{{Short description|Mexican actress}} {{family name hatnote|Zapata|Miranda|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox person | name = Laura Zapata | image = Laura Zapata (cropped).jpg | caption = Zapata in 2024 | birth_name = Laura Guadalupe Zapata Miranda | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|07|31}} | birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico | other_names = Laura Zapata de Sodi | parents = | spouse = Juan Eduardo Sodi de la Tijera (divorced) | partner = | children = 2 | relatives = Thalía (half-sister)<br>Camila Sodi (niece) | years_active = 1974–present | occupation = Actress, singer, dancer }} '''Laura Guadalupe Zapata Miranda''' ({{IPA|es|ˈlawɾa ɣwaðaˈlupe saˈpata miˈɾanda}} born July 31, 1956)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/peliculas-series/personas/laura-zapata-1235738|title=Laura Zapata|language=es|work=La Vanguardia|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> is a Mexican telenovela actress, singer, and dancer. She has acted in Televisa productions.
== Life and career == Born in Mexico City, Zapata is the daughter of Guillermo Zapata Pérez de Utrera (a Mexican boxer, model, and businessman) and Yolanda Miranda Mange. She is the maternal sister of Thalía (also a singer and actress), Federica, Gabriela, and Ernestina Sodi.
Zapata is a singer and dancer. In ''Maria Mercedes'', one of Thalía's first soap operas, Zapata played a villain opposite her sister. She is well known for her antagonist roles in telenovelas.
Zapata was married to Juan Eduardo Sodi de la Tijera. She has two sons, Claudio Sodi and Patricio Sodi.
==Public image==
=== 2002 kidnapping incident === On September 22, 2002, Zapata and her half-sister, Ernestina Sodi, were kidnapped outside a theater in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City, when Zapata had just finished her performance in ''The House of Bernarda Alba''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-09-25 |title=Singer's Sisters Apparently Abducted |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-25-fg-kidnap25-story.html |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The criminal group known as "Los Tiras" initially demanded a ransom of five million dollars from the family, reportedly taking advantage of their younger sister Thalía's marriage to music executive Tommy Mottola. Zapata later stated that the family negotiated the payment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Billboard |date=2003-04-04 |title=Police Nab Suspects In Kidnapping Of Thalia’s Sisters |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/police-nab-suspects-in-kidnapping-of-thalias-sisters-71680/ |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Zapata was released on October 10 of that year, while Sodi was freed later that month,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/29/world/world-briefing-the-americas-mexico-kidnapped-writer-freed.html|title=The Americas: Mexico: Kidnapped Writer Freed|date=29 October 2002|work=The New York Times|accessdate=15 November 2010}}</ref> ransom that Thalía paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ginestra |first=Mauricio |date=2024-11-09 |title=Ernestina Sodi, Thalía's Sister and Camila Sodi's Mother, Dies at 64 |url=https://www.latintimes.com/ernestina-sodi-thalis-sister-camila-sodis-mother-dies-64-565308 |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Latin Times |language=en}}</ref>
In the years that followed, the family became estranged amid a series of disputes. In 2005, Zapata produced the play ''Cautivas'' ("Captives"), which reenacted her kidnapping.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Laura Zapata cambia el final de Cautivas |url=https://peopleenespanol.com/article/laura-zapata-cambia-el-final-de-cautivas/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230607164735/https://peopleenespanol.com/article/laura-zapata-cambia-el-final-de-cautivas/ |archive-date=2023-06-07 |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=People en Español |language=es}}</ref> The rift deepened in 2006 following the publication of Sodi's memoir ''Líbranos del mal'', in which she recounted her experience, and suggesting that Zapata complicated the negotiations by revealing to the kidnappers that they were sisters, and insinuating that she may have orchestrated the kidnapping; claims that Zapata has consistently and categorically denied.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Laura Zapata explodes against Thalía: "What am I supposed to envy: her small waist or her husband?" |url=https://peopleenespanol.com/article/laura-zapata-explodes-against-thalia-what-am-i-supposed-envy-her-small-waist-or-her-husband/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116041143/https://peopleenespanol.com/article/laura-zapata-explodes-against-thalia-what-am-i-supposed-envy-her-small-waist-or-her-husband/ |archive-date=2025-11-16 |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=People en Español |language=en}}</ref> Neither Thalía nor their mother, Yolanda Miranda, publicly defended Zapata in response to the claim.<ref name=":0" />
=== Political views === In July 2003, following her kidnapping the previous year, she registered as a candidate for federal deputy for the National Action Party (PAN) in the 26th federal electoral district of the Federal District. She was not elected and did not run for public office again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=S.A.P |first=El Mercurio |date=2003-07-01 |title=La actriz Laura Zapata cambia las telenovelas por la política |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/2003/07/01/116237/la-actriz-laura-zapata-cambia-las-telenovelas-por-la-politica.html |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Emol |language=Spanish}}</ref>
She has criticized the administrations of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum, both members of the Morena party. Zapata has used derogatory language to describe Morena supporters, referring to them as "lackeys", "cowards", and "freeloaders", and claimed that Mexico is "a country of lazy people".<ref>{{Cite web |title="México es un país de huevones, de estira la mano": Laura Zapata insultó así a AMLO y sus seguidores |url=https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2022/8/29/mexico-es-un-pais-de-huevones-de-estira-la-mano-laura-zapata-insulto-asi-amlo-sus-seguidores-292356.html |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.proceso.com.mx |language=spanish}}</ref> In June 2025, she criticized Sheinbaum for traveling on a commercial flight to the G7 summit and referred to her using offensive terms, stating that she looked like an "indita" and "classless".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=BELatina |date=2025-06-25 |title=Actress Laura Zapata, Thalía’s Sister, Criticized for Calling Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ‘Indita’ |url=https://belatina.com/laura-zapata-thalia-sister-criticized-mexican-president-claudia-sheinbaum-indita/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=BELatina |language=en-US}}</ref> Civil organizations filed complaints with the National Council to Prevent Discrimination, arguing the use of discriminatory and classist terms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=en |first=Por Marco RuizSeguir |date=2025-06-22 |title=Derechos Humanos de Oaxaca rechaza expresión ‘clasista’ de Laura Zapata a Sheinbaum; procederán al Conapred |url=https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2025/06/22/derechos-humanos-de-oaxaca-rechaza-expresion-clasista-de-laura-zapata-a-sheinbaum-procederan-al-conapred/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=infobae |language=es-MX}}</ref>
== Filmography == === Films === {| class="wikitable sortable" ! width="42" | Year ! width="250" | Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1976 | ''Alas doradas'' | Unknown role | Debut film |- | 1978 | ''El patrullero 777'' | Señorita en delegación | |- | 1979 | ''La guerra de los pasteles'' | Azucena | |- | 1980 | ''Nuestro juramento'' | Nancy | |- | 1981 | ''La cosecha de mujeres'' | Unknown role | |- | 2002 | ''Cuatro piernas'' | Sole | |- | 2012 | ''Marcelo'' | Señora Martha | |- | 2019 | ''La peor de mis bodas 2'' | rowspan=2|Doña Leonor | |- | 2023 | ''La peor de mis bodas 3'' | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" ! width="42" | Year ! width="250" | Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1974 | ''Mundo de juguete'' | Unknown role | |- | 1977 | ''La venganza'' | Violeta | |- | 1977 | ''Acompáñame'' | Karla | |- | 1978 | ''Mamá campanita'' | Irene | |- | 1980 | ''Juventud'' | Modesta | |- | 1984 | ''Los años felices'' | Flora | |- | 1987–88 | ''Rosa salvaje'' | Dulcina Linares | Rowspan=3|Main cast |- | 1992 | ''María Mercedes'' | Malvina del Olmo |- | 1995 | ''Pobre niña rica'' | Teresa |- | 1997 | ''Esmeralda'' | Fátima Linares de Peñarreal | Recurring role |- | 1998 | ''La usurpadora'' | Zoraida Zapata | Guest star |- | 1999 | ''Rosalinda'' | Verónica del Castillo | Recurring role |- | 2001 | ''Mujer bonita'' | Celia | 10 episodes |- | 2001 | ''La intrusa'' | Maximiliana Limantur de Roldán | Main cast |- | 2005 | ''Soñar no Cuesta Nada'' | Roberta Pérez de Lizalde | Recurring role |- | 2008–09 | ''Cuidado con el ángel'' | Onelia Montenegro Viuda de Mayer | rowspan=2|Main cast |- | 2010 | ''Zacatillo, un lugar en tu corazón'' | Doña Miriam Solórzano de Gálvez |- | 2013 | ''Todo incluido'' | Luz María González | |- | 2014 | ''The Stray Cat'' | Lorenza Negrete de Martínez | Main cast |- | 2017 | ''El Bienamado'' | Bruna Mendoza | |- | 2021 | ''MasterChef Celebrity México'' | Herself | Contestant (Season 1); 5th place<ref>{{cite web |title=La villana de las telenovelas, Laura Zapata, se une a MasterChef Celebrity |url=https://www.tvazteca.com/aztecauno/laura-zapata-se-une-a-masterchef-celebrity |website=tvazteca.com |access-date=13 August 2023 |language=es |date=19 August 2021}}</ref> |- | 2022 | ''Siempre reinas'' | Herself | Season 1<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Vicky |title=Siempre Reinas, el divertido reality de Netflix con Laura Zapata y Lucía Méndez |url=https://www.glamour.mx/articulos/siempre-reinas-reality-de-netflix-con-laura-zapata-lucia-mendez-lorena-herrera-y-sylvia-pasquel |website=Glamour |access-date=13 August 2023 |language=es |date=6 October 2022}}</ref> |- | 2023 | ''Top Chef VIP'' | Herself | Contestant (season 2); runner-up<ref>{{cite web |title=Final de Top Chef VIP 2: fecha, hora y quiénes luchan por el ansiado premio de los $100,000 |url=https://www.telemundoatlanta.com/2023/07/17/final-de-top-chef-vip-2-fecha-hora-y-quines-luchan-por-el-ansiado-premio-de-los-100000/ |website=telemundoatlanta.com |access-date=13 August 2023 |language=es |date=17 July 2023}}</ref> |- |2023–24 |''Secretos de villanas'' |Herself |Main Cast (season 2–3)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amézquita Pino |first=Carolina |title=Laura Zapata es más villana que nunca en nuevo proyecto |url=https://peopleenespanol.com/television/laura-zapata-mas-villana-que-nunca-en-proyecto/ |access-date=25 September 2023 |website=People en Español |language=es}}</ref> |- |2026 |''La casa de los famosos'' |Herself |Contestant (season 6)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyola |first=Gerardo |title=More Stars, More Drama: Telemundo’s La Casa de los Famosos Ignites New Tensions with the Arrival of Laura Zapata, Caeli and Yina Calderón, Premiering, Tuesday, February 17 at 7pm/6c|url=https://nbcuniversalnewsgroup.com/telemundo/2026/02/04/more-stars-more-drama-telemundos-la-casa-de-los-famosos-ignites-new-tensions-with-the-arrival-of-laura-zapata-caeli-and-yina-calderon-premiering-tuesday-february-17-at-7pm-6c/ |access-date=27 February 2026 |website=NBCUniversal News Group |language=es |date=4 February 2026}}</ref> |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" ! Year|| Award || Category ||Nominee||Result |- | 1988||rowspan=3|TVyNovelas Awards|| rowspan=2|Best Female Antagonist || ''Rosa Salvaje'' ||rowspan=2 {{won}} |- | 1993 || ''María Mercedes'' |- |2011 || Best First Actress|| ''Zacatillo, un lugar en tu corazón'' ||rowspan=2 {{nom}} |- |2009 ||Premios People en Español|| Best Female Antagonist || ''Cuidado con el ángel'' |- |rowspan=2| 2010 || Premios de la Agrupación de Periodistas Teatrales (APT)<ref>[http://viplatino.com/2010/03/xxvii-entrega-de-los-premios-apt.html VIP Latino "Silvia Navarro nominada los Premios APT"]</ref>|| Silvia Pinal Awards for Best Actress || ''12 Mujeres en Pugna'' || rowspan=2 {{won}} |- | Premios de la Asociación de Cronistas y Periodistas Teatrales (ACPT)<ref>[http://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/arrasa-ortiz-pinedo-obras-16-entrega-premios-acpt-20110406-091100-630.html Premios ACPT a lo mejor de 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318083418/http://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/arrasa-ortiz-pinedo-obras-16-entrega-premios-acpt-20110406-091100-630.html |date=2014-03-18 }}</ref>|| Best Actress in Monologue|| ''No seré feliz, pero tengo marido'' |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0953188}} {{Authority control}} {{TVyNovelas Award for Best Female Antagonist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zapata, Laura}} Category:1956 births Category:20th-century Mexican actresses Category:21st-century Mexican actresses Category:Actresses from Mexico City Category:Formerly missing Mexican people Category:Kidnapped Mexican people Category:Living people Category:Mexican film actresses Category:Mexican women singers Category:Mexican female dancers Category:Mexican people of Spanish descent Category:Mexican stage actresses Category:Mexican telenovela actresses Category:Mexican television actresses Category:Singers from Mexico City