Ana Ofelia Murguía, the Mexican actress who provided the voice for the main character in the Disney and Pixar movie Coco, passed away at the age of 90.
The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature in Mexico shared on social media the news of Murguía’s passing with great sorrow. They praised her significant contributions to the performing arts in Mexico and did not disclose the cause of her death.
The institute also expressed their sympathies and sent warm embraces to her loved ones.
Murguía, born in 1933 in Mexico City, provided the voice for the elderly character Mamá Coco in the 2017 movie. The story follows a young boy’s journey to the land of the dead during the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, where he discovers a family secret. Coco was awarded two Oscars – best animated feature and best original song for Remember Me, a duet between Murguía’s character and Miguel, Coco’s great-grandson.
Prior to her performance in the award-winning animated movie, Murguía was a prominent figure in Mexico, frequently portraying antagonists in over 100 productions across stage, screen, and television over a span of 70 years.
She attended Mexico’s National School of Theatre Arts to study acting. She made her debut in 1954 in the play Trial By Fire, and ten years later, she landed her first on-screen role in the 1964 film Transit.
In 1979, 1986, and 1996, she received the Ariel award for best supporting actress, the most prestigious acting award in Mexico. Her performances in films such as La Reina de la Noche, which follows the story of a cabaret performer who flees Nazi Germany and starts a new life in Mexico, earned her these accolades. She also received three additional nominations for best supporting actress and holds the record for the most nominations for best actress without a win, having been nominated five times.
In 2011, Murguía received the prestigious Golden Ariel lifetime achievement award, which honors notable figures in the Mexican film industry. She was one of the few remaining stars from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, a time when the country’s film industry thrived during the 1940s and 50s.
In 2018, she appeared in the series “José José: El Príncipe de la Canción” as her last role. The series is a fictionalized biography of the famous Mexican pop singer.
During the month of April, Ana Ofelia Murguía received the Medalla Cátedra Bergman from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in recognition of her contributions to the film industry. In her acceptance speech, Murguía expressed her lifelong passion for acting and shared that she never pursued her career for the purpose of winning awards. She considers herself fortunate to have stumbled upon this profession and feels grateful and content with her journey thus far.
Source: theguardian.com
