Ofelia Medina

{{Short description|Mexican actress, singer and screenwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{family name hatnote|Medina|Torres|lang=Spanish}} {{infobox person | name = Ofelia Medina | image = Ofelia Medina en The Big Fix (1978) (cropped).webp | caption = Medina in ''[[The Big Fix (1978 film)|The Big Fix]]'' (1978) | birth_name = María Ofelia Medina Torres | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1950|3|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Mérida, Yucatán]], Mexico | years_active = 1968–present | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Alex Philips, Jr.|1973|1978|reason=divorce}} * {{marriage|[[Pedro Armendáriz Jr.|Pedro Armendáriz, Jr.]]|1981|2011|reason=died}} }} | children = 2 | awards = Ariel Award (2005) | website = https://www.ofeliamedina.com/ }}

'''María Ofelia Medina Torres''' (born 4 March 1950) is a Mexican actress, singer and film screenwriter.

==Early life== She was born in Mérida and has four siblings: Arturo, Leo, Ernesto and Beatriz. At the age of eight she moved with her family to Mexico City where she studied elementary, middle and high school as well as dance at the Academia de Danza Mexicana where she graduated as a performer and teacher of contemporary and regional classical dance. Her father, she has explained in several interviews, opposed her dedication to the artistic medium and she succeeded with the support of her mother.

In 1961, at the age of eleven, she belonged to the children's pantomime group created by Alejandro Jodorowski, whom she considers her first teacher.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ofelia Medina biografía, filmografía|url=https://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/actores/ofelia_medina/biografia.php|access-date=6 February 2021|website=LaHiguera.net|language=es}}</ref>

In 1968, she was a student at the National Preparatory School of UNAM.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioformula.com.mx/notas.asp?Idn=294686 |title=Mi padre se oponía a que fuera artista: Ofelia Medina. Con Matilde Obregón |website=www.radioformula.com.mx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818183838/http://www.radioformula.com.mx/notas.asp?Idn=294686 |archive-date=18 August 2016}}</ref> In 1977, she studied acting with Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles and later emigrated to Europe with the aim of continuing her training at the Odin Theater in Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ofelia Medina cumple 62 años con un proyecto en puerta|url=https://www.informador.mx/Entretenimiento/Ofelia-Medina-cumple-62-anos-con-un-proyecto-en-puerta-20120303-0047.html|access-date=6 February 2021|website=El Informador : Noticias de Jalisco, México, Deportes & Entretenimiento|language=es-ES}}</ref>

==Career== {{BLP sources section|date=October 2022}} Medina's debut in the artistic medium as a professional was with ''{{Proper name|H3O}}'', where she worked with Alejandro Jodorowsky. Later she participated with Julio Castillo, where she was seen by Ofelia Guilmáin. Guilmáin took her with Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, who sent her with Luis de Llano, who gave her the opportunity to work in ''Lucía Sombras'', where she had the leading role. She made her film debut in 1968 with the film ''[[La paz (film)|La paz]]''

[[File:Ofelia Medina y Enrique Álvarez Félix en Rina (1978) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Ofelia Medina and [[Enrique Álvarez Félix]] in ''[[Rina (telenovela)|Rina]]'' (1977)]] In 1971, she was called by producer Ernesto Alonso to make her first television appearance in the series ''Landrú'', which was followed by the melodrama ''Lucía Sombra'' (1971), where she had the main role and became a "romantic heroine". Later she participated in ''La hiena'' (1973) and ''Paloma'' (1975). In 1977, she played a hunchback in the [[telenovela]] ''[[Rina (telenovela)|Rina]]'', which gained her critical acclaim. A year later, she worked in [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] with ''[[The Big Fix (1978 film)|The Big Fix]]'' (1978).

[[File:Ofelia Medina como Frida Kahlo en 1983 (cropped).webp|thumb|Ofelia Medina as [[Frida Kahlo]] in ''[[Frida Still Life|Frida, naturaleza viva]]'' (1983)]] In 1983, she portrayed [[Frida Kahlo]] in [[Paul Leduc (film director)|Paul Leduc]]'s ''[[Frida Still Life|Frida, naturaleza viva]]'', an award-winning film about Kahlo's life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paulleduc.net/info/frida.html |title=Reed |website=paulleduc.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827002806/http://paulleduc.net/info/frida.html |archive-date=2012-08-27}}</ref> In Canada, Medina was nominated for the [[Genie Award]] for her work in ''[[Diplomatic Immunity (1991 Canadian film)|Diplomatic Immunity]]'' in 1991.

On television, in addition to ''Lucía Sombra'', she worked in ''La Señora Joven'', ''Paloma'', ''Rina'' with Enrique Álvarez Félix, ''La gloria y el infierno'' and ''Toda una vida Desam'', directed by Héctor Mendoza, based on the life of María Conesa and other actresses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She participated in the telenovela ''For a lifetime'', a part recorded in Peru and part in Mexico and it was a new version of the famous ''Vivir un Poco''. She made a special participation in ''A Corazón Abierto''.

She directed and starred in the play ''The night that never existed'', by Humberto Robles, winner of the 2014 Emilio Carballido National Dramaturgy Prize. She participated in the shows ''Mujeres sin Fear: We are all Atenco'' on the repression of San Salvador Atenco in May 2006 and belongs to the group of the same name along with Begoña Lecumberri, Julieta Egurrola, Carmen Huete, [[Francesca Guillén]] and Humberto Robles, among other actors and guest musicians.

In 2006, she took part in the movie ''I love Miami'' (2006), by Alejandro González Padilla, and participated in the dubbing of the animated film ''The legend of Nahuala'' (2007).

In 2008, she reappeared on the small screen in the chapter "Mónica, cornered", from the series ''Mujeres Asesinas'', in which she played Beatriz, mother of the character played by actress Iran Castillo.

The following year, she premiered in [[Rome, Italy]], in ''Mexican Voices'', in which she gave life to female characters from the history of Mexico, such as ''Kahlo'', Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and Rosario Castellanos.

In 2008, she was part of the series ''Mujeres Asesinas'' in the Monica chapter, cornered with Iran Castillo.

In 2013, she was part of the telenovelas, ''Los Rey'' and ''Secretos de familia'', on TV Azteca. In 2015, she worked on the soap opera ''Tanto amor'' playing Silvia Iturbide Vda. by Lombardo

[[File:MX TV INAUGURACIÓN 23 FESTIVAL MIX - 47076994774 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Medina in 2019]] In July 2016, she announced that at the end of the year she would begin shooting her first film as a director, a story about a boy from the Mayan community inspired by the reality that she herself has scripted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://noticine.com/noticias/rodajes/24627-mexicanos-ofelia-medina-debutara-como-directora-matias-meyer-prepara-nuevo-film-rodara-the-run-en-durango.html?platform=hootsuite|access-date=2021-02-06|website=noticine.com|title=Mexicanos: Ofelia Medina debutará como directora, Matías Meyer prepara nuevo film, rodará "The Run" en Durango}}</ref>

==Theater== Medina has played in various theatres worldwide. Since 2000, Medina played Kahlo<ref>{{YouTube|66Hq2zBYtwk|Video of Cada quien su Frida}}, posted 12 January 2012</ref> in ''Cada quien su Frida''. In 2007, Medina toured in [[Denmark]], playing in [[Århus]], [[Copenhagen]], and [[Odense]].<ref>[http://www.aidoh.dk/new-struct/Gallery-Galschiot/Events-and-Exhibitions/MX07/Ofelia.htm pictures from the show], posted 12 January 2012.</ref>

==Activism== Currently, she is politically active as a supporter of the indigenous people of southern Mexico. In her biography she tells that thanks to Frida Kalho - in 1983 she premiered with Paul Leduc Frida Naturaleza Viva - she learned "about the love of the Indians of Mexico, about communism and surrealism."

In 1985 she was co-founder of the "Committee of Solidarity with marginalized ethnic groups", the first Mexican organization for the defense of the Human Rights of the Indians of Mexico, which began with a seminar on hunger in Mexico and later on the defense of indigenous prisoners in Mexican prisons and cultural activities with Indian communities. From this moment, Ofelia Medina denounced, began to receive threats for her activity as a defender of Human Rights in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|title=La fama sólo sirve para dar voz a los que no la tienen: Ofelia Medina - La Jornada|url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/2007/08/31/index.php?section=cultura&article=a07n1cul|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.jornada.com.mx}}</ref>

In 1990 she was co-founder of the Trust for the Health of Indigenous Children of Mexico, A.C. This same year, FISANIM began working in Chiapas on a nutrition program in Zapatista communities.

She was an organizer of the elections in the Zapatista territory, denounced the fraud of said elections and was an electoral attorney.

She belonged to the civil society group in the Peace Dialogue in Chiapas and the formulation of the San Andrés Accords.

In 1998 she was part of the group that made the amendments to article 4 of the Constitution to conceive of Mexico as a multiethnic, multicultural country.

"The government of the state of Chiapas declared me Persona Non Grata in the state and tried to expel me from the state. I was defended by many people and I remained there working until today. ..."

In 2006 she participated in the documentary Juárez: the city where women are disposable.

She is currently a member of the Academy of Human Rights, the Foundation of the Committee for Solidarity with Marginalized Ethnic Groups, the United Nations Peace Council and the Group of 100.

Ofelia Medina has acted in various plays, such as ''The Vagina Monologues'', ''Each one his Frida'' and ''Intimately, Rosario de Chiapas''; these last two works were written, directed and acted by herself.

==Discography== * ''Toda una vida'' (1982) * ''Sor Juana hoy'' (1996)

==Filmography==

===Film=== * ''[[La Paz (film)|La Paz]]'' (1968) * ''[[Patsy, mi amor]]'' (1969) as Patsy * ''[[Las impuras]]'' (1969) * ''[[Las Pirañas aman en Cuaresma]]'' (1969) as Mirta / Daughter * ''[[Las figuras de arena]]'' (1970) * ''[[Las rebelión de las hijas]]'' (1970) * ''[[Paraíso (1970 film)|Paraíso]]'' (1970) as Magaly * ''[[Las puertas del paraíso]]'' (1971) as Lucia * ''El águila descalza'' (1971) as Chona * ''El cambio'' (1971) * ''[[Muñeca reina]]'' (1972) as Amilamia * ''[[Apolinar (film)|Apolinar]]'' (1972) * ''[[De qué color es el viento]]'' (1973) as Adelita * ''[[Uno y medio contra el mundo]]'' (1973) * ''[[El hombre de los hongos]]'' (1976) as Lucila * ''[[La palomilla al rescate]]'' (1977) as Elisa * ''[[The Big Fix (1978 film)|The Big Fix]]'' (1978) as Alora * ''[[Vacaciones misteriosas]]'' (1976) as Elisa * ''Pueblo de Boquilla'' (1981) * ''Complot Petróleo: La cabeza de la hidra'' (1981) * ''[[Frida, naturaleza viva]]'' (1983) as [[Frida Kahlo]] * ''[[Camino largo a Tijuana]]'' (1988) as Rita * ''Orgia de terror'' (1990) * ''[[Gertrudis Bocanegra]]'' (1992) as Gertrudis Bocanegra * ''[[Nocturno a Rosario]]'' (1992) as Rosario de la Peña * ''[[Diplomatic Immunity (1991 Canadian film)|Diplomatic Immunity]]'' (1992) as Sara Roldán * ''Íntimo terror'' (1992) * ''[[A Wall of Silence|Un Muro de Silencio]]'' (1993) as Silvia * ''[[Couleur Havane]]'' (1999) as Mayra * ''[[Before Night Falls (film)|Before Night Falls]]'' (2000) as Landlady * ''[[Cuando te hablen de amor]]'' (2002) as Graciela Garbo * ''[[Ezequiel el volador]]'' (2004, Short) as Mama * ''[[Valentina (2004 film)|Valentina]]'' (2004, Short) * ''[[Voces inocentes]]'' (2004) as Mama Toya * ''[[Club eutanasia]]'' (2005) as the director * ''[[Agua con sal]]'' (2005) as Olvido * ''[[Un bel morir]]'' (2005, Short) * ''Mujer alabastrina'' (2006) * ''I Love Miami'' (2006) as Doña Emilia * ''[[Caleuche: El llamado del mar]]'' (2006) as Madre Isabel * ''[[La leyenda de la Nahuala]]'' (2007) as Nahuala (voice) / Sra. Machorro (voice) * ''[[Las buenas hierbas]]'' (2010) as Lala * ''[[Colombiana]]'' (2011) as Mama * ''Memoria de mis putas tristes'' (2011) as Mujer de gris / Woman in gray * ''Los Ojos Azules'' (2012) as Yaxte * ''Panorama'' (2013) as Ofelia * ''[[Macho (film)|Macho]]'' (2016) as Mamá Evaristo * ''Nadie sabrá nunca'' (2018) as Fidela * ''Plan V'' (2018) * ''[[1938: When Mexico Recovered Its Oil]]'' (2025) as [[Amalia Solórzano]]

===Television=== * ''Las máscaras'' (1971) * ''Lucía Sombra'' (1971) as Lucía Sombra * ''La señora joven'' (1972) as Susana Ricarte * ''La hiena'' (1973) as Isabel Solís * ''Paloma'' (1975) as Paloma * ''[[Rina (telenovela)|Rina]]'' (1977) as Rina * ''[[Toda una vida]]'' (1981) as Alejandra Pastora * ''La gloria y el infierno'' (1986) as Inés Arteaga * ''Para toda la vida'' (1996) as Elena * ''Mujeres Asesinas: Mónica acorralada'' (2008) as Beatriz Fernández. * ''[[A Corazón Abierto (Mexico)|A Corazón Abierto]]'' (2012) as Irene de Sánchez * ''[[Los Rey]]'' (2012)

==Awards and nominations==

===Ariel Award (2005)=== *''Best supporting actress'' for ''[[Voces inocentes]]''.

===12th Genie Awards=== *''Best supporting actress'' for ''[[Diplomatic Immunity (1991 Canadian film)|Diplomatic Immunity]]''.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0575754|name=Ofelia Medina}} *[http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=48188&mod=bio Biography] at the [[New York Times]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medina, Ofelia}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Best Supporting Actress Ariel Award winners]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Mexican film actresses]] [[Category:Mexican telenovela actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Yucatán (state)]] [[Category:Singers from Yucatán (state)]] [[Category:Writers from Yucatán (state)]] [[Category:People from Mérida, Yucatán]]