FORNÉS, ROSITA

(Rosalía Palet Bonavía)

(1921 or '23? - )

New York-born "vedette" (singer-dancer-actress) who grew up in Cuba (her parents were Spanish emigrants). She made her singing debut there on the radio at the age of 15, and started working in Mexican films in 1945. She was married to comedian Manuel Medel for 4 years (their daughter, Rosa María Medel, and her husband later made a documentary about Rosita Fornés' life,Mis tres vidas). Left Mexico in the late 1950s and returned to Cuba, where she supported the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. She married again and continued to work in Cuba on the stage, in films, and on TV.