Rocío Banquells
Introduction '''Rocío Banquells''' (; born '''María del Rocío Banquells Nuñez'''; 22 June 1960) is a Mexican pop singer, politician, and actress, best known for her work on television, the stage and cinema of Mexico and Latin America. Her mezzo voice is one of the most versatile voices from Mexico. She sings operetta, ranchera, rock, and ballads.
Early life and career Born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1960, Banquells is the daughter of Cuban actor and director Rafael Banquells and the actress Dina de Marco. She is half-sister of the actress Sylvia Pasquel (daughter of Rafael Banquells and Silvia Pinal). Her other siblings are Jose Manuel, Janette, Mary Paz, Ariadne and Rafael Jr.Banquells began her career as a special guest in the 1968 Banquells's telenovela ''Gutierritoz''. She moved to the stage in the early 1970s. In 1978 she starred in the musical ''Sound of Music'' along with the Mexican  singer Lupita D'Alessio. Other stage performances of Rocío are in the Mexican versions of ''Grease'', ''Evita'', and ''Jesus Christ Superstar''.In 1979, Banquells starred in the Mexican telenovelas's international success ''Los ricos tambien lloran'', alongside Verónica Castro. Banquells' other memorable TV performances are ''Bianca Vidal'' (1983) and ''La fiera'' (1984). She realized memorable interpretations especially in playing evil characters. In 1985 she began her musical career with the album ''Rocío Banquells'', that includes the 1980s superhits ''Este hombre no se toca'', ''Luna Mágica'' and ''Abrazame''.Banquells continued her musical career during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1997 a legal conflict caused the Banquells retirement for over 10 years. In 2006, Banquells returned in the Televisa's reality show ''Cantando por un sueño'', and in 2007 returned with a new album named ''Nací para tí'', recorded  live in the Teatro de la Ciudad in Mexico City. In the same year, she returned to TV in the telenovela ''Pasión''. In 2009-2010 Banquells starred in the Mexican version of the successful musical ''Mamma Mia!'' as ''Donna''.In 2012, Banquells returned with the show ''Noches de Cabaret'', along with the Mexican singers Lucía Méndez and Manoella Torres. For her work in the recording industry, stage and television Banquells' handprints and star have been embedded onto the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City, alongside her half-sister Sylvia Pasquel.
Political career Banquells was a candidate from the Va por México coalition (made up of the National Action Party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution, to which she belonged) for the 14th congressional district of Mexico City based in Tlalpan and was elected in June 2021 after obtaining nearly 40% of the votes. Since 1 September 2021 she has been a federal deputy in the Congress of the Union. In February 2022 she switched to the Citizens' Movement.
Personal life Banquells was married twice. The first time to Pedro Mendez from 1979 to 1984, father of her daughter Pamela,  and the second the producer Jorge Berlanga from 1985 to 2005, father of her son Rodrigo.
Discography *1985: ''Rocío Banquells''*1986: ''Con él''*1987: ''Entrega Total'' - First Mariachi album. *1988: ''En el alambre''*1989: ''Llorarás, llorarás''*1990: ''Un sueño que alguna vez soñe'' - Includes the Banquells music performances of Broadway musicals like ''Evita'' and ''Jesus Christ Superstar''). *1990: ''Escucha el infinito''*1991: ''A mi viejo'' - Dedicated to her father. *1993: ''A la Vírgen Morena''  - Tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe. *1993: ''Genio y figura''*1995: ''La fuerza del amor''*1996: ''Coincidir:Grandes Exitos''*1998: ''Recuerdos de un sentimiento''*2007: ''Nací para tí''  - Live in the Teatro de la Ciudad. *2018: '' Siempre Regios'' (album Norteño)*2019: ''  Recuerdos De Oro'' (album Homenaje a Sonia Lopez)=== Collaborations ===* ''No me puedo escapar de tí'' - (1987) Duet with Luis Miguel * ''La Bella y la Bestia'' ''(Beauty and the Beast)'' (1992) - Duet with Manuel Mijares * ''Las numero uno'' (2007) - Duet with many female singers* ''Todo por amor'' - (2008) Duet with Armando Manzanero
Filmography  Year Title RoleNotes 1973 ''Los que ayudan a Dios'' ValeriaSupporting Role  ''Adorables Mujercitas''Roberta Ojeda CastroFilm1974 ''Ha llegado una intrusa''  Special Appearance 1975 ''Barata de primavera''Patricia Supporting Role1976 ''Mi hermana la Nena'' Mónica Co-Protagonist  1978  ''Ladronzuela''Gilda Main Antagonist 1979-1980 ''Los ricos tambien lloran'' Esther Izaguirre de SalvatierraMain Antagonist  1980''Querer volar''  ErikaProtagonist 1981-1982 ''Juegos del Destino''  SofíaProtagonist 1982-1983 ''Bianca Vidal''  Mónica Rondán/Sandra  Main  Antagonist 1983-1984 ''La Fiera'' Brenda del Villar Main  Antagonist 1996-1997  ''Te dejare de Amar''Regina Sandor Protagonist / Antagonist 2006 ''Cantando por un sueño'' HerselfTV show, Winner''Cantando por un sueño:Reyes De La Canción'' TV show, 5th Place2007-2008  ''Pasión''Ofelia de Márquez Co-Protagonist 2008-2009  ''Cuidado con el Angel''Isabella Rojas Antagonist 2010  ''Mujeres Asesinas 3'' Elena Episode:"Elena, protectora"2010-2011  ''Cuando me enamoro''Josefina "Fina" Álvarez de MonterrubioMain  Antagonist 2013 ''Corazón Indomable''  Carola Canseco Antagonist 2016 ''Un camino hacia el destino''Lupe Gonzalo Supporting Role2020-2021  ''La mexicana y el güero''  Maria Dolores Santoyo  Special Appearance
Dubbing Year Title Character 1979 ''Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather''  Unico
Theater  Year Title Role1970 ''Cosas de mamá y papá''     ''Los años imposibles''   1972  ''El día que secuestraron al Papa''   1973-74  ''Vaselina'' (''Grease'')    Licha1975 ''La novicia rebelde'' (''The Sound of Music'')  Maria Von Trapp/Liesl ''Ciao Valentino''   1977 ''Lili''    Lili1978  ''El país de las sonrisas''    1979 ''Anita la huerfanita'' (''Annie'')    1980 ''Aló!... Aló!... número equivocado''    ''Godspell'' 1981-82  ''Evita''    Evita Perón1982   ''Un gran final'' (''A Chorus Line'')  1983 ''Jesuscristo Superestrella'' (''Jesus Christ Superstar'')   Mary Magdalene 1984 ''Todo se vale'' (''Anything Goes'')  1997-98 ''Evita''    Evita Perón2007  ''Los monólogos de la vagina''     2008 ''La Bella y la Bestia, el musical de Broadway'' (''Beauty and the Beast'') Mrs. Potss 2009-10 ''Mamma Mia!'' Donna Sheridan
Awards and nominations === Premios ACE === Year Category Result1988 Rhythm artist most outstanding regional 1991 Best album of the year1993 Best music video1993 Artist of ranchera music===Premios TVyNovelas=== Year Category TelenovelaResult1984 Best Female Antagonist  ''Bianca Vidal'' 1988 Best Female TV-Singer 2011 Best Female Antagonist ''Cuando me enamoro''
References
External links * Rocío Banquells Official Website* Rocío Banquells' Biography  at esmas.com*