María Elena Velasco was a Mexican actress, comedian, singer, dancer, and director who created and portrayed La India María, a comical character based on indigenous Mexican women. She was one of the most popular and beloved stars of Mexican cinema and television, with a career that spanned more than five decades. She died on May 1, 2015, at the age of 74, after a long battle with stomach cancer.
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Early Life and Career
María Elena Velasco was born on December 17, 1940, in Puebla, Mexico, to Tomás Velasco, a railway mechanic, and María Elena Fragoso, a homemaker. She had three siblings: Gloria, Tomás, and Susana. After her father’s death, the family moved to Mexico City, where she worked as a dancer at the Teatro Tívoli. Later, she became one of the showgirls of the Teatro Blanquita, where she also participated in sketches with comedians such as José “El Ojón” Jasso and Óscar Ortiz de Pinedo, among others
She made her film debut in 1963, with small roles in Los derechos de los hijos and México de mis recuerdos. In 1964, she married actor Julián de Meriche, with whom she had three children: Ivette, Goretti, and Iván. She also developed a comedy character named Elena María, a rural Mexican woman, who appeared in sketches and television programs
The Birth of La India María
Her breakthrough came in 1968, when director Fernando Cortés recommended her to portray an indigenous woman named “María” in one of Mantequilla’s sketches. The character was dressed in traditional garb consisting of braided and ribboned hair and colorful native-type blouses and skirts. She observed the gestures and mannerisms of indigenous women to make her portrayal more authentic. She was credited for the first time as “María Elena Velasco ‘La India María’” in the western El bastardo
In 1969, she appeared as La India María in a comic segment of the weekly program Siempre en domingo, hosted by Raúl Velasco (who was unrelated to María Elena). The segment quickly became a hit and she starred in other successful television programs. Her first La India María film, Tonta, tonta, pero no tanto, was directed by Fernando Cortés in 1972. The film was a huge success and spawned a series of low-budget comedies that became a mainstay in Mexican movie theaters. She won a Silver Goddess Award for Best Comedic Performance for ¡El que no corre… vuela! in 1982
La India María’s Adventures
La India María often found herself in zany situations, such as flying a helicopter in Sor Tequila, being seen as a good luck charm in Duro pero seguro, and masquerading as a rich society woman in La comadrita. Her character also traveled to the US for the first time in Okey, Mister Pancho, where she faced the challenges of immigration and cultural differences. She also tackled social issues such as racism, corruption, and poverty with humor and wit
She also had her own comic book, recorded a couple of albums, starred in a stage show and a sitcom. She was one of the few female movie directors in Mexico, directing 14 of her 21 films. She was known as the Queen of the Mexican Box Office and the Reina de la Taquilla, as her films attracted millions of viewers and broke records. She was also loved by the public for her generosity and humility
Her Battle with Stomach Cancer
In 2012, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, a disease that affects the lining of the stomach and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and difficulty swallowing. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer spread to other organs. She kept working until 2014, when she released her last film, La hija de Moctezuma, where she played a descendant of the Aztec emperor who inherits a sacred treasure
She died on May 1, 2015, in Mexico City, surrounded by her family. She was 74 years old. Her death was mourned by fans, colleagues, and celebrities, who remembered her as a legend of Mexican comedy and a symbol of national identity. She was buried at the Panteón Español, next to her husband, who died in 1974
Conclusion
María Elena Velasco was a multifaceted artist who created and portrayed La India María, a comical character that made millions of people laugh and cry. She was one of the most successful and beloved stars of Mexican cinema and television, with a career that spanned more than five decades. She died of stomach cancer in 2015, leaving behind a legacy of humor, joy, and pride
