China Zorrilla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids China Zorrilla
"China" Zorrilla in 1974
Born	Concepción Zorrilla de San Martín Muñoz (1922-03-14)14 March 1922 Montevideo, Uruguay
Died	17 September 2014(2014-09-17) (aged 92) Montevideo, Uruguay
Occupation	Actress, director, producer
Years active	1947–2010
Parents	José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín (father) Guma Muñoz del Campo (mother)

China Zorrilla was a very famous actress, director, producer, and writer from Uruguay. Her full name was Concepción Matilde Zorrilla de San Martín Muñoz. She was born on March 14, 1922, and passed away on September 17, 2014.

People often called her a "Grand Dame" of theater in South America. She was incredibly popular in the Rioplatense area, which includes parts of Uruguay and Argentina.

China Zorrilla had a long career in theater in Uruguay. Later, she became a huge star in Argentina, appearing in over fifty films, plays, and TV shows. She lived in Argentina for more than 35 years.

In 2008, the French government gave her a special award called the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2011, Uruguay's postal service released stamps with her picture on them to honor her. She retired at age 90 and returned to Uruguay, where she died.

Early life and studies

China Zorrilla was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. Her family was well-known and artistic. She was the second of five daughters.

Her father, José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín, was a famous sculptor. He created many monuments in Uruguay and Argentina. Her grandfather, Juan Zorrilla de San Martín, was a national poet in Uruguay. Her older sister, Guma Zorrilla, designed costumes for theater shows.

China grew up in Paris with her sisters. When she returned to Montevideo, she went to Sagrado Corazón School. In 1946, she won a scholarship to study acting in London. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and learned from the Greek actress Katina Paxinou.

Career in Uruguay

After her studies, China Zorrilla returned to Montevideo. She made her first theater appearance in 1948. Soon after, she joined the National Comedy of Uruguay. She worked for 10 years at the Solís Theatre.

There, she performed in many classic plays. A famous Spanish director, Margarita Xirgu, directed her in plays like Blood Wedding and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet.

During the 1950s and 1960s, China Zorrilla acted in many important plays. These included Mother Courage and Her Children, Filomena Marturano, Macbeth, and The Seagull. She also performed in plays by famous writers like Thornton Wilder and Neil Simon. She was highly praised for her roles in The Matchmaker and Hay Fever.

After working for a decade at the Comedia Nacional, China Zorrilla helped create a new theater company. It was called Teatro de la Ciudad de Montevideo. This company traveled and performed in Buenos Aires, Paris, and Madrid. They even won an award in Spain for their plays.

Between 1964 and 1966, China Zorrilla lived in New York. She taught French and worked as a secretary on Broadway. While there, she directed a children's musical.

She also worked as a writer for the Uruguayan newspaper El País. She reported on big events like the Cannes Film Festival. She also hosted her own talk show for many years.

China Zorrilla also directed operas. She directed La bohème and Un ballo in maschera at the Solís Theatre. She also directed Il barbiere di Siviglia in Argentina.

Career in Argentina

China Zorrilla as Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst, 1980

China Zorrilla's first movie role came in 1971 when she was 49 years old. She acted in the film Un Guapo del 900. The next year, she moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a play.

She ended up staying in Argentina for a long time. This was because of a difficult political situation in Uruguay at the time. She helped many Uruguayans who were trying to escape the situation. Because of this, she was not allowed to perform in Uruguayan theaters for a while.

When democracy returned to Uruguay in the 1980s, China Zorrilla made a big return. She performed at the Teatro Solís, which was a very special moment.

During the 1970s and 1980s, she traveled and performed a lot. She even performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the United States.

Stage performances

On stage, China Zorrilla played many real-life historical figures. She played Emily Dickinson in a play called The Belle of Amherst. She also played Victoria Ocampo and Mrs. Patrick Campbell. She acted in plays by many famous writers. She also brought back one of her earlier successes, playing Judith Bliss in Hay Fever.

In 1995, she performed at the famous Teatro Colón opera house in Buenos Aires. She played the role of Persephone in a special performance.

China Zorrilla also directed and produced plays and musicals. She worked on plays like Servant of Two Masters, 12 Angry Men, and Lost in Yonkers.

In her later years, she won several awards for her roles. She played Helen Martins in The Road to Mecca. She also played Eve in a play based on Mark Twain's Eve's Diary.

Film and TV performances

After her first movie in 1971, China Zorrilla appeared in over 40 Argentinian films. In 1973, she became very popular in TV soap operas.

In 1984, she won an award for Best Actress at the La Habana Film Festival. She acted in many international films. These included Summer of the Colt (a Canadian film) and The Plague (starring William Hurt and Raúl Juliá). She also appeared in the famous Argentinian comedy Waiting for the Hearse.

Later, she gained international fame for her roles in Conversaciones con mamá (2005) and Elsa & Fred. For these films, she won many awards, including the Silver Condor for Best Actress.

Death and legacy

China Zorrilla passed away on September 17, 2014, in Montevideo, Uruguay. She was 92 years old and died from pneumonia.

Both the governments of Argentina and Uruguay declared two days of national mourning. They called her "a true representative of River Plate culture." Her funeral procession stopped at the Teatro Solís, a theater she loved, before reaching the cemetery.

Honors and awards

China Zorrilla received many honors throughout her life:

• Orden de Mayo from the Argentine government.
• Orden Gabriela Mistral from the Chilean government.
• She was named an Illustrious Citizen in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and other cities. Two theaters are named after her.
• Knight (Chevalier) of the Légion d'honneur from the French Government.
• Honorary Medal from the Argentine Senate in 2010.
• A special commemorative postage stamp from the Uruguayan Post.

Books about China Zorrilla

• Diego Fischer, A mi me aplauden, 2012, Uruguay, ISBN: 9789974 701 22 9
• China Zorrilla, Diario de viaje, Ediciones La Plaza, 2013, Uruguay, ISBN: 9789974482265
• Julio María Sanguinetti (2015). "Retratos desde la memoria" Montevideo: Debolsillo. ISBN 9789974899179
• Miguel Ángel Campodónico, Nuevo Diccionario de la Cultura Uruguaya, Librería Linardi y Risso, 2003, S.361

Filmography

Film roles

China Zorrilla, 1975

Television roles

China Zorrilla in Waiting for the Hearse, 1985

See also

In Spanish: China Zorrilla para niños