name	Valeria Messalina
succession	Empress consort of the Roman Empire
reign	24 January AD 41 – AD 48(7 years)
reign-type	Tenure
imgw	200px
spouse	Claudius
issue	Claudia Octavia, Empress of RomeTiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus
house	Julio-Claudian (by marriage)''gens'' Valeria (by birth)
father	Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus
mother	Domitia Lepida the Younger
birth date	25 January AD 17 or AD 20
birth place	Rome, Roman Empire
death date	AD 48 (aged 31 or 28)
death place	Gardens of Lucullus, Rome, Roman Empire

Valeria Messalina, sometimes spelled Messallina, (c. 17/20 – 48) was a Roman empress as the third wife of the Emperor Claudius. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor Nero, second cousin of the Emperor Caligula, and great-grandniece of the Emperor Augustus. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she conspired against her husband and was executed when the plot was discovered. Asteroid 545 Messalina is named after her.

Family and early life

Messalina was the first daughter and second child of Domitia Lepida the Younger and her first cousin Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus. Messalina's father was the son of Marcus Valerius Messala Barbatus Appianus, a Claudius Pulcher by birth (son of Appius Claudius Pulcher, consul 38 BC) adopted by Marcus Valerius Messala, cos. suff. 32 BC. His mother was Claudia Marcella Minor. Messalina's elder brother, Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, served as consul in AD 58. Her mother was the youngest child of the consul Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Antonia Major. Domitia Lepida had two siblings: Domitia Lepida the Elder, and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus. Domitius was the first husband of the future Augusta Agrippina the Younger and the biological father of the Princeps Nero, making Nero Messalina's first cousin despite a seventeen year age difference. Messalina's grandmothers Claudia Marcella and Antonia Major were half sisters. Claudia Marcella, Messalina's paternal grandmother, was the daughter of Augustus' sister Octavia the Younger by her marriage to Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor. Antonia Major, Messalina's maternal grandmother, was the elder daughter of Octavia by her marriage to Mark Antony, and was Claudius's maternal aunt.She was born in 25 January 17/20 a.D

Born no later than 12 BC and on the basis of his family distinction, Messalina's father could have expected a consulship by 23. Since he didn't become consul, he most likely died before that date. Her mother then married the consul Faustus Cornelius Sulla Lucullus III, great-grandson of the Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Faustus and Lepida had a son around AD 22, Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix, Messalina's half brother. Faustus was consul in AD 52. Messalina was probably born and raised in Rome. Little is known about her life prior to her marriage to Claudius in AD 38.

Marriage to Claudius

Either in 37 or 38, Messalina married her second cousin Claudius, who was about 48 years old. During the reign of another second cousin of hers, the unstable Emperor Caligula (reigned 37-41), Messalina was very wealthy, an influential figure and a regular at Caligula's court. Claudius was Caligula's paternal uncle and was becoming influential and popular. Claudius probably married her to strengthen ties within the imperial family. Upon marrying Claudius, Messalina became a stepmother to Claudia Antonia, Claudius's daughter through his second marriage to Aelia Paetina.

Messalina bore Claudius two children: a daughter Claudia Octavia (born 39 or 40), who was a future empress, stepsister and first wife to the emperor Nero; and a son, Britannicus (born 41). On January 24, AD 41, Caligula and his family were murdered by a conspiracy led by Cassius Chaerea, and later that day, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed Claudius the new emperor and Messalina the new empress.

Roman Empress

Messalina became the most powerful woman in the Roman Empire. Claudius bestowed various honors on her: her birthday was officially celebrated, statues of her were erected in public places and she was given the privilege of occupying the front seats at the theatre along with the Vestal Virgins. The Roman Senate wanted Messalina to have the title of "Augusta"; however, Claudius refused.

In 43, Claudius held a triumphant military parade to celebrate the successful campaign in Britain. Messalina followed his chariot in a covered carriage and behind her marched the generals.

Through her status, she became very influential, however in character was very insecure. Claudius, as an older man, could have died at any moment and Britannicus would have become the new emperor. To improve her own security and ensure the future of her children, Messalina sought to eliminate anyone who was a potential threat to her and her children.

Among those who were loyal to Messalina was consul Lucius Vitellius the Elder. He begged her as a tremendous privilege for him to remove Messalina's shoes.

Due to Claudius' devotion to her, Messalina was able to manipulate him into ordering the exile or execution of various people: the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger; Claudius’ nieces Julia Livilla and Julia; Marcus Vinicius (husband of Julia Livilla); consul Gaius Asinius Pollio II (see Vipsania Agrippina), the elder Poppaea Sabina (mother of Empress Poppaea Sabina, second wife of Nero), consul Decimus Valerius Asiaticus and Polybius. Claudius had the reputation of being easily controlled by his wives and freedmen.

A well known example of Messalina trying to eliminate her rivals was when Agrippina the Younger returned from exile after January 14. Agrippina was a niece to Claudius, a daughter of Claudius’ late brother Germanicus. Messalina realised that Agrippina's son Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (the future Nero) was a threat to her son's position and sent assassins to strangle Nero during his siesta. When they approached his couch, they saw what appeared to be a snake near his pillow and fled in terror. The apparent snake was actually a sloughed-off snake skin.

Reputation

The ancient Roman sources, particularly Tacitus and Suetonius, portray Messalina as extremely lustful, but also insulting, disgraceful, cruel, and avaricious; they claimed her negative qualities were a result of her inbreeding. The oft-repeated tale of Messalina's all-night sex competition with a prostitute comes from Book X of Pliny the Elder's ''Natural History''. Pliny does not name the prostitute; however, the Restoration playwright Nathaniel Richards calls her Scylla in ''The Tragedy of Messalina, Empress of Rome'', published in 1640, and Robert Graves in his novel ''Claudius the God'' also identified the prostitute as Scylla. According to Pliny, the competition lasted for 24 hours and Messalina won with a score of 25 partners.

Roman sources claim that Messalina used sex to enforce her power and control politicians, that she had a brothel under an assumed name and organised orgies for upper class women, and that she sold her influence to Roman nobles or foreign notables.

Juvenal is also highly critical of her in his Satire VI (first translation by Peter Green and second translation from wikisource):

Downfall, death and aftermath

Troy Pageant

During the Secular Games in 47, at the performance of the Troy Pageant, Messalina attended the event with her son, Britannicus. Also present was Agrippina the Younger with her son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Nero). Agrippina and Nero received a greater acclamation from the audience than Messalina and Britannicus did. Many people began to show pity and sympathy for Agrippina, due to unfortunate circumstances that occurred in her life. This is probably a first sign of Messalina's declining popularity.

Affair with Gaius Silius

Later that year, Messalina became interested in the attractive Roman Senator Gaius Silius, who was married to the aristocratic woman Junia Silana (sister of Caligula's first wife Junia Claudilla). Messalina and Silius became lovers and Messalina forced Silius to divorce his wife.

Silius realised the danger in which he had put himself. Messalina and Silius plotted to kill the weak emperor and Messalina would make him the new emperor. Silius was childless and wanted to adopt Britannicus.

Plot discovery

While Claudius was in Ostia inspecting harbor construction, his freedman Tiberius Claudius Narcissus advised him of Messalina's and Silius’ plot to kill him. Messalina travelled to Ostia with her children hoping to speak to Claudius; however the emperor had left Ostia before she was able to do so. Narcissus had delayed Messalina, preventing her from seeing Claudius.

Execution

Claudius ordered the deaths of Messalina and Silius in 48. In Messalina's final hours, she was in the Gardens of Lucullus. Messalina and her mother Domitia Lepida were preparing a petition for Claudius. At the height of Messalina's influence and prosperity, Domitia Lepida and Messalina had argued and became estranged. Apparently overcome by pity, Lepida stayed with her daughter. Lepida's last words to her were ‘Your life is finished. All that remains is to make a decent end’. Messalina was reputedly weeping and moaning.

An officer and a former slave arrived together to witness Messalina's death. The former slave verbally insulted her while the officer stood by in silence. Messalina was offered the choice of killing herself, but was too afraid to do so, so the officer decapitated Messalina. Her dead body was left with her mother. At the time of Messalina's death, Claudius was attending a dinner. When Messalina's death was announced to him, Claudius showed no emotion, but asked for more wine.

Aftermath

In the days after her death, Claudius gave no sign of hatred, anger, distress, satisfaction, or any other passion. The only ones who mourned for Messalina were her children. The Roman Senate ordered Messalina's name removed from all public or private places and all statues of her removed.

On New Year's Day in 49, Claudius married, as his fourth wife, his niece Agrippina the Younger, who went on to remove from the imperial court anyone she considered loyal to the memory of Messalina. Agrippina's son Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus was adopted by Claudius as his son and heir. He became known as Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus and succeeded Claudius as emperor instead of Messalina's son Britannicus.

Fates of Messalina's children

In AD 55, Britannicus was secretly poisoned on Nero's orders.

Nero married Messalina's daughter Claudia Octavia in AD 53. Claudia Octavia was killed in AD 62 so that Nero could marry the noblewoman Poppaea Sabina. Poppaea's mother, who had died in AD 47, had been one of the victims of Messalina's intrigues.

Messalina's name is now often used as a synonym for sexual promiscuity, as well as manipulativeness and treachery.

Ancestry

In fiction

Carlo Pallavicino's Venetian opera ''Messalina'' of 1680 deals with Valeria Messalina.

Messalina was featured prominently in Robert Graves' novels ''I, Claudius'', and ''Claudius the God.'' In keeping with the historical views at the time the novels were written (1934–35), Messalina is portrayed as a young teenager at the time of her marriage. She is also credited with all the actions mentioned in the ancient sources. This character was played by Sheila White in the 1976 BBC television adaptation of the two books, and was played by Merle Oberon in Josef von Sternberg's 1937 uncompleted film of ''I, Claudius''.

Besides the adaptation of Graves' work, the character of Messalina has been portrayed many times elsewhere in movies and television films or miniseries. Here are some of the other actresses who have played Messalina:

Maria Caserini in the 1910 Italian silent film ''Messalina'', directed by Enrico Guazzoni.

Rina De Liguoro in the 1922 Italian silent film ''Messalina'', directed by Enrico Guazzoni.

María Félix in the 1951 Italian film ''Messalina'', directed by Carmine Gallone.

Susan Hayward in the 1954 Biblical epic ''Demetrius and the Gladiators'', a completely fictionalized interpretation in which Messalina reforms and becomes a Christian.

Belinda Lee in the 1960 film ''Messalina, Venere imperatrice''.

Sheila White in the 1976 BBC serial "I,Claudius".

Anneka Di Lorenzo in the 1979 film ''Caligula''.

Jennifer O'Neill in the 1985 TV series ''A.D._(miniseries)''.

Kelly Trump in the 1996 adult film ''Messalina'', directed by Joe D'Amato.

Sonia Aquino in the 2004 TV movie ''Imperium: Nero''.

The French writer Alfred Jarry based his novel ''Messalina'' (or ''The Garden of Priapus'' in Louis Colman's English translation) on the myths surrounding the subject. She is referred to in his book ''Le Surmâle'' (in English ''the Supermale''); these two books are offered as diametrically opposed entities in his 'pataphysical œuvre. The Messalinas of these books are highly fictionalized and subject to Jarry's fanciful and extravagant imagination.

In Robert Jordan's ''The Wheel of Time'', the Forsaken Mesaana is named after Messalina. In Mikhail Bulgakov's ''The Master and Margarita'', Messalina is a guest at Satan's ball. In Charlotte Brontë's ''Jane Eyre'', Mr. Rochester refers to his first wife as his ''Indian Messalina''. In Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's ''Venus in Furs'', the protagonist's aunt, who 'first aroused [his] desire for women' is referred to as a Messalina. Mario Puzo's ''The Last Don'' revolves around a film called "Messalina" based on the notorious all night exploits of the empress. Chuck Palahniuk's novel ''Snuff'' makes numerous references to Messalina's sexual exploits (in particular, the story of her competition with Scylla) as a sort of precedent for the feats attempted by the novel's central character. Messalina is the name given to a Native American orphan by a Presbyterian family before she is taken in by Jacob Vaark in Toni Morrison's 2008 novel ''A Mercy''. She goes by the nickname Lina. In Gabriel García Márquez's ''Love in the Time of Cholera'', a dog with many pups is named after the Empress. Messalina is also mentioned in Paulo Coelho's book "Eleven Minutes."

After being seduced, Jubal Harshaw refers to an accomplice as "You baby Messalina" in Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

Messalina is also briefly mentioned in Oscar Wilde's novel ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' in Chapter 6 as Lord Henry retorts to Basil's disapproval of Dorian's engagement: "If he wedded Messalina he would be none the less interesting".

In C.S. Lewis's essay Screwtape Proposes a Toast, the lead character, a devil giving a speech at the Tempter's College in Hell, makes reference to the dinner fare of 'Casserole of Adulterers': "To I who have tasted Messalina and Casanova they were nauseating."

Sources

Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'', LX. 14-18, 27-31

Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'' XX. 8; ''The Wars of the Jews'' II. 12

Juvenal, ''Satires'' 6, 10, 14

Pliny the Elder, ''Natural History'' 10

Plutarch, ''Lives''

Seneca the Younger, ''Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii''; ''Octavia'', 257-261

Suetonius, ''Lives of the Twelve Caesars'': Claudius 17, 26, 27, 29, 36, 37, 39; Nero 6; Vitellius 2

Tacitus, Annals, XI. 1, 2, 12, 26-38

Sextus Aurelius Victor, epitome of ''Book of Caesars'', 4

References

Notes

Category:1st-century births Category:48 deaths Category:Ancient Roman women Category:1st-century Romans Category:Julio-Claudian Dynasty Category:People executed for treason Category:People from Rome (city) Category:Valerii Category:Executed Roman women Category:People executed by the Roman Empire Category:1st-century executions

az:Messalina be:Месаліна br:Valeria Messalina bg:Валерия Месалина ca:Valèria Messal·lina cs:Messalina de:Valeria Messalina es:Mesalina fr:Messaline it:Valeria Messalina la:Valeria Messalina nl:Valeria Messalina ja:メッサリナ no:Valeria Messalina pl:Valeria Messalina pt:Messalina ru:Мессалина sh:Valerija Mesalina fi:Messalina sv:Messalina tr:Valeria Messalina

name	Lisa Gastoni
birth date	July 28, 1935
birth place	Liguria, Italy
occupation	Actress
yearsactive	1954 - present }}

Lisa Gastoni (born 28 July 1935 in Alassio, Province of Savona) is an Italian film actress. She has appeared in 60 films since 1954. She also co-starred as Giulia, Ricco Poccari's (Vittorio de Sica) girlfriend in the Sapphire Films TV series ''The Four Just Men'' (1959) for ITV.

Selected filmography

''Doctor in the House'' (1954)

''The Baby and the Battleship'' (1956)

''Three Men in a Boat'' (1956)

''Second Fiddle'' (1957)

''Blue Murder at St Trinian's'' (1957)

''Man from Tangier'' (1957)

''Intent to Kill'' (1958)

''The Breaking Point'' (1961)

''Gidget Goes to Rome'' (1963)

''Wild, Wild Planet'' (1965)

''War of the Planets'' (1966)

''Come Play with Me'' (1968)

''Scandal''(1976)

''Cuore Sacro'' (2005)

External links

Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:People from Alassio Category:Italian film actors

de:Lisa Gastoni fr:Lisa Gastoni it:Lisa Gastoni

name	Belinda Lee
birth date	June 15, 1935
birth place	Budleigh Salterton, England, UK
death date	March 12, 1961
death place	San Bernardino, California, U.S.
occupation	Actress
years active	1954–1961
spouse	Cornel Lucas (1954–1959) }}

Belinda Lee (15 June 1935 – 12 March 1961) was an English actress.

Born in Budleigh Salterton, England, Lee was signed to a film contract in 1954 by the Rank Studios after being seen performing as a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Often cast in demure roles in her early career, she was able to demonstrate her dramatic abilities, however she found more constant employment when she began to play "sexpot" roles. Typecast as one of several "sexy blondes" she was often compared, unfavourably, to the popular Diana Dors. Typical of these roles was a supporting part in the Benny Hill film ''Who Done It?'' (1956).

Married to the photographer Cornel Lucas from1954 until 1959, it was after their divorce that Lee moved to Italy, where she continued playing voluptuous temptresses in Italian films, yet also found the occasion of credible dramatic performances in Francesco Rosi's immigration drama ''I Magliari'' (1959) and Florestano Vancini's intense war story ''La lunga notte del '43'' (1960).

In 1958, Italian newspapers reported that Miss Lee had taken an overdose of sleeping pills. Three days later, papal prince Filippo Orsini, who had been linked to her by the papers, was reported to have been hospitalized after slashing his wrists. Police refused to comment on the newspaper reports linking the two romantically. Orsini, whose injuries were light, refused to tell the police why he had done it. Lee said that she had been suffering from insomnia and had taken an overdose by mistake. Both were married to others at the time. The Vatican said that Orsini would lose his title if it were proven that he had attempted suicide.

In 1961, Belinda Lee died in a car accident near San Bernardino, California, on her way to Los Angeles from Las Vegas, where she had been acting in a film. Her ashes are kept at Campo Cestio Cemetery (Cimitero acattolico) in Rome, Italy.

Selected filmography

''The Runaway Bus'' (1954)

''Murder by Proxy'' (1954)

''Life with The Lyons'' (1954)

''The Belles of St Trinian's'' (1954)

''Footsteps in the Fog'' (1955)

''No Smoking'' (1955)

''The Feminine Touch'' (1956)

''The Secret Place'' (1957)

''Dangerous Exile'' (1957)

''The Big Money'' (1958)

''Love Now, Pay Later'' (1959)

''Giuseppe venduto dai fratelli'' (1961)

References

External links

Collection of Belinda Lee photographs

Photographs of Belinda Lee by her Husband & Photographer Cornel Lucas

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Category:English film actors Category:Road accident deaths in California Category:People from East Devon (district) Category:1935 births Category:1961 deaths

de:Belinda Lee fr:Belinda Lee it:Belinda Lee lb:Belinda Lee pl:Belinda Lee pt:Belinda Lee ru:Ли, Белинда fi:Belinda Lee

bgcolour	silver
name	Carmine Gallone
birth date	September 18, 1886
birth place	Taggia, Liguria, Italy
death date	April 04, 1973
death place	Frascati, Latium
occupation	Film directorScreenwriter
spouse	Soava Gallone }}

Carmine Gallone (18 September 1886, Taggia – 4 April 1973) was an early acclaimed Italian film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Considered one of Italian cinema's top early directors, he directed over 120 films in his fifty year career between 1913 and 1963.

Filmography

''Il bacio di Cirano'' (1913)

''La donna nuda'' (1914)

''Senza colpa!'' (1915)

''Fior di male'' (1915)

''La marcia nuziale'' (1915)

''Sotto le tombe'' (1915)

''Avatar'' (1916)

''La falena'' (1916)

''Malombra'' (1917)

''La storia dei tredici'' (1917)

''La storia di un peccato'' (1918)

''Redenzione'' (1919)

''Maman poupée'' (1919)

''Il mare di Napoli'' (1919)

''Amleto e il suo clown'' (1920)

''Nemesis'' (1920)

''Marcella'' (1921)

''All'ombra di un trono'' (1921)

''S. E. l'Ambasciatrice'' (1922)

''La fanciulla, il poeta e la laguna'' (1922)

''Il corsaro'' (1923)

''Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei'' (1926)

''Un soir de rafle'' (1931)

''La città canora'' (1931)

''Di notte a Parigi'' (1931)

''Il figlio della strada'' (1932)

''La regina di Navarra'' (1932)

''E lucean le stelle'' (1935)

''Casta Diva '' (1935)

''Rapsodia d'amore'' (1935)

''Al sole'' (1936)

''Scipione l'Africano'' (1937)

''Divine armonie'' (1938)

''Un dramma al circo'' (1938)

''Giuseppe Verdi '' (1938)

''Solo per te '' (1938)

''Marionette'' (1939)

''L'allegro cantante'' (1939)

''Il sogno di Butterfly'' (1939)

''Melodie eterne'' (1940)

''Manon Lescaut '' (1940)

''Amami Alfredo! '' (1940)

''Oltre l'amore'' (1940)

''L'amante segreta'' (1941)

''Primo amore '' (1941)

''Le due orfanelle'' (1942)

''Odessa in fiamme'' (1942)

''Tristi amori'' (1943)

''Harlem'' (1943)

''Il canto della vita'' (1945)

''Biraghin'' (1945)

''Avanti a lui tremava tutta Roma'' (1946)

''Rigoletto'' (1947)

''Addio Mimì'' (1947)

''La signora delle camelie'' (1947)

''La leggenda di Faust'' (1949)

''Il trovatore'' (1949)

''La forza del destino '' (1949)

''Taxi di notte'' (1950)

''Messalina'' (1951)

''Puccini'' (1952)

''Cartagine in fiamme '' (1953)

''Senza veli'' (1953)

''Cavalleria rusticana '' (1953)

''Madama Butterfly '' (1954)

''Casa Ricordi '' (1954)

''Casta Diva '' (1954)

''Don Camillo e l'Onorevole Peppone'' (1955)

''Michele Strogoff '' (1956)

''Tosca '' (1956)

''Michele Strogoff'' (1957)

''Polikuska'' (1958)

''Cartagine in fiamme'' (1959)

''Don Camillo monsignore... ma non troppo'' (1961)

''Carmen di Trastevere'' (1962)

''La monaca di Monza'' (1962)

References

External links

Category:1886 births Category:1973 deaths Category:People from Taggia Category:Italian screenwriters Category:Italian film directors Category:Italian film producers

de:Carmine Gallone es:Carmine Gallone fr:Carmine Gallone it:Carmine Gallone

name	Maria Felix
birth name	María de los Ángeles Félix Güereña
birth date	April 08, 1914
birth place	Álamos, Sonora, Mexico
death date	April 08, 2002
death place	Mexico City, Mexico
other names	La Doña
years active	1940–1971
spouse	Enrique Álvarez (1931–1938; 1 child, Enrique Álvarez Félix)Agustín Lara (1943–1947)Jorge Negrete (1952–1953)Alex Berger (1956–1974)
children	Enrique Álvarez Félix (1934–1996)
website	}}

María Félix (April 8, 1914 – April 8, 2002) was a Mexican film actress and one of the icons of the golden era of the Cinema of Mexico. She was more commonly known, particularly in her later years, by the honorific La Doña.

Biography

She was born María de los Ángeles Félix Güereña in Álamos, Sonora, Mexico. There is some dispute regarding Miss Félix's date of birth. There is a large (but not unanimous) opinion that she was born on April 8, 1914, which means that she died on her 88th birthday. However, her obituary in ''The New York Times'' states that she was born on May 4, 1914, which would have made her 87 at the time of her death on April 8, 2002. Some claim her birth certificate supports the April 8, 1914 birthdate, although no actual evidence (such as a copy of either the birth or the death certificate) has been presented as concrete evidence .

Family

Her father, Bernardo Félix, was of Yaqui Indian descent and her mother, Josefina Güereña, was of Basque descent and was educated in a convent at Pico Heights, California. Maria Felix was quite proud of her Basque ancestry. She had one child, Enrique Álvarez Félix, by her first husband, Enrique Álvarez. Enrique Álvarez Félix was a Mexican telenovela actor. He predeceased his mother, dying in 1996.

Career

María Félix was discovered by businessman Fernando Palacios in Mexico City. Palacios presented with the filmmaker Miguel Zacarías, who would give him the opportunity of starring ''El Peñon de las Animas'' alongside Jorge Negrete. In 1943 she starred ''Doña Bárbara'', directed by Fernando de Fuentes and inspired in the novel of the Venezuelan writer Romulo Gallegos). De Fuentes increased her popularity with such films as ''La Mujer sin Alma'' (1944) and ''La Devoradora'' (1946); the latter making the actress the vamp of Mexican cinema in the 1940s. She refused to work in Hollywood unless she made her grand entrance from the "big door" and not the small roles offered by Cecil B. de Mille. Félix stated ''"I was not born to carry a basket"''.

She reportedly lost the only lead role of "Pearl Chavez" in the 1945 film ''Duel in the Sun'', although it was written with her in mind, to Jennifer Jones, reportedly due to work commitments in Europe. As a result, she never achieved the fame in the USA that she achieved in Latin America and Europe. In 1946, she came under the influence of director Emilio Fernandez, with whom she made the films ''Enamorada'' (1946), ''Río Escondido'' (1947) and ''Maclovia'' (1948), launched her career throughout Europe.

She worked in Spain in ''Mare Nostrum'' in 1948 and ''Sonatas'' directed by Juan Antonio Bardem. In France, with greats such as Jean Renoir (''French Cancan'',1954) and Luis Buñuel (''La fièvre monte à El Pao'', 1960), and played in Italian films like ''Mesalina'' (1951),alternating with stars like Rossano Brazzi, Vittorio Gassman, Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, Yves Montand, Jack Palance, Fernando Rey, Francisco Rabal and others. In 1959, she starred the movie ''La Cucaracha'', with Dolores del Río. In 1966, María Félix was given the lead role in ''La Valentina'' (1966), an adventure drama centering on the Mexican Revolution, where she sang the song "El güero aventao" with co-star Eulalio González. In later years, her films were inspired by the Mexican Revolution as ''La Escondida'' (1955), ''La Cucaracha'' (1959), ''Juana Gallo'' (1961), ''La Valentina'' (1966), and ''La Generala'' (1970), her last film.

Relationships

Her last husband was a French banker, Alex Berger, whom she married in 1956. Berger's company Monclova raced thoroughbred horses, achieving notable success with the colt Nonoalco who won four Group One races including the 1974 British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas. When Berger died in 1974, Félix inherited his multi-million dollar thoroughbred horse racing stable.

In music, art and fashion

Agustín Lara wrote many songs for her, among them the famous ''María Bonita''. It has been recorded by many singers including Plácido Domingo. Other song writers also composed songs for her, like ''María de Todas las Marías'' by Juan Gabriel.

Félix was painted by many artists, including Diego Rivera, Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington, Stanislao Lepri, Bridget Tichenor and Antoine Tzapoff.

In 1949, Diego Rivera painted a portrait of her, which Félix classified as "muy malo" ("really bad"). This portrait; was originally intended to premiere in a retrospective on Rivera's work but Félix did not allow the painting to be displayed, as she never liked it. She did keep it for many years though, until she sold it to Mexican singer Juan Gabriel.

In fashion, Félix was dressed by designers like Christian Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Balenciaga. The House of Hermès (Couture Department) designed extravagant creations just for her. She was a noted collector of fine antiques. She favored important pieces like her famous collection of Second Empire furniture. She was also a jewellery connoisseur and had an extensive jewelry collection, including the 41.37 carat (8.274 g), D-flawless "Ashoka" diamond. In 1968, Félix commissioned a serpent diamond necklace from Cartier Paris. The result was an impressive, completely articulated serpent made out of platinum and white gold and encrusted with 178.21 carats (35.642 g) of diamonds. In 1975, she again asked Cartier to create a necklace for her, this time in the shape of two crocodiles. The two crocodile bodies were made of 524.9 grams of gold, one covered with 1,023 fancy yellow diamonds, while the other was adorned with 1,060 circular cut emeralds.

Since Félix's death, these jewellery pieces have been displayed as part of The Art of Cartier Collection in several museums around the world. To pay tribute to the actress, in 2006 Cartier debuted its La Doña de Cartier collection. ''The La Doña de Cartier watch'' with reptilian links was created to impress by its wild look. The case of the La Doña de Cartier features a trapezoid shape with asymmetrical profile reminding a crocodile's head. The wristband of the watch resembles the contours of a crocodile in large, bold and gold scales. The La Doña de Cartier Collection also includes jewellery, accessories, and leather handbags.

Filmography

References

Bibliography

References

External links

Maria Félix: "La Doña"

María Félix official website

Casa María Félix

María Félix por siempre

Maria Félix and the Cartier La Dona

Category:1914 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Golden Ariel Award winners Category:Ariel Award winners Category:Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Category:Indigenous Mexicans Category:Mexican actors Category:Mexican artists' models Category:Mexican businesspeople Category:Mexican film actors Category:Mexican people of Basque descent Category:Mexican television actors Category:Golden Age of Mexican cinema Category:People from Álamos Category:Cardiovascular disease deaths in Mexico

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