Maria Elena Saldana
Encyclopedia
María Elena Saldaña, also known as La Güereja, is a Mexican
television
actress whose career dates back to the mid-1980s
. Saldaña, who is a midget, has achieved fame over the years with her portrayal of a little Mexican girl named Mariquita Castro Pérez, who is nicknamed "La Güereja".
, where she was most likely born on July 23, 1962, Saldaña started acting while in school. During one class, in which the kids sang or recited poetry, Saldaña knew a story about a little girl much like herself, and with a classmate, performed a sketch in which Saldaña portrayed that little girl, the forerunner to her eventual "La Güereja" character. She then performed her act on a television station in Veracruz, and this led, in 1984, to Mexico City
and a contract with Televisa
. Once there, Saldaña began to appear on several of the network's comedy series, as well as the telenovela
Volver a Empezar
. On one of the comedies, Andale!
, Saldaña first met Benito Castro; the two starred in the segment "La Güereja y El Papagringo," which, in 1998 would become, under different producers, a television series of its own as La Güereja y Algo Mas.
in the United States
.
La Güereja y Algo Mas premiered in 1998 and featured Saldaña in the role of not only La Güereja but also two characters that have become part of her repertoire: Mimi Piquin, a tiny actress, and the tiny nun Sor Zita. With her in the cast were Benito Castro, in the role of her dad, Judy Ponte and Erika Bleher as nuns, Jose Natera, Jorge Arvizu
, Cesar Bono, Eduardo Espana and Maru Dueñas. Dueñas was both seen as La Güereja's teacher and heard as her chauffeur. After three seasons, the series underwent a major change in 2001. The program became Güereja de mi vida, Castro was the only supporting cast member returning from the previous series, and the Mimi Piquin and Sor Zita sketches were dropped. Now entire episodes focused on La Güereja's home life. The series ended at the end of the year. The La Güereja series was one of two Televisa series appearing at the same time in which adult actors played children; the other was Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo
's Cero en Conducta.
in 2008. Her first TV Azteca series was El Show de Niurka, hosted by another former Televisa personality, Niurka Marcos
. She has most recently been featured on Para Todos
.
In addition to television, Saldaña has also performed in the Mexican theater, having performed in 35 different plays.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actress whose career dates back to the mid-1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
. Saldaña, who is a midget, has achieved fame over the years with her portrayal of a little Mexican girl named Mariquita Castro Pérez, who is nicknamed "La Güereja".
Early life and Career
A native of VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, where she was most likely born on July 23, 1962, Saldaña started acting while in school. During one class, in which the kids sang or recited poetry, Saldaña knew a story about a little girl much like herself, and with a classmate, performed a sketch in which Saldaña portrayed that little girl, the forerunner to her eventual "La Güereja" character. She then performed her act on a television station in Veracruz, and this led, in 1984, to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and a contract with Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
. Once there, Saldaña began to appear on several of the network's comedy series, as well as the telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
Volver a Empezar
Volver a empezar
Volver a empezar is the name of two things.*Volver a Empezar, a popular Mexican soap opera of the 1990s*Volver a empezar, an award-winning Spanish film of 1982 also known as Begin the Beguine....
. On one of the comedies, Andale!
Paco Stanley
Francisco "Paco" Jorge Stanley Albaitero was a Mexican television entertainer. He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico . Paco Stanley also specialized in Psychology, Marketing and Advertising....
, Saldaña first met Benito Castro; the two starred in the segment "La Güereja y El Papagringo," which, in 1998 would become, under different producers, a television series of its own as La Güereja y Algo Mas.
La Güereja
Saldaña created La Güereja as sort of a female El Chavo. The character she plays is a 4-year-old Mexican girl who goes to school but whose home life tends to be a little wacky. La Güereja's hair is in two ponytails, and she wears a long dress. She was the star of two Televisa series, La Güereja y algo mas and Güereja de mi vida. Both series aired in other countries in addition to Mexico, including UnivisionUnivision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
La Güereja y Algo Mas premiered in 1998 and featured Saldaña in the role of not only La Güereja but also two characters that have become part of her repertoire: Mimi Piquin, a tiny actress, and the tiny nun Sor Zita. With her in the cast were Benito Castro, in the role of her dad, Judy Ponte and Erika Bleher as nuns, Jose Natera, Jorge Arvizu
Jorge Arvizu
Jorge Arvizu is a Mexican voice actor who was the first Spanish voice, among others, of Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone and Cookie Monster...
, Cesar Bono, Eduardo Espana and Maru Dueñas. Dueñas was both seen as La Güereja's teacher and heard as her chauffeur. After three seasons, the series underwent a major change in 2001. The program became Güereja de mi vida, Castro was the only supporting cast member returning from the previous series, and the Mimi Piquin and Sor Zita sketches were dropped. Now entire episodes focused on La Güereja's home life. The series ended at the end of the year. The La Güereja series was one of two Televisa series appearing at the same time in which adult actors played children; the other was Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo
Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo
Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo Pallás is a Mexican comedian, actor, film director, screenwriter, television producer and host....
's Cero en Conducta.
Later Career
After several years off of television, Saldaña signed with TV AztecaTV Azteca
Azteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
in 2008. Her first TV Azteca series was El Show de Niurka, hosted by another former Televisa personality, Niurka Marcos
Niurka Marcos
Niurka Marcos is a Cuban-born Mexican singer, dancer, actress, and erotic model. She is known professionally simply as Niurka.-Personal life:...
. She has most recently been featured on Para Todos
Para Todos
Para Todos is a regional Spanish language magazines in the United States. Published by Silvia Ichar, the magazine reaches Southern California Latinos through its local distribution, as well as subscription base...
.
In addition to television, Saldaña has also performed in the Mexican theater, having performed in 35 different plays.