Eiza González to Star in Biopic About Mexican Film Legend Maria Félix
The Queen of Mexican Cinema Maria “La Doña” Félix made 47 films throughout her career and is considered one of the most famous actresses of the golden age of Mexican cinema
Photo: Wikimedia Commons: Vogue Taiwan/Public Domain
The Queen of Mexican Cinema Maria “La Doña” Félix made 47 films throughout her career and is considered one of the most famous actresses of the golden age of Mexican cinema. Now 31-year-old Mexican actress Eiza González is set to portray her in a biopic, which she’s also producing, with the help of Félix’s estate marking the first time they’ll be involved in telling her story, Deadline reported. Félix, known for her glamour, talent, and fierceness, started her career in the early 1940s which spanned three decades and filmed in in Mexico, Spain, Italy, France and Argentina. González is known for her work in Baby Driver, I Care A Lot and Hobbs & Shaw and this biopic is one of her first starring roles.
“Maria’s tenacity and fierce way of living through some of the hardest adversity I’ve witnessed has inspired me and many more,” González said in a statement. “I’m incredibly honored to be playing her and to be bringing her voice and story to the world.”
“Maria constantly pushed boundaries and lived by her own rules, while the world tried to tear her down,” she added. “I’ve always believed her life needs to be seen around the world, for people to learn more about how society depicts successful and driven women.”
Félix was born May 4, 1914, in Álamos, Sonora in northwestern Mexico and was discovered in Mexico City making her film debut in the 1942 film El Peñón de las Ánimas. She had no formal acting education and instead relied on her natural talent and reportedly refused to work in Hollywood because she was only offered stereotypical Latin roles. González will serve as producer alongside Walter Rivera, who represents Felix’s estate.
“We have long been searching for the right partner to tell Maria’s story, and we are proud to be partnering with Eiza González as she embodies so much of Maria’s strength, intelligence, passion, character and beauty. We know Eiza and this film have the power to influence change, much like Maria Felix did, and we know in Eiza’s hands, Maria Felix’s legacy will be portrayed in the most authentic light,” Rivera said in a statement.
Félix died in 2002 at the age of 87 and was married four times and had one son who died in 1996. There’s no word yet on if it will focus on both her personal and professional life and there’s no release date available. Deadline reported that they’re searching for a Latin American writer to adapt Felix’s life for the screen.
González posted the news on Instagram calling it one of the most “exciting moments” of her life. “I’ve always wanted to tell a story that features women, namely Latina women. Maria was a pioneer of the feminist movement who helped lay the foundation for future female trailblazers.”
