Ana Ofelia Murguía, one of Mexico’s most acclaimed actresses, whose voice playing Mama Coco in the Disney animated film “Coco” earned her international recognition, died Sunday. She was 90 years old.
His death was confirmed by the National Institute of Fine Arts and the National Theater Company of Mexico, which did not specify the cause of death.
The National Theater Company described Murguía on social networks as “one of the greatest actresses in Mexico.” In a statement, Lucina Jiménez López, director of the National Institute of Fine Arts, described her career as one that “marked an entire era.”
In the 2017 Pixar animated film “Coco,” Murguía plays the key role of Mamá Coco, the great-grandmother of a young boy, protagonist Miguel, who finds himself in the land of the dead on a journey to discover the story of his family. In the emotional climax of the film, Miguel and Mama Coco sing the song “Recuérdame” together.
The film, which is based on the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead, was celebrated for its portrayal of Mexican culture and its handling of important themes such as death in a children’s film. He won best animated film and best original song for “Remember Me” at the 2018 Oscars.
“Coco” introduced Murguía to a global audience, but she was well known in her native Mexico long before that.
Ana Ofelia Murguía was born on December 8, 1933 in Mexico City. She studied acting at the National School of Theater Arts in Mexico and debuted in 1954 in the play “Test by Fire.” Her first screen role was in the 1964 film “Transit.”
He would go on to appear in more than 70 plays and 90 films, working with some of Mexico’s best filmmakers. Acclaimed for her versatility, she played the role of villain or antagonist, according to a statement from the Institute of Fine Arts and the National Theater Company.
At Mexico’s prestigious Ariel Awards, Murguía won best supporting actress for her performances in “Cadena Perpetua” in 1979; “The Motifs of Light”, in 1986; and “The Queen of the Night”, in 1996. She was nominated five times for best actress, but never won. In 2011, she was recognized with a special Ariel de Oro award for lifetime achievement.
In April 2023 he received the Ingmar Bergman Medal from the National Autonomous University of Mexico for leaving an “indelible mark” on Mexican cinema and theater.
