María Elena Velasco

María Elena Velasco Fragoso (17 December 1940 – 1 May 2015) was a Mexican actress, comedian, singer-songwriter and dancer. She was known for creating and portraying La India María, a comical character based on indigenous Mexican women.

Early life Velasco was born in Puebla, to Tomás Velasco Saavedra, a railway mechanic, and María Elena Fragoso Peón. She had three siblings, Gloria, Tomás and Susana. Later, she became one of the showgirls of the , where she also participated in sketches starring comedians such as José "El Ojón" Jasso and Óscar Ortiz de Pinedo, among others.

Personal life In the early 1960s, Velasco met Russian-born Mexican film actor and choreographer Julián de Meriche (born Vladimir Lipkies Chazan) at the Teatro Blanquita. She later said: "My husband was worth gold, I will not lie and say he was the perfect man, but he was the love of my life."

Performances Film Year Title Role Logos Notes 1963 México de mis recuerdos Petra First credited film role 1963 Los derechos de los hijos María 1964 El revólver sangriento Pedro's wife 1968 El bastardo María 1972 Tonta, tonta, pero no tanto María Nicolasa Cruz Warner Bros. First India María film 1973 ¡Pobre, pero honrada! María Nicolasa Cruz Warner Bros. 1974 La madrecita Sor María Nicolasa Cruz American International Pictures 1975 La presidenta municipal María Nicolasa Cruz Universal Pictures 1976 El miedo no anda en burro María Nicolasa Cruz Warner Bros. 1977 Sor Tequila María Nicolasa "Sor Tequila" United Artists 1978 Duro pero seguro María Nicolasa Cruz American International Pictures 1978 La comadrita María Nicolasa Cruz Warner Bros. 1981 Okey, Mister Pancho María Nicolasa Cruz 20th Century Fox 1982 El que no corre vuela María Nicolasa Cruz Columbia Pictures Silver Goddess Award for Best Comedy Performance 1983 El coyote emplumado María United Artists Directorial debut 1984 Ni Chana, ni Juana Juana Cruz / Emilia Falcón Universal Pictures 1988 Ni de aquí, ni de allá María Paramount Pictures 1993 Se equivocó la cigüeña María Nicolasa Cruz Columbia Pictures 1999 Las delicias del poder María / Lorena Barriga Warner Bros. Pictures 2014 La hija de Moctezuma María Nicolasa Cruz Paramount Pictures Nominated – Silver Goddess Award for Best Original Song

Television Year Title Role Notes 1969 Domingos espectaculares La India María 1970 Siempre en domingo La India María 1972 Revista musical Nescafé La India María 1988 Papá soltero La India María 1 episode 1998 ¡Ay María qué puntería! La India María 2003 La hora pico La India María 1 episode 2003 Mujer, casos de la vida real La India María 1 episode – "Amor incondicional" 2004 La familia P. Luche La India María Season 1 episode 38 – "Nos vamos de viaje" 2013 Corazón indomable María Nicolasa Cruz de Olivares

Stage Year Production Author Notes 1970 El séptimo sello Ingmar Bergman 1972 Dos viejos pánicos Virgilio Piñera 1972 Inmaculada Héctor Azar 1994 México canta y aguanta María Elena Velasco Mexican Theatre Critics Association Award for Best Revue

Discography La mejor cantante de todas las grabadoras (1971) De chile, de dulce y de manteca (1982)