Kate del Castillo to Star as Iconic Singer Chavela Vargas in Bio-Series From Colombia’s Caracol TV and Miracol Media (EXCLUSIVE)
23.01.2024 - 14:31
/ variety.com
Anna Marie de la Fuente A bio-series about iconic ranchera singer Chavela Vargas starring “La Reina del Sur” lead Kate del Castillo is in the works. Colombia’s Caracol Televisión and indie Miracol Media are co-producing “Chavela,” which will trace the tumultuous life and career of the legendary singer.
Del Castillo will transform into Vargas, the mythical woman in the red poncho, who boldly rejected the conventions of her time, paving the way for a unique and groundbreaking journey in the landscape of Mexican popular music. Her internal battle with personal demons, heartbreak, and alcoholism propelled her to become a trailblazer, stepping onto the stage to sing Mexican songs in a jorongo, the traditional Mexican poncho, and pants.
With a guitar pressed against her heart, a tequila in hand, and a pistol holstered on her belt, she mesmerized audiences, captivating both men and women alike. “I came out of hell, but I did it singing,” she declared.
At the age of 88, she received a Latin Grammy, and when criticized for not being Mexican, she shot back: “We Mexicans are born wherever we please.” She was born in Costa Rica and died in Cuernavaca, Mexico at the age of 93. Spain’s equally iconic Pedro Almodovar included many of her songs in his films, including “The Flower of my Secret,” “Julieta,” “Kika” and “Live Flesh,” among others.
She’s also featured in Julie Taymor’s “Frida,” where she has a cameo, and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Babel.” “It is an honor and a great challenge to have the opportunity to portray a woman as womanly as Chavela Vargas, a character full of contradictions and nuances. That’s what I seek, as an actress, I am passionate about her life and her love for Mexico, the different stages of her life,
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