Fanny Schiller

Fanny Schiller Hernández (3 August 1901 – 26 September 1971) was a Mexican award-winning character actress and television star, who also acted in operettas and musicals, during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She won two Ariel Awards for best supporting actress, and was nominated for two additional films. She was a social activist, creating the Actor's Union and inspiring the creation of “Rosa Mexicano”. She was accomplished at dubbing and was the voice of many animated characters as well as the official voice of several other notable Mexican actresses.

Biography Fanny Schiller Hernández was born on 3 August 1901 in Mexico City, Mexico. At the age of 20, she began performing in the comedy company of Rosita Arriaga touring around the country. She then worked as a dancer with José María Topete, Consuelo Vivanco, María Conesa, before joining the company of her future mother-in-law, Virginia Fábregas.

She made her starring film debut in the movie El Cristo de oro (The Christ of Gold) with Manuel R. Ojeda in 1926, but did not make another film for approximately ten years. Most of her film work in the 1940s was completed in Mexico.

Schiller was primarily known for character acting, portraying eccentric elderly women. She received a Herald Award for her role in Los cuervos están de luto ("The Crows are in Mourning") (1965) was so impressed with her that he hired her to dub the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (1950).

Shortly before her death, Schiller pushed the National Association of Actors (ANDA) to form nurseries for the children of actresses. Several of her acting friends, including Socorro Avelar, Anita Blanch, Dolores del Río, Irma Dorantes, Gloria Marín, Carmen Montejo, Silvia Pinal, and Amparo Rivelles joined to form a group called 'Rosa Mexicano'. The idea was that by establishing a nursery, actresses could continue working, and by establishing a Montessori education system, their children would receive a strong educational foundation. After operating in temporary spaces, the first stones for the formal location were laid on 30 April 1972, shortly after her death.

Personal life Schiller came from a family of actors, and her mother was an actress. She married actor Manuel Sánchez-Navarro (1892-1969), son of actress Virginia Fábregas (1871–1950). Their son was actor Manolo Fábregas (1921-1996) and two of Manolo's children are also actors—Mónica Sánchez-Navarro and Rafael Sánchez-Navarro. Schiller died on 26 September 1971 in Mexico City.

Awards and nominations 1947: Cantaclaro, Best Supporting Actress, won Ariel Award

Television Year Title Role Notes 1952 Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson Episode: "Short Story" 1957 Captain David Grief Mama Gideaux "Distress Signal" (Season 1, Episode 13) 1958 Más allá de la angustia 1959 Puerta de suspenso 1959 Teresa Eulalia 1960 Pensión de mujeres 1963 Tres caras de mujer 1963 Mi mujer y yo 1963 Madres egoístas 1963 Las modelos 1964 Cumbres Borrascosas 1965 Un grito en la obscuridad 1965 La impostora 1965 Alma de mi alma 1966 El despertar 1966 Cristina Guzmán 1966 Corazón salvaje 1967 Un pobre hombre 1967 Engáñame 1968 Pasión gitana 1968 Águeda 1969 No creo en los hombres Asunción 1970 La sonrisa del diablo Toña 1970 El precio de un hombre 1971 Velo de novia