Dolores del Rio

Birthday: 3 August 1904, Durango, Mexico

Birth Name: Dolores Martínez Asúnsolo y López Negrete

Height: 161 cm

Dolores del Rio was the first Mexican movie star with international appeal and had a meteoric career in 1920s Hollywood (an extraordinary accomplishment for an Hispanic female on those years). She came from an aristocratic family in Durango. In the Mexican revolution of 1916, however, the family lost everything they had and emigrated to Mexico City, where Dolores became a socialite. In 1921 she married Jaime Del Río (also known as Jaime Martínez Del Río), a wealthy Mexican, and the two became friends with Hollywood producer/director Edwin Carewe. In a somewhat unorthodox manner, for those years, the couple moved to Hollywood where they expected to launch careers in the movie business (she as an actress, he as a screenwriter). Eventually they were divorced after Dolores made her first film, Joanna (1925). THe film was a success and Dolores was hailed as a female Rudolph Valentino. Her career rose until the arrival of sound in 1928. After a number of forgettable films, she married Cedric Gibbons, the well-known art director and production designer at MGM studios. Dolores returned to Mexico in 1942. Her Hollywood career was over, and a romance with Orson Welles--who later called her "the most exciting woman I've ever met"--caused her second divorce. Mexican director Emilio Fernández offered her the lead in his film Flor silvestre (1943), with a wholly unexpected result: at age 37, Dolores Del Río became the most famous movie star in her country, filming in Spanish for the first time. Her association with Fernández' team (cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa, writer Mauricio Magdaleno and actor Pedro Armendáriz) was mainly responsible for creating what has been called the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. With such pictures as María Candelaria (Xochimilco) (1944), Las abandonadas (1945) and Bugambilia (1945), Del Río became the prototypical Mexican beauty in foreign countries. Her career included film, theater and television. In her last years she received accolades because of her work for orphaned children. Her last film was The Children of Sanchez (1978). Hide

A woman must be soignee. To be neat in every aspect requires considerable organization. But to me th Show more A woman must be soignee. To be neat in every aspect requires considerable organization. But to me that is more important than being fashionable! Hide

One of the legends you hear about me is that I sleep 16 hours a day. That is ridiculous. In the firs Show more One of the legends you hear about me is that I sleep 16 hours a day. That is ridiculous. In the first place, it's physically impossible. Secondly, someone else would have to do my work . . . on the stage, in motion pictures . . . managing my home. I sleep nine hours. Hide

[on the transition from silent to sound films] Many big stars didn't survive. Their voices were too Show more [on the transition from silent to sound films] Many big stars didn't survive. Their voices were too high, or they didn't speak English well enough. I survived, but it was difficult. I had to work very, very hard at my English. Hide

Beauty does not come with creams and lotions and all those silly things. It comes with good digestio Show more Beauty does not come with creams and lotions and all those silly things. It comes with good digestion, moderation in eating, a discipline in life. Hide

We have a public, the power to influence, and we have an enormous responsibility to use this influen Show more We have a public, the power to influence, and we have an enormous responsibility to use this influence. We have awakened to this responsibility in Mexico. We even have an actress, María Elena Marqués, who is a congresswoman. She works terribly hard and is up at 6, not to go to a studio, but to work for the people of her district. Hide

I've never dieted in my life. Don't believe in it. Diets ruin a woman's health and appearance. Her f Show more I've never dieted in my life. Don't believe in it. Diets ruin a woman's health and appearance. Her face suffers. She looks drawn and haggard. I eat regular meals and eat anything and everything. Moderation is the key. I may eat cake; but I eat only a small slice. Hide

Beauty comes from the inside out. Creams are a waste of money if you don't take care of your health. Beauty comes from the inside out. Creams are a waste of money if you don't take care of your health.

That story about 14 hours' sleep is an exaggeration. I do have eight hours of sleep a night, however Show more That story about 14 hours' sleep is an exaggeration. I do have eight hours of sleep a night, however, and short naps whenever I can manage them in the day time. Hide

Take care of your inner beauty, your spiritual beauty, and that will reflect in your face. We have t Show more Take care of your inner beauty, your spiritual beauty, and that will reflect in your face. We have the face we created over the years. Every bad deed, every bad fault will show on your face. God can give us beauty and genes can give us our features, but whether that beauty remains or changes is determined by our thoughts and deeds. Hide

Personally, I buy only what suits me. In the day time I dress very simply, but after 7 p. m. I dress Show more Personally, I buy only what suits me. In the day time I dress very simply, but after 7 p. m. I dress dramatically. I usually wear a tiny nose veil on a cocktail hat. Men love it, and it seems to suit my face and personality. Hide

When I returned to Mexico, I joined with people eager to create the Mexican cinema. We were full of Show more When I returned to Mexico, I joined with people eager to create the Mexican cinema. We were full of dreams and had no money whatsoever, but we were able to achieve something and open markets for our films all over the world. Hide

My first beauty rule is to relax completely for 20 minutes each day without interruption-no matter w Show more My first beauty rule is to relax completely for 20 minutes each day without interruption-no matter what! I lie flat on the floor and "let go," relaxing completely from the toes up. Consequently, at 5 o clock, when everyone else is tired out I'm full of energy. Hide

[in the 1920s] Hollywood, what a place it is! It is so far away from the rest of the world, so narro Show more [in the 1920s] Hollywood, what a place it is! It is so far away from the rest of the world, so narrow. No one thinks of anything but motion pictures or talks of anything else. And, I, too, am getting like the rest. I have not read anything for a year. I do not know what is happening in the world. Hide

[in 1960] The secret of youth is work, keep busy, and never be bored. Boredom is the only thing that Show more [in 1960] The secret of youth is work, keep busy, and never be bored. Boredom is the only thing that ages you. You don't have to be young to be a star; today there's acting for all ages. Last year I tried the legitimate stage, have now done three plays. When I was a star in Hollywood, I had hundreds of offers from Broadway, but never took them seriously. Thoughts of facing an audience appalled me. Now I feel it's the ideal medium for an actress. I work in TV also but don't love It; I do it as a sort of discipline. Hide

Dolores del Rio's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (9)

Branded - Season 1

Cheyenne Autumn

Flying Down to Rio

Branded - Season 2

Marcus Welby M.D. - Season 1

Bird of Paradise

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles

Flaming Star

Zelig