Rocío Banquells (; born María del Rocío Banquells Nuñez; 22 June 1958) is a Mexican pop singer, politician, and actress, best known for her work on television, the stage and cinema of Mexico and Latin America. Her mezzo voice is one of the most versatile voices from Mexico. She sings operetta, ranchera, rock, and ballads.

Early life and career Born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, in 1958, Banquells is the daughter of Cuban actor and director Rafael Banquells and the actress Dina de Marco. She is half-sister of the actress Sylvia Pasquel (daughter of Rafael Banquells and Silvia Pinal). Her other siblings are Jose Manuel, Janette, Mary Paz, Ariadne and Rafael Jr. Rocío Banquells

Banquells began her career as a special guest in the 1968 Banquells's telenovela Gutierritoz. She moved to the stage in the early 1970s. In 1978 she starred in the musical Sound of Music along with the Mexican singer Lupita D'Alessio. Other stage performances of Rocío are in the Mexican versions of Grease, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

In 1979, Banquells starred in the Mexican telenovelas's international success Los ricos tambien lloran, alongside Verónica Castro. Banquells's other memorable TV performances are Bianca Vidal (1983) and La fiera (1984). She realized memorable interpretations especially in playing evil characters. In 1985 she began her musical career with the album Rocío Banquells, that includes the 1980s superhits Este hombre no se toca, Luna Mágica and Abrazame.

Banquells continued her musical career during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1997 a legal conflict caused the Banquells retirement for over 10 years. In 2006, Banquells returned in the Televisa reality show Cantando por un sueño, and in 2007 returned with a new album named Nací para ti, recorded live in the Teatro de la Ciudad in Mexico City. In the same year, she returned to TV in the telenovela Pasión. In 2009-2010 Banquells starred in the Mexican version of the successful musical Mamma Mia! as Donna.

In 2012, Banquells returned with the show Noches de Cabaret, along with the Mexican singers Lucía Méndez and Manoella Torres. Lucía Méndez acompañada de Rocío Banquells y Manoella Torres, presenta sus Noches de Cabaret For her work in the recording industry, stage and television Banquells' handprints and star have been embedded onto the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City, alongside her half-sister Sylvia Pasquel.

Political career Banquells was a candidate from the Va por México coalition (made up of the National Action Party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution, to which she belonged) for the 14th congressional district of Mexico City based in Tlalpan and was elected in June 2021 after obtaining nearly 40% of the votes. From September 2021 to August 2024 she was a federal deputy in the Congress of the Union. In February 2022 she switched from the PRD to the Citizens' Movement party.

Personal life Banquells was married twice. The first time to Pedro Mendez from 1979 to 1984, father of her daughter Pamela, and the second the producer Jorge Berlanga from 1985 to 2005, father of her son Rodrigo. Rocío Banquells

Discography

1985: Rocío Banquells 1986: Con él 1987: Entrega Total - First Mariachi album. 1988: En el alambre 1989: Llorarás, llorarás 1990: Un sueño que alguna vez soñe - Includes the Banquells music performances of Broadway musicals like Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar). 1990: Escucha el infinito 1991: A mi viejo - Dedicated to her father. 1993: A la Virgen Morena - Tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe. 1993: Genio y figura 1995: La fuerza del amor 1996: Coincidir:Grandes Exitos 1998: Recuerdos de un sentimiento 2007: Nací para tí - Live in the Teatro de la Ciudad. 2018: Siempre Regios (album Norteño) 2019: Recuerdos De Oro (album Homenaje a Sonia Lopez)

Collaborations No me puedo escapar de ti (1986) - Duet with La Mafia No me puedo escapar de ti (1987) - Duet with Luis Miguel La Bella y la Bestia (Beauty and the Beast) (1992) - Duet with Manuel Mijares Las numero uno (2007) - Duet with many female singers Todo por amor - (2008) Duet with Armando Manzanero

Filmography

Year Title RoleNotes 1973 Los que ayudan a Dios ValeriaSupporting Role Adorables MujercitasRoberta Ojeda CastroFilm1974 Ha llegado una intrusa Special Appearance 1975 Barata de primaveraPatricia Supporting Role1976 Mi hermana la Nena Mónica Co-Protagonist 1978 LadronzuelaGilda Main Antagonist 1979-1980 Los ricos tambien lloran Esther Izaguirre de SalvatierraMain Antagonist 1980Querer volar ErikaProtagonist 1981-1982 Juegos del Destino SofíaProtagonist 1982-1983 Bianca Vidal Mónica Rondán/Sandra Main Antagonist 1983-1984 La Fiera Brenda del Villar Main Antagonist 1996-1997 Te dejare de AmarRegina Sandor Protagonist / Antagonist 2006 Cantando por un sueño HerselfTV show, WinnerCantando por un sueño:Reyes De La Canción TV show, 5th Place2007-2008 PasiónOfelia de Márquez Co-Protagonist 2008-2009 Cuidado con el AngelIsabella Rojas Antagonist 2010 Mujeres Asesinas 3 Elena Episode:"Elena, protectora"2010-2011 Cuando me enamoroJosefina "Fina" Álvarez de MonterrubioMain Antagonist 2013 Corazón Indomable Carola Canseco Antagonist 2016 Un camino hacia el destinoLupe Gonzalo Supporting Role2020-2021 La mexicana y el güero Maria Dolores Santoyo Special Appearance

Dubbing Year Title Character 1979 Unico Unico

Theater

Year Title Role1970 Cosas de mamá y papá Los años imposibles 1972 El día que secuestraron al Papa 1973-74 Vaselina (Grease) Licha1975 La novicia rebelde (The Sound of Music) Maria Von Trapp/Liesl Ciao Valentino 1977 Lili Lili1978 El país de las sonrisas 1979 Anita la huerfanita (Annie) 1980 Aló!... Aló!... número equivocado Godspell 1981-82 Evita Evita Perón1982 Un gran final (A Chorus Line) 1983 Jesuscristo Superestrella (Jesus Christ Superstar) Mary Magdalene 1984 Todo se vale (Anything Goes) 1997-98 Evita Evita Perón2007 Los monólogos de la vagina 2008 La Bella y la Bestia, el musical de Broadway (Beauty and the Beast) Mrs. Potss 2009-10 Mamma Mia! Donna Sheridan

Awards and nominations

Premios ACE Year Category Result1988 Rhythm artist most outstanding regional rowspan=4 1991 Best album of the year1993 Best music video1993 Artist of ranchera music

Premios TVyNovelas Year Category TelenovelaResult1984 Best Female Antagonist Bianca Vidal rowspan=3 1988 Best Female TV-Singer 2011 Best Female Antagonist Cuando me enamoro

References

External links Rocío Banquells Official Website Rocío Banquells' Biography at esmas.com