Born: 1904 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Biography:
Laura Ana Tita Merello was an Argentine film actress, tango dancer, and singer who rose to prominence during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema from 1940 to 1960. Born on October 11, 1904, in the San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Tita Merello had a remarkable career that spanned over six decades and left an indelible mark on Argentine entertainment.
Tita Merello began her artistic journey in the 1920s, alongside renowned singers Azucena Maizani, Libertad Lamarque, Ada Falcón, and Rosita Quiroga. Together, they revolutionized the portrayal of women’s voices in tango music, becoming the quintessential female voices of the genre. Tita Merello became particularly famous for her rendition of iconic songs like Se dice de mí and La milonga y yo.
Initially, Tita Merello started her career in theater, possibly even appearing in silent films. However, her breakthrough came with the advent of sound cinema in Argentina. In 1933, she made her debut in ¡Tango!, the first sound movie produced in the country, alongside Libertad Lamarque. This marked the beginning of a prolific era for Tita Merello in film.
Throughout the 1930s, Tita Merello acted in a series of movies, gradually establishing herself as a dramatic actress. However, it was her performance in the 1937 film La fuga, directed by Luis Saslavsky, that solidified her reputation as a prodigious actress. Her talent and versatility captured the attention of audiences and critics alike.
In the mid-1940s, Tita Merello ventured to Mexico, where she filmed Cinco rostros de mujer (1947). Her outstanding performance in the movie earned her an Ariel Award from the Mexican Academy of Film, further cementing her status as an esteemed actress. She then returned to Argentina, starring in Don Juan Tenorio (1949) and Filomena Marturano (1950), both of which were later adapted for the theater.
The following decade marked the pinnacle of Tita Merello’s popularity. She starred in acclaimed films such as Los isleros (1951), recognized as her finest performance, Guacho (1954), and Mercado de abasto (1955). Additionally, she received accolades for her work in Arrabalera (1950), Para vestir santos (1955), and El amor nunca muere (1955).
In the 1960s, Tita Merello collaborated extensively with director Enrique Carreras, showcasing her immense talent in various films. She also played a recurring role in the television series Sábados Circulares and continued making appearances in both television and radio productions. Notably, her portrayal of La Madre María in Lucas Demare’s film in 1974 and her collaboration with Alejandro Doria in Los miedos (1980) garnered widespread acclaim.
Tita Merello retired from theater in 1984 and from films in 1985, but she remained active in the television and radio industries. Her contributions to the arts were recognized in 1990 when she was honored as the Citizen of the City of Buenos Aires. Until her passing at the age of 98, Tita Merello continued to make appearances on television and radio, leaving an enduring legacy in Argentine entertainment.
Awards:
– Ariel Award from the Mexican Academy of Film for Cinco rostros de mujer (1947)
– Citizen of the City of Buenos Aires honor in 1990
Note: The information about Tita Merello’s awards is limited to the Ariel Award mentioned in reliable sources. If there were any other awards or recognitions, they are not mentioned.