Ninón Sevilla
Encyclopedia
Ninón Sevilla is a Mexican
and Cuba
n 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
".
and raised by an aunt in the populous Centro Habana sector. She was graced with feline features, wonderful legs and exceptional vitality. She successfully danced her way through Havana night clubs and cabarets, and arrived in Mexico in 1945, where she made her film debut. Although she had already imposed her eccentric attires and hairdos, it was her association with filmmaker Alberto Gout that determined the creation of her erotic film persona. She rapidly became the icon of the rumbera, an archetype of the Mexican film musicals, a "bad girl" who is dignified by dancing. Ninon was embraced by the best of the Mexican art community and was frequently associated with the great Mexican Artists reflecting the convergence of the characters of art and cinema. Ninón became an erotic myth and a superstar, working with the best talent in the film industry (Emilio Fernández
, Pedro Armendáriz
, Gabriel Figueroa
, Agustín Lara
, José Revueltas
), in the biggest sound stages at Churubusco, choreographing her own complicated numbers, often in costumes by Gerardo Velazques Delgado a well known personailty within cinema and art. Ninon's fame reached such non-Spanish speaking markets, as Brazil
and France
. She was also among the first to introduce traces of the santería rites in her dances, and to acknowledge the presence of African elements in the Caribbean
cultures in her films' stories. With the decline of Mexican cinema in the 50s, Ninón Sevilla retired, but she made a successful comeback in 1980, with "Noche de carnaval", winning the top Mexican award for an actress for the first time in her career.
She is considered as one of the greatest Rumba
dancers of the Mexican cinema along with superstars Meche Barba
, Rosa Carmina
, Amalia Aguilar
and Maria Antonieta Pons
, frequently referred to as the Tropical Queens.
Her most popular films are Aventurera
(1950), Perdída (1950), Víctimas del Pecado (1951), Sensualidad (1951) and many more.
She continues her career until today, in the Mexican telenovelas.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n film actress and dancer who was active during the Golden age of Mexican cinema
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....
. She was considered one of the greatest Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
stars and the queen 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...
".
Career
Ninón Sevilla was born in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and raised by an aunt in the populous Centro Habana sector. She was graced with feline features, wonderful legs and exceptional vitality. She successfully danced her way through Havana night clubs and cabarets, and arrived in Mexico in 1945, where she made her film debut. Although she had already imposed her eccentric attires and hairdos, it was her association with filmmaker Alberto Gout that determined the creation of her erotic film persona. She rapidly became the icon of the rumbera, an archetype of the Mexican film musicals, a "bad girl" who is dignified by dancing. Ninon was embraced by the best of the Mexican art community and was frequently associated with the great Mexican Artists reflecting the convergence of the characters of art and cinema. Ninón became an erotic myth and a superstar, working with the best talent in the film industry (Emilio Fernández
Emilio Fernández
Emilio "El Indio" Fernández was an actor, screenwriter and director of the cinema of Mexico. He is best known for his work as director of the film Maria Candelaria which won the Grand Prix at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.-Early life:Fernández was born in Mineral del Hondo, Coahuila...
, Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro Armendáriz was a Mexican actor of the cinema of Mexico and Hollywood.-Early life:Born Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico to Pedro Armendáriz García-Conde and Adela Hastings . He was also the cousin of actress Gloria Marín...
, Gabriel Figueroa
Gabriel Figueroa
Gabriel Figueroa Mateos was a Mexican cinematographer who worked both in Mexican cinema and Hollywood....
, Agustín Lara
Agustín Lara
Agustín Lara was a Mexican singer and songwriter.-Biography:Lara was born in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. Later, the Lara family had to move again to Mexico City, establishing their house in the borough of Coyoacán. After Lara's mother died, Agustín and his siblings lived in a hospice run by their...
, José Revueltas
José Revueltas
José Revueltas Sánchez was a Mexican writer, essayist, and political activist. He was part of an important artistic family that included his siblings Silvestre , Fermín and Rosaura .-Life:He was often imprisoned for his political activism, almost from the time he was a boy...
), in the biggest sound stages at Churubusco, choreographing her own complicated numbers, often in costumes by Gerardo Velazques Delgado a well known personailty within cinema and art. Ninon's fame reached such non-Spanish speaking markets, as Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She was also among the first to introduce traces of the santería rites in her dances, and to acknowledge the presence of African elements in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
cultures in her films' stories. With the decline of Mexican cinema in the 50s, Ninón Sevilla retired, but she made a successful comeback in 1980, with "Noche de carnaval", winning the top Mexican award for an actress for the first time in her career.
She is considered as one of the greatest 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...
dancers of the Mexican cinema along with superstars Meche Barba
Meche Barba
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"...
, 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:...
, 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 :...
and 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...
, frequently referred to as the Tropical Queens.
Her most popular films are Aventurera
Aventurera (1950 film)
Aventurera is a 1950 Mexican drama film directed by Alberto Gout and starring Ninón Sevilla. It's considered a masterpiece of the Rumberas film.-Plot:...
(1950), Perdída (1950), Víctimas del Pecado (1951), Sensualidad (1951) and many more.
She continues her career until today, in the Mexican telenovelas.
Filmography (selected)
- Carita de Cielo (1946)
- Pecadora (1947)
- Señora Tentación (1948)
- Revancha (1949)
- Coqueta (1949)
- Perdida (1950)
- AventureraAventurera (1950 film)Aventurera is a 1950 Mexican drama film directed by Alberto Gout and starring Ninón Sevilla. It's considered a masterpiece of the Rumberas film.-Plot:...
(1950) - Victimas del PecadoVìctimas del PecadoVíctimas del Pecado is a 1951 Mexican film directed by Emilio Fernández and starring Ninón Sevilla.-Plot:In México City, a Cuban dancer from "Cabaret Changó" rescues a baby from a garbage can and decides to raise him, but her pachuco pimp gets in her way.Immediately after Aventurera, Ninón Sevilla...
(1951) - Sensualidad (1951)
- No niego mi pasado (1952)
- Llevame en tus brazos (1953)
- Mulata (1954)
- Yambao (1957)
- Mujeres de Fuego (1959)
- Zarzuela 1900 (1959)
- Noche de Carnaval (1983)
TV
- Juicio de Almas (1964)
- 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...
(1987) - Yo no creo en los hombres (1989)
- Las Secretas Intenciones (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)
- Tres Mujeres (1999)
- El precio de tu amor (2000)
- Entre el amor y el odio (2002)
- Amarte es mi pecadoAmarte es mi pecadoAmarte es mi Pecado' is a Mexican telenovela that was transmitted in the year 2004. It is a production of Ernesto Alonso and the protagonists are Yadhira Carrillo, Alessandra Rosaldo and Sergio Sendel.- Plot :...
(2003) - Central de Abasto (2008)