Erika Buenfil

Infobox actor
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name = Erika Buenfil


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birthname = Teresa de Jesús Buenfil
birthdate = birth date and age|1964|11|23
location = Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
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notable role = Marisela/Ana from "Amor en Silencio" and Marisol from "Marisol"
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Erika Buenfil (born Teresa de Jesús Buenfil on November 23, 1964 in Monterrey, Nuevo León) is a Mexican actress best known for her work in telenovelas. Buenfil has also enjoyed minor success as a recording artist.

Biography

Early career

Buenfil started her career in showbiz at the age of 12. Her first telenovela appearance was in 1977 in "Acompañame". More roles followed, including her role of Cristina del Junco in the telenovela "El derecho de nacer" in 1981, which gave Erika international exposure as an upcoming young actress. In 1983 Erika played role of Vicky de Martino in "El Maleficio". The success of the novela gave Erika her first starring role in 1985 in "Angelica" where she played the title character. At this point she became recognizable in Latin America thanks to her success in novelas and hosting the Mexican show "XETU". The following year in 1986 Erika Buenfil starred in "El Engaño", alongside Frank Moro, Guillermo Garcia Cantu, and Luz Maria Jerez.

Amor en Silencio

Two years later in 1988, Buenfil appeared in the "Amor en Silencio." This was her third starring role and the most memorable. Erika played two characters; Marisela in the first half, and Ana in the second half of the telenovela. Her leading men were Arturo Peniche and Omar Fierro. "Amor en Silencio", produced by Carla Estrada, became an instant hit due to the cast and the well-written story-line. However, her character was killed in a surprise twist during one episode. The story continued with plot moving 12 years after and emerged with Buenfil reappearring in the story, now playing the teenage daughter of her former murdered character.

"Amor en Silencio" was the most awarded telenovela of the year winning Best Telenovela and Best Actress for Erika Buenfil on 1989's TVyNovela awards. During this time, Buenfil's popularity had grown and her status as telenovela actress was at its highest, making appearances in many entertainment magazines and on TV shows.

1990s

After her success with "Amor En Silencio", Erika Buenfil took a few years off from telenovelas before returning in 1991 in "Vida Robada," alongside Sergio Goyri and Cynthia Klitbo. The telenovela had some success, but after it ended Erika disappeared from the spotlight once again. In 1993, she was being considered for the lead role of Monica in the epic novela "Corazón Salvaje," but the role went to Edith González.fact|date=June 2007 Erika was offered the part of the antagonist "Aimee," but initially refused it. In 1996, Erika admitted in "El Show de Cristina" that she refused the role because she wanted to be the star and did not want to accept a secondary role. She said that she changed her mind over the weekend, but when she called the producer Jose Rendón, she was told that the role had already been given to actress Ana Colchero.

Buenfil began to find it difficult to receive new roles. Among the roles that she coveted was as the protagonist of "Morir Dos Veces," another Jose Rendon production, starring Eduardo Palomo (the male star of "Corazon Salvaje"). Again, Erika ended up losing a part because Palomo was pushing for his wife actress, the almost unknown Carina Ricco to star in the novela. The novela was an instant flop.fact|date=June 2007

Marisol

By the end of 1995, Erika had been absent from the TV screen for over 4 years. However, her fortunes changed for her when she went to Televisa to ask for better treatment at the company.fact|date=September 2007 Her voice was heard and producer Juan Osorio wanted her to star in his upcoming production of "Marisol" alongside Eduardo Santamarina, in his first starring role. To the surprise of many, "Marisol" was a great hit with audiences, thanks to the great chemistry between the lead actors. "Marisol" was the typical Cinderella-type story, criticized by many, but that brought much success. The success of the telenovela was such that Buenfil and Santamarina went on a promotional tour of various Latin American countries.

Tres Mujeres

After the success of "Marisol", Erika Buenfil did some theater, made a special appearance in her friend Laura Flores' vehicle "El Alma No Tiene Color", and was offered various scripts, including starring in 1998's "La Usurpadora". She declined and the role went to Venezuelan Gabriela Spanic.

The next year in 1999, Erika found herself headlining the cast of the novela "Tres Mujeres," where she shared the lead with Karyme Lozano and Jorge Salinas, in their first starring roles. Even though Televisa placed the novela in a non-prime time slot, "Tres Mujeres" delivered better than the network's other primetime soaps. The show covered previous taboo issues in Latin American TV, such as homosexuality and adultery. The role of Barbara was also the first time Erika played a mature woman who committed infidelity. Due to the success of the novela, the cast of "Tres Mujeres" was asked to continue working on the novela, even though filming had ended. Eventually the novela lasted over 8 months (whereas most novelas last a little over 4 months).

2000s

In 2000 Erika had a special participation in the children novela "Carita De Angel." In 2001 Buenfil started working on a new novela, "Asi Son Ellas." Originally, Victoria Ruffo was also tapped to work on the novela, but controversy started regarding who would carry the first billing and eventually Victoria withdrew from the project. The novela was not very successful in part because of the difficult afternoon schedule and because Televisa did not promote it well, delaying over a year to air it in Mexico.

"Asi Son Ellas" was Erika Buenfil's most recent leading role in a telenovela. Even though she had first billing in 2004's "Corazones al limite", her character was more of a supporting role. This telenovela was memorable because it reunited the "Amor en Silencio" stars as lovers for the first time in 16 years. That same year Erika had a small role in "Amarte Es Mi Pecado." In 2006, Erika had an important role as the mother of the heroine in "Duelo De Pasiones" produced by "Marisol"'s producer Juan Osorio, and starring Ludwika Paleta and Pablo Montero. In 2008. she joined the cast of another Osorio's telenovela "Tormenta en el Paraiso".

Personal life

In 2005. Erika became a mother, having given birth to Nicolás De Jesús. Controversy followed when the press pressured Erika to mention the name of the child's father, which Erika refused. She appeared in many TV shows such as "Cristina" and "Don Francisco Presenta", where she talked about the hardships on being a single mother in the TV industry, but she was going through the happiest moment of her life being a mother to her child. On May 27, 2008 it was revealed that Nicolas's father is Ernesto Zedillo Jr., son of Mexico's ex-President Ernesto Zedillo.

On July 10, 2007, Erika Buenfil's mother Maria Martha died after complications from a rare disease that affected her heart.

Filmography

Telenovelas

* "Tormenta en el Paraiso" as Patsy (2008)
* "Amor sin Maquillaje" as herself (2007)
* "Duelo de pasiones" as Soledad Montellano (2006)
* "Corazones al limite" as Pilar De La Reguera (2004)
* "Amarte es mi pecado" as Gisela Lopez Monfort (2004)
* "Así son ellas" as Dalia Marcelin (2002)
* "Carita de ángel" as Policarpia Zambrano (2000)
* "Tres mujeres" as Barbara Uriarte Espinosa (1999)
* "El Alma no tiene color" as Veronica (1997)
* "Marisol" as Marisol Garces del Valle (1996)
* "Vida robada" as Leticia/Gabriela (1991)
* "Amor en silencio" as Marisela/Ana (1988)
* "El Engaño" as Marcela (1986)
* "Angelica" as Angelica (1985)
* "El Maleficio" as Vicky de Martino (1983)
* "El derecho de nacer" as Cristina del Junco (1981)
* "Ambicion" (1980)
* "Aprendiendo a amar" as Natalia (1980)
* "Conflictos de un medico" (1980)
* "Añoranza" (1979)
* "Acompáñame" (1977)

Movies

* "Ladrones de tumbas" as Rebeca de la Huerta (1990)
* "El profugo" (1989)
* "Cementerio del terror" as Leena (1985)

TV shows

* "Mujer, casos de la vida real" (1995;2003)
* "La hora pico" (2003)
* "Xe-Tu" (1984)
* "La hora de Teresita" as Leticia/Gabriela (1977)

Albums

* "Cerca de Ti"
* "Soy Mujer"
* "Se Busca un Corazón"

External links

* [http://www.alma-latina.net/01actresses/e/erika_buenfil.shtml Erika Buenfil] at the telenovela database
* [http://www.esmas.com/espectaculos/artistas/352119.html Erika Buenfil] at esmas.com