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Concha Velasco
Premios Goya 2018 - Concha Velasco.jpg
Velasco at the 32nd Goya Awards in 2018
Born
Concepción Velasco Varona

(1939-11-29)29 November 1939
Valladolid, Spain
Died 2 December 2023(2023-12-02) (aged 84)
Other names Conchita Velasco
Spouse(s)
Paco Marsó
(m. 1977; div. 2005)
1962 Concha Velasco airport alone
Concha Velasco (1962)
Concha Velasco - Seminci 2013
Concha Velasco (2013)

Concepción Velasco Varona (29 November 1939 – 2 December 2023), known professionally as Concha Velasco –also Conchita Velasco–, was a Spanish actress, singer and television presenter. She received numerous accolades throughout her career in film, theater and television spanning over six decades, including two National Theater Awards presented by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1972 and 2016, the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Spanish Television Academy in 2009 and the Honorary Goya Award presented by the Spanish Film Academy in 2012.

Some of her credits include leading film performances in Red Cross Girls (1958), Los tramposos (1959), The Fair of the Dove (1963), Television Stories (1965), The Witching Hour (1985) and Beyond the Garden (1996); stage performances in ¡Mamá, quiero ser artista!, in several plays that author Antonio Gala wrote for her and in the Spanish productions of Filumena Marturano and Hello, Dolly!; television performances in Teresa de Jesús and Herederos on Televisión Española, Motivos personales on Telecinco and Gran Hotel on Antena 3, as well as in numerous television shows as a presenter for those three networks.

She had been also the recipient of many honors. The Government of Spain honored her with the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts in 1987, the Gold Medal of Merit in Labour in 2008 and with the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise in 2016. The Spanish Film Academy honored her with its Gold Medal in 2003.

Life and career

Concepción Velasco Varona was born in Valladolid on 29 November 1939. At the age of ten, she moved to Madrid where she studied classical and Spanish dance at the National Conservatory. She made her debut as a dancer in the corps de ballet of the La Coruña opera and later worked as a flamenco dancer with Manolo Caracol and as revue dancer with Celia Gámez.

She began her career in the cinema at the age of fifteen in several titles as a supporting actress. Her first films as a leading actress was Red Cross Girls (1958). During the 1960s and 1970s she combined her work starring in films and in plays for theater and television. In the film Television Stories (1965) she performed the song "Chica ye ye" composed by Augusto Algueró with lyrics by Antonio Guijarro. The song became a hit and she suddenly found success as a yé-yé singer recording eight albums.

After an early career with a filmography in line with the tenets of francoism and close to the regime's favoured filmmaker José Luis Sáenz de Heredia, she eventually developed left-wing views and was reportedly vetoed for her trade union activity. At age 80, she described herself as "Catholic, Socialist, and Spanish".

During the 1970s and 1980s she performed more serious roles. Her most successful role for television was in Teresa de Jesús (1984) as Teresa of Ávila. Also in the 1980s she launched her career as television presenter hosting the New Year's Eve variety shows to welcome 1985, 1986 and 1987 on Televisión Española.

On 14 March 2018 she announced that, after a career of 64 years, the stage play El funeral would be her last. She retired on 21 September 2021 with her last performance of the play La habitación de María at Theatre of Bretón de los Herreros in Logroño.

She died on 2 December 2023 in the Hospital Puerta de Hierro in Majadahonda (Madrid).

Filmography

Film

  • 1954: El bandido generoso
  • 1955: The Moorish Queen as Bailaora
  • 1956: La fierecilla domada
  • 1956: Dos novias para un torero
  • 1956: Los maridos no cenan en casa
  • 1957: Mensajeros de paz
  • 1957: Muchachas en vacaciones
  • 1958: Red Cross Girls as Paloma
  • 1959: El día de los enamorados as Conchita
  • 1959: Los tramposos as Julita
  • 1959: Crimen para recién casados
  • 1959: Vida sin risas
  • 1960: Amor bajo cero
  • 1960: Julia y el celacanto
  • 1960: Peace Never Comes as Paula
  • 1961: The Reprieve as Antonia
  • 1961: Trampa para Catalina
  • 1961: Martes y trece
  • 1961: My Wedding Night as Fernanda Jiménez
  • 1961: Festival en Benidorm as Lía / María / Estefanía
  • 1962: Sabían demasiado
  • 1963: La boda era a las doce
  • 1963: The Fair of the Dove as Susana / Mari Loli
  • 1964: Casi un caballero
  • 1965: Television Stories as Katy
  • 1965: Susana
  • 1965: Honeymoon, Italian Style as Rosetta de Curtis
  • 1965: La frontera de Dios
  • 1966: El arte de no casarse
  • 1966: Hoy como ayer
  • 1966: El arte de casarse
  • 1966: Honeymoon, Italian Style
  • 1967: Pero... ¿en qué país vivimos?
  • 1967: Las Locas del conventillo as María
  • 1967: Las que tienen que servir as Juana Cortés
  • 1968: Una vez al año, ser hippy no hace daño
  • 1968: Relaciones casi públicas as Marta
  • 1968: Los que tocan el piano
  • 1969: Cuatro noches de boda
  • 1969: Matrimonios separados
  • 1969: Juicio de faldas as Marta
  • 1970: La decente as Nuria
  • 1970: Después de los nueve meses
  • 1970: En un lugar de La Manga
  • 1971: Me debes un muerto
  • 1971: Préstame quince días as Iris
  • 1972: No encontré rosas para mi madre
  • 1972: Venta por pisos
  • 1973: El amor empieza a medianoche
  • 1973: El Love Feroz o cuando los hijos juegan al amor
  • 1974: Tormento
  • 1974: Mi mujer es muy decente, dentro de lo que cabe as Margarita
  • 1975: Pim, pam, pum... ¡fuego!
  • 1975: Un lujo a su alcance
  • 1976: Long Vacations of 36 as Mercedes
  • 1976: Libertad provisional
  • 1977: Esposa y amante
  • 1978: Jaque a la dama
  • 1979: Cinco tenedores
  • 1979: Ernesto as Aunt Regina
  • 1982: La colmena as Purita
  • 1985: The Witching Hour as Pilar
  • 1989: Esquilache as Pastora Patermo
  • 1992: Yo me bajo en la próxima... ¿y usted? as Concha
  • 1996: Beyond the Garden as Palmira Gadea
  • 1996: Sombras y luces. Cien años de cine español
  • 1999: París-Tombuctú
  • 2000: Km. 0 as Marga
  • 2001: Sólo yo sé tu nombre
  • 2003: El oro de Moscú as Pastora Bernal
  • 2006: Welcome Home
  • 2007: Boystown as Antonia
  • 2007: Crazy as Nuria
  • 2009: Por la gracia de Luis
  • 2009: Rage as Sra. Torres

Stage

  • 1959: Ven y ven al Eslava
  • 1961: Los derechos de la mujer, by Alfonso Paso
  • 1962: The boyfriend
  • 1962: Las que tienen que servir, by Alfonso Paso
  • 1965: Elena para los miércoles
  • 1966: Don Juan Tenorio as doña Inés, by José Zorrilla
  • 1966: El cumpleaños de la tortuga
  • 1967: Una chica en mi sopa
  • 1969: El alma se serena by Juan José Alonso Millán
  • 1970: Llegada de los dioses as Verónica, by Antonio Buero Vallejo
  • 1972: Abelardo y Eloísa
  • 1974: Las cítaras colgadas de los árboles as Olalla, by Antonio Gala
  • 1977: Las arrecogidas del beteario de Santa María Egipcíaca by José Martín Recuerda
  • 1979: Filomena Marturano as Filonema, by Eduardo De Filippo
  • 1981: Yo me bajo en la próxima... ¿y usted? by Adolfo Marsillach
  • 1986: ¡Mamá, quiero ser artista! by Juan José de Arteche
  • 1988: Carmen, Carmen as Carmen, by Antonio Gala
  • 1992: La truhana by Antonio Gala
  • 1997: La rosa tatuada by Tennessee Williams
  • 1999: Las manzanas del viernes as Orosia, by Antonio Gala
  • 2001: Hello, Dolly! as Dolly, by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart
  • 2003: Inés desabrochada
  • 2006: Filomena Marturano as Filonema, by Eduardo De Filippo
  • 2009: La vida por delante
  • 2011: Concha, yo lo que quiero es bailar
  • 2012: Hélade
  • 2013: Hécuba as Hecuba, by Euripides
  • 2014: Olivia y Eugenio
  • 2016: Reina Juana as Juana
  • 2018: El funeral
  • 2019: Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman

Television

Date Title Role Network Notes
1 December 1965 Estudio 1: La dama del alba Televisión Española Version of La dama del alba by Alejandro Casona for television
1966 Estudio 1: Don Juan Tenorio Doña Inés Televisión Española Version of Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla for television
29 January 1971 Estudio 1: La alondra Televisión Española Spanish version of L'Alouette by Jean Anouilh for television
2 April 1971 Estudio 1: Marea baja Televisión Española
26 May 1972 Estudio 1: ¿Quiere usted jugar con mí? Televisión Española Spanish version of Voulez-vous jouer avec moâ? by Marcel Achard for television
2 March 1973 Estudio 1: Una muchachita de Valladolid Mercedes Televisión Española Version of Una muchachita de Valladolid by Joaquín Calvo Sotelo for television
11 May 1973 Estudio 1: Las brujas de Salem Televisión Española Spanish version of The Crucible by Arthur Miller for television
1984 Teresa de Jesús Teresa of Ávila Televisión Española
1985 La comedia musical española Patricia / Celinda Televisión Española
1996 Yo, una mujer Elena Andrade Antena 3
1997 Mamá quiere ser artista Leonor Antena 3
1998 Compañeros Charo Antena 3
2005 Las cerezas del cementerio Beatriz Televisión Española
Motivos personales Aurora Acosta Telecinco
2007–09 Herederos Carmen Orozco Argenta Televisión Española
2010 Las Chicas de Oro Doroti Televisión Española Spanish version of The Golden Girls in the role of Dorothy Zbornak
2011–13 Gran Hotel Ángela Salinas Antena 3
2016 Bajo sospecha Doña Adela Varcárcel Antena 3
Velvet Petra Alcalde Vargas Antena 3
2017–20 Las Chicas Del Cable Doña Carmen Cifuentes Netflix

As herself

Date Title Role Network Notes
1972 14th Benidorm Song Festival Host Televisión Española
1973 15th Benidorm Song Festival Host Televisión Española
4–6 May 1978 4th Musical Mallorca Co-host Televisión Española
1 January 1985 eve ¡Viva 85! Co-host Televisión Española
1 January 1986 eve ¡Viva 86! Host Televisión Española
1 January 1987 eve ¡Viva 87! Host Televisión Española
1990–91 Viva el espectáculo Host Televisión Española
1992 Querida Concha Host Telecinco
Queridos padres Host Telecinco
1993–94 Encantada de la vida Host Antena 3
1999 Sorpresa ¡Sorpresa! Host Antena 3 Spanish version of Surprise Surprise.
3 February 2001 15th Goya Awards Co-host Televisión Española
2001–02 Tiempo al tiempo Host Televisión Española
29 January 2006 20th Goya Awards Co-host Televisión Española
2006 Mi abuelo es el mejor Host Televisión Española
2011–20 Cine de barrio Host Televisión Española

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1959 CEC Awards Best Supporting Actress Muchachas en vacaciones Won
1972 National Theater Prize - - Won
1974 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Spanish Cinema Tormento Won
1975 CEC Awards Best Main Actress Tormento Won
TP de Oro Best National Actress Estudio 1 3rd Place
1976 TP de Oro Best National Actress El Teatro 2nd Place
1981 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Theater Yo me bajo en la próxima, ¿y usted? Won
1984 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Television Teresa de Jesús Won
Antena de Oro Best Performer Teresa de Jesús Won
1985 Valladolid International Film Festival Golden Spike for Best Actress The Witching Hour Won
TP de Oro Best Actress Teresa de Jesús Won
1986 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Theater ¡Mamá, quiero ser artista! Nominated
TP de Oro Best Actress La comedia musical española 3rd Place
Valladolid International Film Festival Spike of Honor - Won
1987 TP de Oro Best Actress La comedia musical española 2nd Place
1988 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Theater Carmen, Carmen Won
1989 Goya Awards Best Supporting Actress Esquilache Nominated
1992 Fotogramas de Plata Best Performer in Theater La truhana Won
1993 Huesca International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement in Film - Won
1996 Goya Awards Best Actress Beyond the Garden Nominated
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Cinema Beyond the Garden Nominated
1997 CEC Awards Best Actress Beyond the Garden Won
1999 Premio Nacional de Teatro Pepe Isbert - - Won
2001 Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater Hello, Dolly! Won
2002 Premios Max Best Musical Hello, Dolly! Won
2004 Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival Ciudad de Huelva Award - Won
2007 Iris ATV Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Herederos Nominated
Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Television Main Actress Herederos Nominated
2008 Iris ATV Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Herederos Won
Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Television Main Actress Herederos Won
Málaga Film Festival Málaga Award - Won
TP de Oro Lifetime Achievement - Won
2009 Premios Max Best Main Actress La vida por delante Nominated
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater La vida por delante Won
Sant Jordi Awards Lifetime Achievement - Won
2010 Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Theater Main Actress La vida por delante Nominated
Premios Valle-Inclán de Teatro 5th Premio Valle-Inclán La vida por delante Nominated
CEC Awards Honorary - Won
2011 Iris ATV Awards Best Actress in a Television Series Gran Hotel Won
Actors and Actresses Union Awards Honorary - Won
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater Concha, yo lo que quiero es bailar Nominated
2012 Goya Awards Honorary - Won
Premios Ondas Best Female Performer in a National Fiction Gran Hotel Won
Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Television Supporting Actress Gran Hotel Won
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Television Gran Hotel Nominated
2013 Valladolid International Film Festival Spike of Honor - Won
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater Hécuba Nominated
2014 Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater Hécuba Won
2015 Premios Valle-Inclán de Teatro 9th Premio Valle-Inclán Hécuba Won
2016 National Theater Prize - - Won
Fotogramas de Plata Best Actress in Theater Reina Juana Nominated
2019 Premios Max Honorary - Won
2020 Fotogramas de Plata Lifetime Achievement - Won

Honours

  • Medalla al Mérito de las Bellas Artes.jpg Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (Kingdom of Spain, 30 December 1987).
  • Gold Medal of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain (4 April 2003).
  • Medalla al Mérito en el Trabajo.jpg Gold Medal of Merit in Labour (Kingdom of Spain, 5 December 2008).
  • ESP Alfonso X Order GC.svg Dame Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (Kingdom of Spain, 7 October 2016).
  • Valladolid Gold Medal (City Council of Valladolid, 17 March 2018).
  • Madrid Gold Medal (City Council of Madrid, 15 May 2018).

See also

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