María Félix - by Niamh Thornton (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

María Félix (1914-2002) left her mark on Mexican and European film as well as fashion, art and jewellery design. Cartier created one-of-a-kind pieces; Leonora Carrington and Diego Rivera painted portraits; Carlos Fuentes wrote a play; Agustín Lara, a bestselling song. But she was nobody's muse.

Did Félix really bring baby crocodiles to the Cartier boutique to request lifelike copies in a necklace? The story may be apocryphal, but it perfectly encapsulates her powerful, independent and unconventional persona. This book first examines Félix's life and work, reviewing her films and acting style and considering what they say about gender norms and a woman's place on screen. It then turns to her role as curator and benefactor, exploring how art, literature and song sustained her image. It concludes by exploring the persistent interest in her life story and evaluating her significance for contemporary audiences.

Review Quotes

Thornton's depth of knowledge surrounding the star is palpable and, unsurprisingly, the result of over a decade of research. Thornton masterfully rides the line of aiming for a general, yet academic, readership by never taking Mexican film and cultural knowledge for granted, and still satisfying the niche Mexicanist reader who already knows Félix.-- "CHASQUI"

Thornton's monograph is engagingly written. This is an excellent and compelling monograph. Once I started reading, I could not put it down, a rare case for an academic work.-- "BULLETIN OF SPANISH VISUAL STUDIES"