Mapy Cortés

Maria del Pilar Cordero (March 1, 1910 – August 2, 1998), better known as Mapy Cortés, was a Puerto Rican actress who acted in many films during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She also performed in Spain, Cuba, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador.. Besides this, she also performed as a singer and producer.

She was born María del Pilar Cordero Berrios on March 1, 1910, in San Juan. Cortés first became involved with media in the radio of Puerto Rico. She also performed in theatre. In 1933, Cortés was cast in the Spanish film Dos Mujeres y un Don Juan. Her eponymous character is engaged to Victor Mature's soldier character before he falls in love with a socialite played by Lucille Ball. Being fully bilingual, benefitted her during the production. Her performance was well received by critics and the movie sold well, but Cortés decided to return to Latin America citing the treatment with Hispanic actors. marked the directorial debut of her husband Fernando. In Puerto Rico, the couple was actively involved in the establishment of the first television station, WKAQ-TV.

After Fernando died, Mapy returned to Puerto Rico and led a relatively quiet life. In 1998 she died at her home of a heart attack.

Filmography Dos mujeres y un don Juan / Two Women and a don Juan (1933, Spain) El paraíso recobrado / The Recovered Paradise (1935, Spain) No me mates / Don't Kill Me (1935, Spain) El gato montés / The Wildcat (1936, Spain) ¡Centinela, alerta! / Guard, Alert! (1936, Spain) El amor gitano / Gypsy Love (1936, Spain) Un tipo de suerte / A Lucky Guy (1938, Argentina) Ahora Seremos Felices / We Will Be Happy Now (1938, Cuba) Papá se desenreda / Dad Untangles (1940, Mexico) Cinco minutos de amor / Five Minutes of Love (1941, Mexico) ¡Ay, qué tiempos, señor don Simón! / Oh, What Times, Don Simon! (1941, Mexico) La liga de las canciones / The League of Songs (1941, Mexico) El gendarme desconocido / The Unknown Policeman (1941, Mexico) El conde de Monte Cristo / The Count of Monte Cristo (1942, Mexico) Las cinco noches de Adán / Adam's Five Nights (1942, Mexico) Seven Days' Leave (1942, United States) Yo bailé con Don Porfirio / I Danced with Don Porfirio (1942, Mexico) Internado para señoritas / Girls' Dormitory (1943, Mexico) El globo de Cantolla / Cantolla's Balloon (1943, Mexico) La corte del faraón / The Pharaoh's Court (1943, Mexico) La guerra de los pasteles / The War of the Pastries (1944, Mexico) La hija del regimiento / The Daughter of the Regiment (1944, Mexico) La pícara Susana / Mischievous Susana (1945, Mexico) Un beso en la noche / A Kiss at Night (1945, Mexico) Amor de una vida / Love of a Lifetime (1945, Mexico) El amor las vuelve locas / Love Makes Them Crazy (1946, Mexico) Los maridos engañan de 7 a 9 / Men Cheat from 7 to 9 (1946, Mexico) El sexo fuerte / The Stronger Sex (1946, Mexico) No te cases con mi mujer / Don't Marry My Wife (1947, Mexico) Al marido hay que seguirlo / A Husband Must Be Followed (1948, Argentina) Las tandas del Principal / The Shows at the Principal Theater (1949, Mexico) Recién casados... no molestar / Newlyweds.. Do Not Disturb (1950, Mexico) Venezuela también canta / Venezuela Also Sings (1951, Venezuela) Lamento borincano / Puerto Rican Lament (1963, Mexico/Puerto Rico co-production) En mi viejo San Juan / In My Old San Juan (1965, Mexico/Puerto Rico co-production) Luna de miel en Puerto Rico / Honeymoon in Puerto Rico (1966, Mexico/Puerto Rico co-production)