María Conchita Alonso
| María Conchita Alonso | |
|---|---|
 Alonso at LA Pride, June 12, 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 29, 1957 |
| Origin | Cienfuegos, Cuba |
| Genres | Latin pop, Adult Contemporary, Dance-pop, Pop rock |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Notable instruments | |
| Vocals, guitar | |
María Conchita Alonso (born June 29, 1957), better known as María Conchita, is a Cuban-born, Venezuelan-raised singer/songwriter and actress.
Early life
María Conchita Alonso was born María Concepción Alonso Bustillo in Cienfuegos, Cuba, the daughter of Ricardo Alonso and María Conchita Bustillo. Her family moved to Venezuela when she was five years old, in 1962, after the Cuban Revolution. She had her first experience in show business when she was crowned Miss Teenager World in 1971, and was Miss World/Venezuela in 1975 where she became sixth runner-up in the Miss World pageant won by Puerto Rico's Wilnelia Merced; she quickly became a top model and a popular singer/actress in Venezuela.
Career
Alonso's first gold album and number one song in the charts was "Love Maniac" in 1979, her name as a singer back then was A'mbar, after that followed her second number 1 with "The Witch" and soon after "Dangerous Rhythm". In what is generally considered to be her best known song, she was asked by Giorgio Moroder to write the lyrics in Spanish and sing "Vamos a Bailar" which he had written to be part of the soundtrack for the film Scarface. The song instantly became a classic amongst Spanish speakers despite failing to garner any major attention outside of Cuba where it was recorded. As her two albums with Ambar and her solo debut were recorded in English, it was her second album María Conchita from 1984 that made her a singing star in the Spanish-speaking market, receiving a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Latin Performance".[1]
She made her Hollywood film debut in 1984 in Moscow on the Hudson with Robin Williams, and also starred in movies like Extreme Prejudice, The Running Man, Predator 2, Touch and Go, The House of the Spirits, Vampire's Kiss and Colors.
She was one of the few Latin-born actresses to star in a Broadway show in 1995, playing Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She later acted in romantic comedies like Chasing Papi (2003) and The Last Guy on Earth (2006).
Alonso was cast to play Lucía, the mother of Gabrielle Solis, on the ABC hit show Desperate Housewives. The episode was aired on February 19, 2006. She was in the Latin version Amas de Casa Desesperadas for Univision Network. She was a guest star in the live-action film of the comic book El Muerto and appeared in the film Material Girls (2006).
Alonso hosted VH1's Viva Hollywood! on April 13, 2008 with Carlos Ponce. She portrayed Sam in the Werewolf horror film Wolf Moon, which was directed by Dana Mennie.[2]
Alonso shot Rob Zombie's Lords of Salem, released in 2013. Her latest film, a fantasy short titled The Secret Of Joy, features her alongside fellow Venezuelan actor Carlos Antonio Leon, Spanish actress Laura Bayonas and Brazilian actress Ana Carolina Da Fonseca in a story that aims to bring awareness about pediatric cancer.
Political views
Alonso has often spoken in support of LGBT rights and in appreciation to her LGBT fans, stating that "I was very much supported by the community when I first came out with my music". In a 2004, she compared herself to Cher in terms of her connection to LGBT culture.[3]
Alonso is an outspoken critic of Cuba's Fidel Castro and late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, whom she had described as a "dictator" like "Hitler,"[4] and those who vote and support him as "terrorists."[5] She has appeared on Sean Hannity's Hannity's America on May 6, 2007, Hannity & Colmes on June 1, 2007[4] and Bill O'Reilly's The O'Reilly Factor on August 13, 2007 and March 11, 2009.
Alonso issued an "Open Letter to Sean Penn"[6] online on March 29, 2010 regarding his support of then-President Hugo Chávez. She used a point-by-point refrain of "WHY" in her letter questioning various issues occurring in Venezuela.[7] In December 2011, she got into a heated exchange with Penn at a Los Angeles airport during which Penn called her a pig and she responded by calling Penn a communist.[8]
In the fall of 2008, Alonso endorsed the presidential campaign of Republican nominee John McCain, writing:[9]
As a Latina and a new American citizen, I believe in this country and its people, and I believe that we need more than just "change." We need a leader who can bring about the right kind of change, and John McCain has the experience and judgment necessary to lead us in these uncertain times. I grew up in Cuba and Venezuela, and I am appalled that Barack Obama apparently wants to emulate the "spread the wealth" economic policies of those countries and negotiate with their leaders.
In an August 2012 Spreecast interview, Alonso stated her opposition to Obama's re-election, saying that if reelected he will take steps to make the United States become more like Venezuela under the Chávez government.[10]
In January 2014, Alonso resigned from a San Francisco production of The Vagina Monologues after appearing in an advertisement for Republican candidate for Governor Tim Donnelly.[11]
On September 17, 2014, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro asked Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres to pursue on court legal actions to revoke Alonso's Venezuelan citizenship.[12] The reason was her public request on a radio interview for a military intervention against Venezuela: "In my opinion, (the US) must intervene, because the Cubans already invaded without firing a single bullet because they gave it (Venezuela) for free. So I would like that the US would invade using bullets to get all those communists out of Venezuela" [13]
In mid-2016, Alonso stated that she supported neither Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump nor Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the U.S. election, viewing both of them as unacceptable.[14][15]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Savana - Sesso e diamanti | Margaret Johnson | Italian B Movie |
| 1979 | Solon | ||
| 1979 | Estefanía | Silvana Cataldo | TV series |
| 1979 | Mabel Valdez, periodista | TV series | |
| 1980 | Natalia de 8 a 9 | Mariana Brito | TV series |
| 1980 | Mi hijo Gabriel | TV series | |
| 1981 | Marielena | TV series | |
| 1981 | Angelito | TV series | |
| 1981 | Luz Marina | Luz Marina | TV series |
| 1981 | El Esposo de Anaís | TV series | |
| 1982 | Claudia | Claudia | TV series |
| 1982 | Fantasy Island | French Girl | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Knight Rider | Marie Elena Casafranca | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Nacho | playing herself | TV series |
| 1984 | Moscow on the Hudson | Lucia Lombardo | |
| 1984 | Fear City | Silver | as Maria Conchita |
| 1986 | A Fine Mess | Claudia Pazzo | aka Blake Edwards' A Fine Mess (USA: complete title) |
| 1986 | Touch and Go | Denise DeLeon | |
| 1987 | Il cugino americano | Caterina Ammirati | aka Blood Ties (USA: TV title) |
| 1987 | Extreme Prejudice | Sarita Cisneros | |
| 1987 | The Running Man | Amber Mendez | |
| 1988 | Con el Corazón en la Mano | ||
| 1988 | Colors | Louisa Gomez | |
| 1989 | One of the Boys | Maria Conchita Navarro | 1 episode |
| 1989 | Vampire's Kiss | Alva Restrepo | |
| 1990 | Predator 2 | Leona Cantrell | |
| 1991 | Cuerpos clandestinos (TV) | Claudia | |
| 1991 | McBain | Christina | |
| 1992 | Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (TV) | Carmen | aka Power Play: The Jackie Presser Story (UK: video title) |
| 1993 | Roosters | Chata | |
| 1993 | The House of the Spirits | Tránsito Soto | |
| 1994 | Alejandra TV series | Alejandra | |
| 1994 | Texas (TV) | Lucia | aka James A. Michener's Texas |
| 1994 | MacShayne: The Final Roll of the Dice (TV) | Cindy Evans | |
| 1996 | Caught | Betty | aka Atrapados (USA: Spanish title) |
| 1996 | For Which He Stands | Theresa Rochetti | |
| 1996 | Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus#17 | Marta Caldwell | |
| 1997 | Women: Stories of Passion | Sophia | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Emma Scull | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Robert Altman's Gun | Marti | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Catherine's Grove | Charley Vasquez | |
| 1997 | F/X: The Series | Elena Serrano | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Acts of Betrayal | Eva Ramirez | |
| 1998 | Exposé | Nancy Drake | aka Footsteps (Philippines: English title) (USA: working title) |
| 1998 | Blackheart | Annette | |
| 1998 | The Nanny | Concepcion Sheffield | 1 episode |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Marie Alexander | episode: "The Vaccine" |
| 1998 | El Grito en el cielo | Miranda Vega | aka Shout Out (USA: festival title) |
| 1998 | My Husband's Secret Life (TV) | Toni Diaz | |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | Dr. Sandra Pena | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Dillinger in Paradise | Lola | |
| 2000 | Chain of Command | Vice President Gloria Valdez | |
| 2000 | Knockout | Carmen Alvarado | |
| 2000 | A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle (TV) | Gloria | |
| 2000 | Best Actress (TV) | Maria Katarina Caldone | |
| 2000 | High Noon (TV) | Helen Ramirez | |
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Kat Lopez | 1 episode |
| 2000 | The Princess & the Barrio Boy (TV) | Minerva Rojas | aka She's in Love (UK) |
| 2001 | The Code Conspiracy | Rachel | |
| 2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Julia Hernandez | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Birth of Babylon | Lupe Velez | |
| 2002 | Blind Heat | Adrianna Scott | |
| 2002 | Robbery Homicide Division | Claudia | 1 episode |
| 2003 | The Company You Keep | Vera | |
| 2003 | Kingpin (TV mini-series) | Ariela | |
| 2003 | Heart of America | Mrs. Jones | aka Home Room (Australia) |
| 2003 | Chasing Papi | Maria | |
| 2003 | Newton's Law | ||
| 2004 | CSI: Miami | Marisela Gonzalez | 1 episode: Blood Moon |
| 2005 | English as a Second Language | Consuelo Sara | |
| 2005 | La Academia USA | Judge | |
| 2005 | Smoke | Aurora Avila | |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Lucia | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Material Girls | Inez | |
| 2007 | The Dead One | Sister Rosa | |
| 2007 | The Condor (V) | Mrs. Valdez (voice) | aka Stan Lee Presents: The Condor (USA: DVD box title) |
| 2007 | Saints & Sinners | Diana Martin | 62 episodes |
| 2008 | Richard III | Queen Elizabeth | |
| 2008 | Tranced | Libra | |
| 2008 | The Art of Travel | Mrs. Layne | |
| 2008 | The Red Canvas (post-production) | Maria Sanchez | |
| 2008 | Trópico de Sangre (filming) | ||
| 2008 | Two Minutes Of Hate (announced) | Dos minutos de odio | |
| 2008 | Unauthorized Clifford (announced) | Des-Autorizado (Venezuela: wide-release title) | |
| 2009 | Maneater (miniseries) | Alejandra Alpert | Two episodes |
| 2009 | Dark Moon Rising | Sheriff Sam. | |
| 2009 | Spread (film) | Rich woman from the pool | |
| 2012 | Lords of Salem | ||
| 2014 | Return to Babylon | Lupe Vélez |
Discography
- Love Maniac (Polydor/PolyGram, 1979)
- The Witch (Polydor/Polygram, 1980)
- Dangerous Rhythm (PolyGram, 1982)
- Te Amo (Polydor/PolyGram, 1983)
- María Conchita (A&M/PolyGram, 1984)
- O Ella o Yo (A&M/PolyGram, 1985)
- Grandes Éxitos (PolyGram, 1986)
- Mírame (PolyGram, 1987)
- Hazme Sentir (PolyGram, 1990)
- En Vivo México (Capitol/EMI Mexico, 1991)
- Imagíname (Columbia/SME Mexico, 1992)
- Alejandra: Boleros (PolyGram, 1994)
- Hoy y Siempre (ARDC/PolyGram, 1997)
- Grandes Éxitos (2004)
- Soy EP (Hypnotic, 2005)
- Greatest Hits (ARDC/Universal Latino, 2008)
- Mienteme (ARDC/Universal Latino, 2009)
Singles
| Year | Song | Hot Latin Songs | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Sueltame" | 22 | Grandes Éxitos |
| 1987 | "Otra Mentira Más" | 24 | Mírame |
| 1988 | "Y Es Que Llegaste Tú" | 5 | |
| 1990 | "Hazme Sentir" | 24 | Hazme Sentir |
| 1991 | "A Él Lo Quiero" | 35 | |
| 1993 | "Promesas" | 20 | Imagíname |
References
- ↑ "Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences nominees for Grammy...". United Press International. January 10, 1985. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Wolf Moon DVD Art and Special Features Revealed". Dreadcentral.com. 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ↑ http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Soy-Maria-Conchita-Alonso/5960.html
- 1 2 "All those people are Chavistas, all those people are controlled by Chavez... So they say what Chavez wants them to say... No, he was not elected democratically. The first time he was elected democratically, but the last two time[s], the referendum and this last month of December, he was not." Hannity & Colmes, Fox News. June 2007.
- ↑ Geraghty, James. "After Watching Her Speak, Giuliani Was an Afterthought," National Review Online. May 1, 2007.
- ↑ "An Open Letter to Sean Penn By Maria Conchita Alonso". Media Research Center. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ↑ "Open Letter to Sean Penn". Mediaite.com. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ↑ "Where Washington Comes To Talk Now on 105.9FM!". WMAL. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
- ↑ Press office. Maria Conchita Alonso Endorses John McCain JohnMcCain.com, October 31, 2008.
- ↑ Steve Malzberg (8 August 2012). "Alonso: Obama Win a Move Toward Chavez". Spreecast. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Actress Out Of San Francisco Production After Endorsing Tea Party Candidate". CBS Local San Fran. KCBS. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ↑ "Venezuela's leftist leaders move to strip citizenship from actress Maria Conchita Alonso". StarTribune Minneapolis. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ↑ Gestionan revocar la nacionalidad venezolana a María Conchita Alonso (In Spanish)
- ↑ http://noticias.entravision.com/el-valle/2016/07/22/maria-conchita-alonso-no-piensa-votar-por-hillary-clinton/
- ↑ http://www.telemundo.com/entretenimiento/2016/07/21/maria-conchita-alonso-asegura-que-no-le-gusta-hillary-clinton-video
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to María Conchita Alonso. |
- Maria Conchita Alonso at the Internet Movie Database
- María Conchita Alonso at Discogs
- "María Conchita Alonso". TV Tropes.