Meche Barba
Encyclopedia
Meche Barba was a Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema
in the 1940s and 1950s. Was considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film
". She was remembered with the name of "The Mexican Venus".
, USA.She was daughter of the Spanish circus actor Antonio Barba. Started her career at the age of six in the circus stardom in New York. With her sister Carmen, debuts in Mexico in the Show Caras Bonitas, with the Mexican comedian El Panzon Soto.
In 1937 she appears in a minor role in the movie Ave sin Rumbo.
along the Cuban Rumba
dancer Maria Antonieta Pons
in the film Rosalinda. With her amazing style to dance West Indian rhythms, Meche gets quickly highlight in the "Cine de Rumberas" in the late 1940s thanks to success films like Humo en los Ojos (the film that started the production of "Rumberas films", 1946), Cortesana (1947) and "Gran Casino" (1947, directed by Luis Buñuel
). In 1948, she filmed Musico, poeta y loco with Tin Tan.
In 1949 she began her relationship with the Mexican actor and singer Fernando Fernández
, with whom she formed an important film collaboration. some of his notable collaborations are Amor Vendido (1949), Yo fui una callejera (1951) and Cuando los hijos pecan (1952) among others.
Meche retires from the stage in the late 1950s to raise a family. In the 1980s, the telenovelas writer Carlos Romero
convinces her to return to the screens. In the 1980s and 1990s, Meche participates in numerous Mexican TV dramas with the singer and actress Thalía
. The most important are Maria Mercedes
(1992) and Maria la del barrio
(1995). She returned to the cinema with the film Los Años de Greta (1992), by which wins the Silver Ariel.
Barba was the only Mexican of the five Tropical Queens of the Mexican Cinema (Maria Antonieta Pons
, Amalia Aguilar
, Ninón Sevilla
and Rosa Carmina
).
Meche Barba died from heart failure on January 14 in 2000 in Mexico City.
Golden age of the cinema of Mexico
The Golden Age of Mexican cinema is a period between 1936 and 1969 where the quality and economic success of the cinema of Mexico reached its peak....
in the 1940s and 1950s. Was considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film
Rumberas film
The Rumberas film was a sub-genre film of the Golden age of Mexican Cinema , whose plots were set primarily in cabarets...
". She was remembered with the name of "The Mexican Venus".
Early life
She was born Mercedes Barba Feito in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA.She was daughter of the Spanish circus actor Antonio Barba. Started her career at the age of six in the circus stardom in New York. With her sister Carmen, debuts in Mexico in the Show Caras Bonitas, with the Mexican comedian El Panzon Soto.
In 1937 she appears in a minor role in the movie Ave sin Rumbo.
Career
In 1945, Meche debuts in the Rumberas filmRumberas film
The Rumberas film was a sub-genre film of the Golden age of Mexican Cinema , whose plots were set primarily in cabarets...
along the Cuban Rumba
Rumba
Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
dancer Maria Antonieta Pons
María Antonieta Pons
Maria Antonieta Pons was a Cuban born Mexican film actress and Rumba dancer.-Career:Born in Cuba in 1922, from Catalan origin, she was one of the most notorious rumba dancers of her times. She was discovered in Cuba by the Spanish film director Juan Orol. Emigrated to Mexico City to film Siboney...
in the film Rosalinda. With her amazing style to dance West Indian rhythms, Meche gets quickly highlight in the "Cine de Rumberas" in the late 1940s thanks to success films like Humo en los Ojos (the film that started the production of "Rumberas films", 1946), Cortesana (1947) and "Gran Casino" (1947, directed by Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
). In 1948, she filmed Musico, poeta y loco with Tin Tan.
In 1949 she began her relationship with the Mexican actor and singer Fernando Fernández
Fernando Fernandez
Fernando Fernández was the founder of the oldest Rum producing company in Puerto Rico.- Start of a dynasty:Fernández, was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He was the owner of the Santa Ana Plantation located in the city of his birth...
, with whom she formed an important film collaboration. some of his notable collaborations are Amor Vendido (1949), Yo fui una callejera (1951) and Cuando los hijos pecan (1952) among others.
Meche retires from the stage in the late 1950s to raise a family. In the 1980s, the telenovelas writer Carlos Romero
Carlos Romero
Carlos Romero Carlos Romero Carlos Romero (15 February 1927 – 21 June 2007, was an American actor, noted for his many appearances on television. In addition to his many television appearances, he also acted in several movies including The Young Land, They Came to Cordura, Island of the Blue...
convinces her to return to the screens. In the 1980s and 1990s, Meche participates in numerous Mexican TV dramas with the singer and actress Thalía
Thalía
Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda , known simply by the mononym Thalía , is a Mexican singer and actress. She has sold over 40 million albums worldwide...
. The most important are Maria Mercedes
María Mercedes (telenovela)
María Mercedes was a Mexican telenovela directed by Beatriz Sheridan and starring Thalía and Arturo Peniche.-Plot:Maria Mercedes is a poor girl who is abandoned with her brothers and sister by her ambitious mother...
(1992) and Maria la del barrio
María la del Barrio
María la del barrio is the 3rd telenovela of Thalía from the trilogy of 'Maria'. Is a Mexican telenovela which starred Thalía, Fernando Colunga, Itatí Cantoral, Ricardo Blume, Iran Eory and the youngest actors Ludwika Paleta & Osvaldo Benavides...
(1995). She returned to the cinema with the film Los Años de Greta (1992), by which wins the Silver Ariel.
Barba was the only Mexican of the five Tropical Queens of the Mexican Cinema (Maria Antonieta Pons
María Antonieta Pons
Maria Antonieta Pons was a Cuban born Mexican film actress and Rumba dancer.-Career:Born in Cuba in 1922, from Catalan origin, she was one of the most notorious rumba dancers of her times. She was discovered in Cuba by the Spanish film director Juan Orol. Emigrated to Mexico City to film Siboney...
, Amalia Aguilar
Amalia Aguilar
Amalia Aguilar is a Cuban and Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She was considered one of the icons of the Rumberas film.- Early life :...
, Ninón Sevilla
Ninón Sevilla
Ninón Sevilla is a Mexican and Cuban film actress and dancer who was active during the Golden age of Mexican cinema. She was considered one of the greatest Cuban stars and the queen of the "rumberas film".- Career :...
and Rosa Carmina
Rosa Carmina
Rosa Carmina is a Mexican-Cuban film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She is considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film".-Career:...
).
Meche Barba died from heart failure on January 14 in 2000 in Mexico City.
Filmography (Selected)
- Ave sin Rumbo (1937)
- Sota, Caballo y Rey (1944)
- Rancho de mis recuerdos (1945)
- Rosalinda (1946)
- Humo en los ojos (1946)
- Gran Casino (1947)
- Cortesana (1948)
- Musico, poeta y loco (1948)
- Lola Casanova (1948)
- Negra Consentida (1949)
- Lazos de Fuego (1949)
- Venus de Fuego (1949)
- El pecado de Laura (1949)
- Una mujer con pasado (1949)
- Yo fuí una callejera (1950)
- La Mujer desnuda (1951)
- Amor Vendido (1951)
- Acá las tortas (1951)
- Cuando los hijos pecan (1952)
- Quiero Vivir (1953)
- ReportajeReportaje (1953 film)Reportaje is a 1953 Mexican film. The film brought together the most important stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and was held for charitable purposes for the A.N.D.A of México....
(1953) - Los Años de Greta (1992)
TV
- La pobre Señorita Limantour (1986)
- Quinceañera (1987)
- Rosa salvajeRosa salvajeRosa salvaje is a Mexican telenovela that was broadcast in 1987. It starred the popular Mexican actress Verónica Castro, who played the main character, "Rosa", co-starring with Guillermo Capetillo as her love interest and Laura Zapata as the villain of the story.This telenovela was a huge success...
(1988) - Balada por un amorBalada por un AmorBalada por un Amor is a telenovela made by Mexican TV network Televisa. This telenovela was broadcast in 1989. In the middle of the plot Jorge Rivero quit, so María Zarattini had to rewrite the history at full speed, giving the opportunity to Alfredo Adame to be the protagonist...
(1990) - María MercedesMaría Mercedes (telenovela)María Mercedes was a Mexican telenovela directed by Beatriz Sheridan and starring Thalía and Arturo Peniche.-Plot:Maria Mercedes is a poor girl who is abandoned with her brothers and sister by her ambitious mother...
(1992) - Sueño de amor (1993)
- Valentina (1993)
- María la del BarrioMaría la del BarrioMaría la del barrio is the 3rd telenovela of Thalía from the trilogy of 'Maria'. Is a Mexican telenovela which starred Thalía, Fernando Colunga, Itatí Cantoral, Ricardo Blume, Iran Eory and the youngest actors Ludwika Paleta & Osvaldo Benavides...
(1995) - La Usurpadora (1998)
- Rosalinda (1999)