Lupe Vélez
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Lupe Vélez (July 18, 1908 – December 13, 1944) was a Mexican-born American film actress.
Vélez began her career in Mexico as a dancer, before moving to the U.S. where she worked in vaudeville. She was seen by Fanny Brice who promoted her, and Vélez soon entered films, making her first appearance in 1924. By the end of the decade she had progressed to leading roles and her vivacious personality helped establish her as one of the most popular actresses of her time. The advent of talking pictures allowed Vélez to excel in comedies, but she became disappointed with her film career, and moved to New York where she worked in Broadway productions.
Returning to Hollywood in 1939, she made a series of Mexican Spitfire comedies that utilized her volatile and explosive personality, and proved highly popular. She also made some films in Mexico. Vélez's personal life was often difficult; a five year marriage to Johnny Weismuller and a series of romances, were highly publicized. Vélez committed suicide in 1944; the contradictory reports surrounding her death have become part of Hollywood folklore.
She is regarded as one of the most notable Mexican movie stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and is often associated with the nicknames "The Mexican Spitfire" and "The Hot Pepper".
