenos Aires|isbn=978-9-500-51250-3|page=432|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lsIuAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> yet had already made a name for herself when Ortiz embarked on an acting career. Varela helped Ortiz secure a screen test with Paramount Studios of France and introduced her to a friend, film critic Chas de Cruz, who helped Ortiz secure a her first film role as "Rubia Mireya", in the classic ''Los muchachos de antes no usaban gomina'' directed by Manuel Romero.<ref name="La Verdad Online">{{cite web|last1=Bello|first1=Omar|title=Mecha Ortiz: Erotismo después de los cuarenta|url=http://www.laverdadonline.com/noticia-55678.html|website=La Verdad Online|accessdate=11 August 2015|location=Buenos Aires, Argentina|language=Spanish|date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913211543/http://www.laverdadonline.com/noticia-55678.html|archive-date=2015-09-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>
By 1930, Varela had acted in her first role on film, ''La canción del gaucho'', which was produced by Chas de Cruz<ref name="Calistro (1978)">{{cite book|last1=Calistro|first1=Mariano|title=Reportaje al cine argentino: los pioneros del sonoro|date=1978|publisher=ANESA|location=Argentina|page=412|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XXxRAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> under the direction of José A. Ferreyra and starring María Turgenova and Arturo Forte, among others.<ref name="Couselo (2001)">{{cite book|last1=Couselo|first1=Jorge Miguel|title=El "negro" Ferreyra : un cine por instinto|date=2001|publisher=Grupo Editor Altamira|location=Buenos Aires|isbn=978-9-879-42390-5|page=137|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G8suAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref> On stage in 1934, Varela was performing in ''Baile en el Savoy'' with Florencio Parravicini but had to withdraw due to illness and was replaced by Amelia Bence.<ref name="Bence & Etchelet (2011)">{{cite book|last1=Bence|first1=Amelia|last2=Etchelet|first2=Raúl| title=La niña del umbral: Amelia Bence: memorias|date=2011 |publisher=Corregidor |location=Buenos Aires, Argentina| isbn=978-9-500-51934-2|pages=35–36|language=Spanish}}</ref> She came back to the stage in 1935 to star in a controversial role in ''Romeo y Julieta''<ref name="Nielsen (2007)">{{cite book|last1=Nielsen|first1=Jorge|title=Nuestros actores : primeras minibiografías|date=2007|publisher=Del Jilguero|location=Buenos Aires|isbn=978-9-879-41612-9|page=85|edition=1| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tABlAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> and later that same year had better success in the role of Pepita Giménez in the musical comedy ''La payariega'' with Pedro Quartucci, Miguel Faust Rocha, Eleonora Boemer, and Dora Martínez at the Teatro Avenida.<ref name="Gorlero (2004)">{{cite book|last1=Gorlero|first1=Pablo|title=Historia de la comedia musical en la Argentina|date=2004|publisher=Marcelo H. Oliveri Editor|location=Buenos Aires|isbn=978-9-872-16910-7|pages=216–219| edition=1a.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XP4IAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> She made several films in the late 1930s, including ''Melgarejo'' (1937), ''¡Segundos afuera!'' (1937), ''La chismosa'' (1938), and ''Papá soltero'' (1939),<ref name="Cine Nacional">{{cite web|title=Amanda Varela|url=http://www.cinenacional.com/persona/amanda-varela|website=Cine Nacional|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> which earned her sufficient reputation that an invitation to Hollywood was issued.<ref name="Us debut 1938">{{cite news|title=Latin in Manhattan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2992707/latin_in_manhattan_the_anniston_star/|accessdate=11 August 2015|publisher=The Anniston Star|date=13 August 1938|location=Anniston, Alabama|page=1|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> In 1939, her first US film was made, ''El otro soy yo'', under the direction of Richard Harlan and starring Tito Guízar, Renee Torres, Pilar Arcos, and Martin Garralaga.<ref name="El otro soy yo">{{cite web|title=El otro soy yo|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/561291/el-otro-soy-yo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306102416/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/561291/El-otro-soy-yo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2016|website=TCM|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref>
She was hired by Luis G. Basurto who was directing a company of actors called "Teatro Popular de México" that were working at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles. Varela also participated in several plays in the United States, including: ''Tovarich'' directed by Mark Ranhar, ''El escándalo de la verdad'', ''Miércoles de cenizas'', and ''Cada quien su vida''.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} By 1942, she was performing as a singer<ref name="Desert Sun">{{cite news|title=Arrange Sparkling Entertainment for Spanish Fiesta|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DS19420417.2.80&srpos=1&dliv=none&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-amanda+varela------|accessdate=11 August 2015|volume=XV|issue=38|publisher=Desert Sun|date=17 April 1942|location=Palm Springs, California|page=10}}</ref> and also had secured a role in the US film, ''The Falcon's Brother'', for which she drew good reviews.<ref name="Falcon's Brother">{{cite news|title=Two Brothers and a Girl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2992721/two_brothers_and_a_girl_shamokin/|accessdate=11 August 2015|publisher=Shamokin News-Dispatch|date=24 April 1943|location=Shamokin, Pennsylvania|page=6|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> She returned to Argentina and appeared in the film ''Mi novia es un fantasma'' (1944 ).<ref name="Cine Nacional" /> The following year, she performed at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes in the debut of ''Tierra extraña'',<ref name="Gallina (2000)" /> by Roberto Alejandro Vagni, which would later be made into a film of the same name.<ref name="Lima (1991)">{{cite book|last1=Lima|first1=Perla Zayas de|title=Diccionario de autores teatrales argentinos : (1950-1990)|date=1991|publisher=Ed. Galerna|location=Buenos Aires|isbn=978-9-505-56275-6|page=280| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krjgJi62VIUC&pg=PA280|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> Varela starred in the 1946 film, ''La tía de Carlos'', along with Pedro Quartucci, Rodolfo Francisco Alvarez, and Pedro Maratea.<ref name="La tía de Carlos">{{cite web|title=La tía de Carlos (1946)|url=http://www.cinenacional.com/pelicula/la-tia-de-carlos|website=Cine Nacional|accessdate=11 August 2015|location=Buenos Aires, Argentina|language=Spanish}}</ref> In the 1947 stage production of ''Luna de miel para tres'', Varela starred with Mexican actors Gloria Marín and Jorge Negrete.<ref name="Negrete (1987)">{{cite book|last1=Negrete|first1=Diana|title=Jorge Negrete|date=1987|publisher=Editorial Diana|location=Mexico, D.F.|isbn=978-9-681-31819-2|edition=1a|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51RaAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=11 August 2015|language=Spanish}}</ref> She made her last film, {{lang|es|El diablo de las vidalas}}, in 1950.<ref name="Cine Nacional" />
Varela moved to the states, retired from performing, and became a judge, specifically working in marriages.<ref name="Gallina (2000)" /> She died on 1 July 1, 2000 in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=SSDI />
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1930|| ''La canción del gaucho'' || || |- |rowspan=2 | 1937|| ''Melgarejo'' || Invitada 6 || |- | ''¡Segundos afuera!'' || || |- |1938|| ''La chismosa'' || || |- |1939|| ''Papá soltero'' || Marta Cortez / Teresa || |- |1940|| ''El otro soy yo'' || || |- |1942|| ''The Falcon's Brother'' || Carmela || |- |1944|| ''Mi novia es un fantasma'' || || Uncredited |- |1950|| ''El diablo de las vidalas'' || || |- |1952|| ''La tía de Carlos'' || || |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0889590|name=Amanda Varela}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Varela, Amanda}} Category:1911 births Category:2000 deaths Category:Argentine film actresses Category:Argentine stage actresses Category:Actresses from Buenos Aires Category:20th-century Argentine actresses