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. Instead, she was touring the country performing in vaudeville and comedy shows. Most of her film work in the 1940s was completed in Mexico. During the 1950s she worked for several periods in Hollywood.

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) and was nominated four times for an Ariel Award. She won the Ariel Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, in 1947 and 1951.

Schiller was well respected for her work at voice-overs and dubbing; Edmundo Santos, voice director of Disney's releases in Spanish, was so impressed with her that he hired her to dub the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (1950). She also was the voice of Snapdragon (the purple flower) in Alice in Wonderland, Aunt Sara in Lady and the Tramp, and the fairy Flora in the 1959 version of Sleeping Beauty. In the 1960s she did dubbing work for Hanna-Barbera, and was the voice of Fred Flintstone's mother in the animated series.

In 1955 Schiller ran for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies. This was the first time that women had been eligible to run for office in Mexico and the first time that women in Mexico would be able to participate in a national election, having won the right to vote in 1952. She was defeated, but attended the PRI Civic Day of Mexican Women on April 6, 1955, to celebrate the gains in women's rights.

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 1947: Las abandonadas, Best Actress co-performance, nominated for Ariel 1948: A media luz, Best Supporting Actress, nominated for Ariel 1951: La mujer que yo amé, Best Supporting Actress, won Ariel

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1926 El Cristo de oro 1935 Heroic Silence Modista 1935 Rosario 1937 No te engañes corazón Refugio Uncredited 1937 La paloma Matilde 1939 Una luz en mi camino Sra. Bonato 1940 Herencia macabra Matilde 1941 The League of Songs Doña Gertrudis 1942 Del rancho a la capital Doña Consuelo de Rodríguez 1942 Alejandra Rita 1942 Historia de un gran amor Mesonera Uncredited 1942 La virgen que forjó una patria Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez 1943 Santa Elvira Gómez 1943 Cuando habla el corazón Doña Rosa 1944 The War of the Pastries Tía Marietta 1944 La corte de faraón Viuda 1944 The Lady of the Camellias Prudence 1944 El rosario Duquesa 1944 The Lieutenant Nun Doña Úrsula 1944 Mi lupe y mi caballo 1944 El abanico de Lady Windermere Duquesa 1944 Amores de ayer 1944 El rey se divierte 1944 Escándalo de estrellas Paloma 1945 Las abandonadas Ninón 1945 Tuya en cuerpo y alma Deborah 1945 Nosotros 1945 Club verde 1945 Flor de durazno Doña Encarnación 1945 Canaima Gallineta 1945 El monje blanco 1945 Lo que va de ayer a hoy 1945 He Who Died of Love Tía Rita 1945 La casa de la zorra Invitada a fiesta 1946 Cantaclaro Doña Nico 1946 Palabras de mujer Doña María, mamá de Fernando 1946 La viuda celosa 1946 Bailando en las nubes 1946 Tú eres la luz 1946 Sinfonía de una vida 1946 Por un amor 1946 Las Colegialas Leondina 1946 Ramona 1946 El último amor de Goya 1946 Los maridos engañan de 7 a 9 1946 Pervertida 1946 Mujer contra mujer 1947 A media luz Fru-Fru 1947 El tigre de Jalisco Tía de Mary, turista 1947 Encadenada (El yugo) Doña Julia 1948 Adventures of Casanova Woman who complains in crowd Uncredited 1948 María la O 1948 La hermana impura 1948 La sin ventura 1948 Que Dios me perdone Olga 1948 Señora tentación Lupe, tia de Blanca 1948 Algo flota sobre el agua María Justina 1948 ¡Ay, Palillo, no te rajes! Tía Isadora 1948 El gallero Isabel 1949 Salón México Señorita prefecta 1949 Pobres, pero sinvergüenzas Señora 1949 Secreto entre mujeres Tía Laura 1949 Bamba Doña Ofelia de Cacho 1949 Opio 1949 La panchita Doña Martinita 1949 Las tandas del principal Doña Romualda 1949 Nosotros los rateros 1949 Las puertas del presidio Madre de Martin 1950 Duel in the Mountains Madre de Esperanza 1950 Black Angustias Doña Chole 1950 Cinderella The Fairy Godmother Voice role, Latin Spanish dub 1950 Red Rain Tía de Elisa 1950 La dama del alba Aurelia 1950 Guardián, el perro salvador 1950 La mujer que yo amé Magdalena, madre de Rosita 1950 De Tequila, su mezcal 1950 Donde nacen los pobres 1950 Curvas peligrosas Madre de Esperanza 1950 Pata de palo Señora de casade citas 1951 Una gringuita en México Tia Rosa 1951 Crimen y castigo Mamá de Ramón 1951 ¡Baile mi rey! Madame 1951 We Maids Mamá de Teresa 1951 Beauty Salon Doña Susana 1952 El beisbolista fenómeno Doña Justa Carmona 1952 Cuando los hijos pecan 1952 Sangre en el barrio Doña Beatriz 1952 La loca Señora González de la Cueva 1952 Angélica Madre de Arturo 1952 Por ellas aunque mal paguen Doña Victoria 1952 El enamorado Anfitriona fiesta 1953 Fruto de tentación Señorita directora 1953 The Naked Woman Violeta Bello 1953 Sombrero Doña Fela 1953 Doña Mariquita de mi corazón Doña Micaela 1954 La infame Victoria 1954 Lágrimas robadas 1954 Cantando nace el amor Doña Ninfa 1954 El casto Susano Doña Virtudes 1954 Mulata Doña Rosario 1954 La sobrina del señor cura Doña Dolores 1954 Cuidado con el amor Isabel 1955 Pecado mortal Flora 1955 Historia de un abrigo de mink Sofía, madre de Camila 1955 Maternidad imposible 1955 A Life in the Balance Carmen Martínez 1955 Las engañadas Doña Carlota 1955 Father Against Son Tía Domitila 1955 Lady and the Tramp Aunt Sarah Voice role, Latin Spanish dub 1955 The Treasure of Pancho Villa Laria Morales 1956 Locura pasional Doña Jacinta, mamá de Mabel 1956 Enemigos Doña Lupe 1956 A Woman's Devotion Señora Reidl 1956 Juventud desenfrenada Doña Mercedes 1957 Pablo and Carolina Señora Cirol 1957 The Black Scorpion Florentina 1958 Tu hijo debe nacer Enfermera 1958 The Boxer Madrastra de Carmen 1958 El Zorro escarlata en la venganza del ahorcado 1959 El Zorro Escarlata La Bruja 1959 Sleeping Beauty Flora Voice role, Latin Spanish dub 1959 La mujer y la bestia La Mariposa 1959 The Life of Agustín Lara Estrella 1959 Kermesse Doña Cruz 1959 El zarco 1959 El regreso del monstruo La bruja / Doña Rebeca 1959 Felicidad 1959 Escuela de verano Señorita Rosario 1959 Una señora movida Lola 1960 Poker de reinas 1960 Por ti aprendí a querer 1960 Chucho el Roto 1960 Black Skull Esposa de Remigio 1961 El proceso de las señoritas Vivanco Doña Conchita 1961 El pandillero Madame Helene 1961 Mujeres engañadas Doña Rita 1961 Aventuras de Chucho el Roto 1961 Los jóvenes Carmelita, Madre de 'El Gato 1961 La captura de Chucho el Roto 1962 Genii of Darkness Rebecca, the witch 1962 El malvado Carabel Modista 1962 The Hooded Men from Hell as herself 1962 La entrega de Chucho el Roto 1962 Cielo rojo 1962 La venganza del resucitado as herself 1962 El muchacho de Durango Doña Manuela 1962 La barranca sangrienta Doña Blanca 1962 La emboscada mortal 1962 El tejedor de milagros 1963 Alias El Alacrán Doña Manuela 1963 La risa de la ciudad 1963 Jugándose la vida Graciela 1963 México de mis recuerdos Tia Gertrudis 1963 Baila mi amor 1963 El norteño 1965 Love Has Many Faces Maria 1965 Los cuervos están de luto Doña Enedina 1966 El cachorro 1966 El temerario 1967 La muerte es puntual 1967 Domingo salvaje 1967 Los alegres Aguilares Tía Natalia 1967 Arrullo de Dios La bruja 1968 Sor Ye-yé Mamá de Juan 1968 María Isabel Manuela 1969 No se mande, profe Headmistress 1969 No juzgarás a tus padres 1969 La maestra inolvidable Teódula 1970 Estafa de amor 1970 Crónica de un cobarde 1970 Rubí Toña - nana 1970 Las figuras de arena 1971 The Fearmaker 1971 Dos mujeres y un hombre as herself

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

References

External links

Schiller's Disney Voices