Angélica Aragón
Angélica Aragón in 2010
Born	Angélica Espinoza Stransky (1953-07-11)11 July 1953 (age 72) Mexico City, México
Alma mater	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupations	Actress, singer
Years active	1970–present
Spouse	Shajid (1972–1978)
Partner	Rodrigo Martínez (1989–1990)
Children	María
Awards	Silver Ariel Award as Best Supporting Actress (1994) (2002)

Angélica Espinoza Stransky (born 11 July 1953), known professionally asAngélica Aragón (Spanish pronunciation:[aŋˈxelikaaɾaˈɣon]), is a Mexican film, television, and stage actress and singer. She is the daughter of Mexican composerJosé Ángel Espinoza ("Ferrusquilla"). Aragón is recognized for her performances in various Mexican films such asCilantro y perejil (1997),Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (1999), andEl crimen del Padre Amaro (2002), as well as in American productions likeA Walk in the Clouds (1995) andDirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2002). She is also well known for starring in two notable Mexican telenovelas:Vivir un poco (1985) andMirada de mujer (1997).

Angelica Espinoza Stransky is the elder daughter of the Mexican actor and composerJosé Ángel Espinoza "Ferrusquilla" and Sonia Stransky. She had a younger sister named Vindia (deceased in 2008). On her mother's side, she has two half-siblings, Jacqueline and John. Her maternal grandfather, of Czech origin, was a soldier in the service of EmperorFranz Joseph of theAustro-Hungarian Empire and fought in theWorld War I. Her mother Sonia was the secretary of the musicianCarlos Chávez.^[1] Her parents divorced when Angelica was three years old. She spent her childhood accompanying her father between television and film forums. Angelica lived with her mother and sister in a house in theColonia del Valle ofMexico City, while also often living with her father.^[1]

Aragón wanted to study medicine. She studied at theLiceo Franco-Mexicano in Mexico City, where she met the Spanish actor Juan Ribó. Aragón joined the theatrical company led by Ribó, who was working onFederico García Lorca's works at the Teatro de la Alianza Francesa in Mexico City.^[2][3] In 1970, she also participated in a play by the director Antonio Pasi within theFestival Cervantino, inGuanajuato. With the support of her father, she played a small character in thetelenovelaEl amor tiene cara de mujer in 1971, produced byTelevisa and directed by German director Fernando Wagner. It was through Juan Ribó that Aragón met the actor, director and playwrightAlejandro Jodorowsky, participating as an extra in the filmLa montaña sagrada (1973). Aragón took her artistic surname in tribute to her paternal grandmother, Fredesvinda Aragón, who died in childbirth at the age of 19.^[4]

A strike at theUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México led Aragón to emigrate to the United Kingdom. She studied theater, dance, and pantomime for seven years at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Eventually, she also took courses at theLondon School of Contemporary Dance.^[5] Parallel to her theatrical training, Aragón also did other activities in London. She worked as a cook, performed in a hospital, and sold children's clothing atHarrods. She also enrolled at theUniversity of London, where she studied the philosophy of India, history, and languages. Aragón speaks seven languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Bengali, and Japanese.^[6] As a theater student, Aragón also worked for five years as a room dresser at theNational Theatre in London.^[6]

Aragón went toIndia with her then-husband Shajid. On the recommendation of a professor at the School of Contemporary Dance in London, Aragón was accepted intoKerala Kalamandalam, one of the most important ritual dance schools in South India. Although this institution accepted only male students, Aragón was able to receive training outside the institution's classrooms.^[6] In India, Aragón witnessed many works of theKathakali theater and participated in some plays.

Returning to Mexico in 1980, Aragón joined the Mexican telenovelas of Televisa with the producerValentín Pimstein, whom she met through the Greek director Dimitrio Sarrás.^[5] She started with a small role in the telenovelaSandra y Paulina (1980), starringJacqueline Andere. In 1981 she acted in the telenovelaEl hogar que yo robé, withAngélica María. In 1982, she played the female antagonist role in the telenovelaVanessa, alongsideLucía Méndez. In 1983, she co-starred withLucero in the popular children's telenovelaChispita. In 1984, she made two more telenovelas:La fiera, alongsideVictoria Ruffo, andPrincipessa, a telenovela that ended shortly after she was offered her first leading role.

In 1985, Valentín Pimstein gave Aragón the starring role of the telenovelaVivir un poco, the first Mexican version of the Chilean telenovelaLa madrastra, by writer Arturo Moya Grau. In that telenovela, Aragón gave life to the persona ofAndrea, a woman unjustly accused of murder and imprisoned for twenty years inArgentina. The telenovela gained a large following and it gave Aragón one of the most outstanding successes of her career.

In 1986, the producer and director Carlos Téllez offered Aragón the starring role in the hit telenovelaCuna de lobos, but she rejected it, being replaced byDiana Bracho. Aragón's increasing presence in movies caused her not to return to television until 1989, inLa casa al final de la calle, a suspense and mystery telenovela co-starred byHéctor Bonilla andLeticia Calderón. The telenovela was produced byJuan Osorio and directed byJorge Fons.

In 1990, Aragón starred in the telenovelaDías sin luna alongsideSergio Goyri, where she interpreted a painter with a terminal illness. She also made a special appearance in the telenovelaEn carne propia, produced by Carlos Téllez, starring alongsideEdith González andGonzalo Vega.

In 1992, Aragón was invited to act as director of dialogue in the telenovelaMadres egoístas, produced by Juan Osorio. In that same year, she played "Chole", an indigenousZapotec woman in the telenovelaDe frente al sol, produced byCarla Estrada, costarring with the actressMaría Sorté. The telenovela was so successful, that in 1993 a sequel titledMás allá del puente was produced.

In 1996, Aragón appeared in the telenovelaCañaveral de pasiones, produced byHumberto Zurita andChristian Bach, and starringDaniela Castro andJuan Soler. In this telenovela, Aragón had her first opportunity to direct in television as a guest scene director. This would be the last telenovela performed to date by Aragón on Televisa.

In 1997, the companyArgos Comunicación offered Aragón the starring role in the telenovelaMirada de mujer, a Mexican adaptation of the Colombian novelSeñora Isabel byBernardo Romero Pereiro. The telenovela was produced byTV Azteca. The story ofMaría Inés Domínguez, a mature woman in love with a younger man, brought Aragón the greatest success of her television career in a telenovela that breaks contemporary stereotypes in Mexico. Aragón starred alongsideAri Telch,Fernando Luján, Margarita Gralia,Evangelina Elizondo, and an important cast of supporting actors.

After the success ofMirada de mujer, Aragón made only sporadic appearances on television, returning with a starring role in 2000 in the telenovelaTodo por amor, a Mexican version of the Colombian telenovelaLa madre. In 2003, she returned to television for the sequel toMirada de mujer:Mirada de mujer, el regreso. Although the telenovela had a good audience, it did not overtake the success of the first part. In 2005, Aragón appeared in her last significant television role in the miniseriesNi una vez más, about violence against women. She also directed some episodes of the TV Azteca programLo que callamos las mujeres. It was not until 2011 that Aragón returned to television with a small role in the television seriesA corazón abierto, the Mexican version of the American seriesGray's Anatomy.

In 1984, Aragón made her debut in films inThe Evil That Men Do withCharles Bronson, produced by Pancho Kohner (son of Mexican actressLupita Tovar) andJ. Lee Thompson.^[5] This was followed by three other Hollywood productions:Toy Soldiers (1984), byDavid Fisher, alongsideJason Miller andTim Robbins;Samson and Delilah (1984), made for television, alongsideMax von Sydow andVictor Mature, andDune (1984), byDavid Lynch, alongsideSilvana Mangano,Jose Ferrer, and singerSting, among others. Due to her participation in a Mexican telenovela, Aragón had to decline the actor and directorRobert Redford's invitation to co-star with him in the filmThe Milagro Beanfield War. Her role was taken by the Brazilian actressSonia Braga.^[1]

In the Mexican cinema Aragón debuted in 1986 in the filmLos dos frailes, next to the brothers Fernando andMario Almada. She then appeared in other Mexican productions likeLamberto Quintero (1987) alongside the folk singerAntonio Aguilar;Sabor a mí (1988) with the singerJose Jose, inspired by the life of the Mexican composerAlvaro Carrillo;La furia de un dios (1988), byFelipe Cazals, alongside Humberto Zurita andAssumpta Serna, andGoitia: un dios para si mismo (1989), by Diego López Rivera, inspired by the life of the painterFrancisco Goitia, among other films.

At the beginning of the following decade, Aragón appeared in films likePueblo de madera (1990), by Juan Antonio de la Riva, with Mario Almada andGabriela Roel;Gertrudis (1992), based on the life of the Mexican political activistGertrudis Bocanegra, withOfelia Medina; the American productionThe Harvest withMiguel Ferrer andGeorge Clooney;La señorita (1994), by Mario Hernández, with Jacqueline Andere andMaría Rojo, andNovia que te vea (1994), by Guita Schyfter, for which she received her firstSilver Ariel Award forBest Supporting Actress.

In 1995, Aragón appeared in the successful film productionA Walk in the Clouds, byAlfonso Aráu, withKeanu Reeves andAnthony Quinn. In that same year she won her second Silver Ariel Award as best supporting actress for her role in the filmCilantro y perejil, alongsideDemián Bichir andArcelia Ramírez and directed byRafael Montero. In 1999, she appeared in the filmsCrónica de un desayuno by Benjamin Cann, and in the successfulSexo, pudor y lágrimas byAntonio Serrano.

In 2000, Aragón worked with Alfonso Arau in the filmPicking Up the Pieces. In this production, Aragón also served as an assistant director, having the opportunity to work with stars such asWoody Allen,Kiefer Sutherland, andSharon Stone.^[7] In 2002, she appeared in the controversial and successful film byCarlos CarreraEl crimen del Padre Amaro next toGael García Bernal, for which she won the third Silver Ariel Award of her cinematographic career. In 2004 she appeared inDirty Dancing: Havana Nights, starringDiego Luna. In 2005 Aragón was part of the cast of the filmLa mujer de mi hermano, by Ricardo de Montreuil, alongsideBarbara Mori. In 2006, she appeared in the filmBella byAlejandro Gómez Monteverde. In 2009 she appeared in the American productionFrom Mexico with Love withKuno Becker, in the Mexican productionRecién cazado starringJaime Camil, and in the American productionLooking for Palladin by the filmmakerAndrzej Krakowski, withBen Gazzara.

In the 2010s, Aragón acted in films likeCinco de mayo: La batalla (2013), again with actor Kuno Becker; the Spanish-Mexican co-productionTodos están muertos (2014), by the filmmaker Beatriz Sanchiz, sharing a scene withElena Anaya andPatricia Reyes Spíndola, andTreintona, soltera y fantástica (2016), starring Barbara Mori. In 2016 Aragón also lent her voice to a character in the Latin American dubbing of the animatedDisney filmMoana. In that same year, she also appeared in the filmMr. Pig, directed by Diego Luna and starring the American actorDanny Glover. For this performance Aragón received a nomination for a Silver Ariel Award in the category of Best Actress in a Minor Role.^[8]

Aragón began her acting career in various student theater projects at the Festival Cervantino in Guanajuato and at the Teatro de la Alianza Francesa. After meeting Alejandro Jodorowsky, Aragón had a small role in the playZaratustra (1970), also featuring Héctor Bonilla,Carlos Ancira andIsela Vega. She also had a small role in the workThe Lady of the Camellias (1970), directed by Jose Solé Nájera and produced byDolores del Río.

Some of Aragón's more significant roles on stage includeEl día que pisamos la luna (1981), ofNancy Cárdenas;Fool for Love (1986), bySam Shepard, with Ari Telch;Los derechos de la mujer (1988), withRafael Banquells;Contrabando (1991), of Víctor Hugo Rascón, with Héctor Bonilla;Águila Real (1992), by Hugo Arguelles, about the life ofIsabel Moctezuma;Las dos camelias (1993), directed bySusana Alexander;Poker de reinas (1993) by Víctor Hugo Rascón Banda, alongside Ofelia Medina and the singersBetsy Pecanins and Margie Bermejo;Cartas de amor, directed again by Alexander, first with Héctor Bonilla (1994), and years later withCésar Évora (2006); andEl juego de la pasión (1995), directed by Mario Espinoza, withFernando Balzaretti.

In 1996, Aragón starred in the Hellenic Theater of Mexico City's monologueMaquillaje (Kesho), by the Japanese authorHisashi Inoue, which commemorated 100 years of Japanese emigration to Mexico. For this piece, the actress received special permission from one of the main Japanese actors of the Kabuki theater,Nakamura Kankurō V. In the performance, Aragón interpreted an actress who represents all the masculine characters on stage, in reverse fashion to conventional Kabuki theater. The editing was directed by Wendell Cordz and was an outstanding theatrical successes for Aragón.^[9]

Other successful plays featuring Aragón includeEl verdadero oeste (2008), directed by José Caballero, withPlutarco Haza and Fabián Corres;Pequeños crímenes conyugales (2008), directed by Luis de Tavira, withRicardo Blume;El juicio de Hidalgo (2010), directed by and starringJorge Ortiz de Pinedo andRelaciones peligrosas (2013), with Jacqueline andChantal Andere and directed by Aragón herself.^[5]

As director, Aragón also directed the filmsTengamos el sexo en paz, starring Margarita Gralia (2000); Sueña (2007), with Irma Lozano andAarón Hernán;Por razones oscuras (2008), starring Esteban Soberanes and Roberto D'Amico, andLa última palabra (2016), starring D'Amico and Pablo Perroni. In 2013 she also starred in the musical showSu Majestad, El Bolero with D'Amico.

In 2014 Aragón was invited by the director Patrick Swanson to participate inThe Christmas Revels, at theSanders Theater atHarvard University.^[10]

Having received artistic training in the United Kingdom that included music, Aragón released a record titledSilencio corazónin 1997, born with the intention of preserving the compositions of her father, José Ángel Espinoza or "Ferrusquilla". The album was independently recorded.^[11] In 2009 she released the albumÉchame a mi culpa: vida y canciones de "Ferrusquilla", a musical of her father's life. This was supported by a theatrical project featuring the actor Roberto D'Amico. In 2010, on the occasion of the bicentennial of Mexican independence, Aragón released a third album titledMéxico: mi palabra más bella, produced by her father.^[12] In 2013, Aragón released an album titledSu Majestad, El Bolero, a tribute to thebolero genre. The disc was released at the Lunario delNational Auditorium.^[13]

Aragón has given theater workshops in various parts of Mexico. For several years, she has been part of the campaign known asLectura en voz alta, responsible for promoting reading with children and adults in rural regions of Mexico.^[4]

Aragón has been an intelligent and persistent political activist both outside and within her country. She has advocated against the sexual abuse of women, and for obtaining and promoting better working and socio-economic conditions for women. she has signed a large number of manifestos, alongside many other figures from literature, film, and both Mexican and international culture.

When Aragón was 19 years old, she married Shajid, an Indian musician fromCalcutta whom she met at a music festival in Mexico not long before. Shajid is currently in charge of the music department at the National Theatre in London. She lived in India for a year;^[6] the marriage ended soon after.^[14] In 1989, when Aragón was filmingGoitia: un dios para si mismo inZacatecas, she had an affair with an old friend from her youth, the historian Rodrigo Martinez. As a result of this relationship, her only daughter, María, was born.^[15]

• Angélica AragónArchived 20 December 2019 at theWayback Machine Official Mini-site
• Angélica Aragón atIMDb

• 1953 births
• Actresses from Mexico City
• Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
• Best Supporting Actress Ariel Award winners
• Living people
• Mexican film actresses
• Mexican telenovela actresses
• Mexican voice actresses
• Mexican stage actresses
• Mexican people of Czech descent

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