Biography of Veronica Castro
Veronica Castro (full name Veronica Judith Sainz Castro Alba) is a legendary Mexican actress, star of the television series “The Rich Also Cry” and “Wild Rose,” which had incredible success in the early 1990s in Latin America and the former USSR, France, Croatia, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, China, singer who has released more than three dozen albums, presenter, producer and former model. As of early 2020, her net worth was estimated at $30 million.
In the photo: Veronica Castro
Series
Offers for roles in TV series began to pour in on the young talent from all sides. At first, the actress had no desire to act in melodramas, but she was persuaded to play a role in “The Rich Also Cry.” This brought her such fame that her name became famous throughout the world, and she herself began to be considered the number one Mexican star.
In the 80s, Castro was literally torn between filming “Wild Rose” and participating in various television projects, so she almost never left the territory of the television center. The series became so popular among Russian viewers that in the 90s a meeting was organized in Ostankino, which the star attended in person. The second time she came to Russia many years later, in 2010.
Not long ago, the actress announced the end of her acting career. Her last serial project was “House of Flowers.”
Childhood and youth
The movie star, who gained international fame and the status of a sex symbol, was born on October 19, 1952 in Mexico City, into the family of Socorro Castro Alba and Fausto Saenz. She later had two brothers, José Alberto and Fausto Gerardo, and a sister, Beatriz.
Veronica Castro with her mother
When the parents divorced, all four children remained with their mother. Veronica was the eldest, so she had to help her mother both in caring for the younger children and with housework. They lived very poorly. The small salary of my mother, who worked as the secretary to the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, was barely enough for food. Peers laughed at the modestly dressed short girl, who was prone to being overweight, and teased her with her plumpness and shortness. But Veronica was always active and cheerful, and adversity and hardships fostered a strong character in her.
Veronica Castro in her youth
At school she danced, played sports, sang, and took part in amateur performances. Her enthusiasm and efforts paid off: at the age of 12, she became a slender and attractive participant in a regional beauty pageant and was recognized as the queen of the event.
Veronica Castro in her youth
Then fate gave Veronica another lucky ticket in the form of meeting a certain influential deputy Luis Bartiloti. She confessed to him that she wanted to become an actress, and he decided to help a girl from a poor single-parent family by introducing her to the head of the Theater Academy and prominent film figure Andres Soler.
Veronica Castro at the beginning of her career
It should be noted that Veronica’s dream of an acting career was not accidental. There were representatives of this profession in her family - her paternal grandmother was the founder of her own theater troupe, and her uncle at one time participated in the creation of film hits.
Young actress Veronica Castro
During the exam, Soler was delighted with the performance of the young beauty with pure, naive, wide-open eyes and luxurious hair. And Veronica turned out to be not a timid person - she asked him to become her “godfather” in acting and assist in obtaining an academic scholarship. As a result, not only she, but also her sister Beatrice became a student and scholarship recipient of a prestigious educational institution.
At the age of 15, Veronica began working part-time as a model, posed for photo comics, and sang in a cabaret. A year later, she appeared naked on the cover of the men's magazine Caballero, horrifying her brothers and mother. For the peace of mind of her loved ones, the girl promised to no longer act in nude style for any money, although even then she understood that to move to the top of the career ladder, among other things, she would need scandals.
On the way to success
Realizing that she shouldn’t count on anyone’s help, the girl became a school activist, and thanks to this she began to often appear on stage. She made an acquaintance with one of the deputies, who, in turn, introduced her to the head of the theater academy, Andres Soler.
Having overcome all her fears, Veronica asked Andres to become her mentor and help her with her studies at the university. The man was struck by her attitude and agreed to help.
The scholarship she received at the university was barely enough to live on, not to mention the fact that the girl needed to help her family. This led her to the decision to appear in a nude photo shoot for one of the magazines. The family was shocked by her action. But Veronica understood that this would bring her profit and play a positive role for her future.
Castro’s confidence bore fruit, because after the photo shoot, the host of the once popular “Ha Ha” show, Manuel Valdez, drew attention to her. He helped the girl advance and get an education. She received a diploma as an announcer and began working on the radio, and after winning another beauty contest she also became a TV presenter.
Creative takeoff
Soon the aspiring actress was lucky enough to get on a television program, where she performed as a dancer. Then she began announcing participants in the show, starring in commercials, and finally received an invitation to the TV show “Ha Ha,” where actor and comedian Manuel Valdez was the host. He helped her in professional and personal growth. Castro began working on mastering her speech technique, improving her diction, voice production, developing proper breathing, and over time began to conduct radio broadcasts.
In 1970, Veronica became “Person of the Year”
In 1970, with her victory in the “Person of the Year” competition, real success came to Veronica Castro - there was no end to offers of cooperation. She played on the theater stage, gave concerts that were always sold out, hosted a number of musical programs on television, without stopping her studies, and began acting in films and telenovelas. To keep up with everything, she rarely slept more than five hours a day. Veronica Castro - song from the series “The Rich Also Cry” In 1973, the singer and TV personality recorded her debut album “Veronica Castro”, and two years later she managed to defend her diploma and receive a degree in international relations.
Still from the TV series “The Rich Also Cry”
World success came to the actress in 1979 with the release of the new serial melodrama “The Rich Also Cry,” where she played the central role of Marianna, and her partner was actor Rogelio Guerra. The story of an orphan girl won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world, and in her native country raised the performer of her role literally to the skies.
Veronica Castro and Rogelio Guerra
In parallel with filming new films and TV series, the artist continued to appear on the theater stage and also record musical hits, including the single “Adios,” written especially for her by the famous Mexican singer and composer Juan Gabriel. Veronica Castro - Adios In 1987, after the release of the soap opera Wild Rose, the superstar's incredible popularity was further strengthened. At the age of 35, she perfectly played the title role of an 18-year-old “tomboy” and sang the main song, which became a No. 1 hit. “Wild Rose” became one of the first Latin American series broadcast in the USSR.
Veronica Castro in the series "Wild Rose"
Subsequently, with constant success, the actress appeared on television as the host of various show programs, the central character of a number of series, including the drama “My Little Soledad” (1990), the melodrama “Valentina” (1993), and the historical film “Hell in a Small Town” ( 1997) etc.
Actress at the "Minute of Fame" in 2010
The star visited Russia twice. The first time was in 1992, when Veronica arrived to film the program “Meeting with Rose” and performed her new musical composition “Makumba”. And the second time the actress’s fans could see their favorite was in 2010. She was invited to the Russian capital as a jury member in the “Minute of Fame” program, where she performed a song from the series “The Rich Also Cry.”
Personal life of Veronica Castro
The legendary “Wild Rose” was never married, and her stormy personal life was constantly the subject of gossip. It was especially actively discussed when her first-born Christian was born in 1974.
Veronica Castro with her sons
Journalists speculated - who became the happy father of the boy? As it later turned out - comedian Manuel Valdez. As an adult, Veronica's son, who became a famous singer, revealed this secret himself. Christian has been married three times, although there are rumors that he is gay.
Veronica and her eldest son Christian
The singer's second son, Michel, was born in 1984 and also out of wedlock. At that time, the actress was in a relationship with her colleague Enrique Niembro, so he was considered the father, although this assumption has not been officially confirmed. She broke up with her lover after learning about his infidelities, and her youngest son grew up and became a successful director and producer.
Veronica Castro with her youngest son
In addition to the aforementioned partners, the star, who was considered the ideal of beauty in the days of her youth, had many affairs - with actor Omar Fierro (starring partner in the film “My Waitress”), with musician Adolfo Angel, with handsome Argentinean Jorge Martinez (with whom she played in the TV soap “Face of Love”), with her colleague in the telenovela “Hell in a Small Town” Juan Soler. With Brazilian actor Julio Silva, 30 years younger than Veronica, she starred in the multi-part film “Successful Señoritas Perez.”
Veronica Castro in 2020
But, as the actress herself noted in an interview, she was happy as a woman only in the movies, but in real life all her relationships had a sad ending.
Veronica Castro: “I will never get married”
At the dawn of the 1990s, the telenovela “The Rich Also Cry” marked the beginning of a serial fever in Russia. But over time, we lost sight of the foreign stars with whom we so passionately empathized. How do our former idols live now?
Veronica Castro: temporarily unemployed
Last year, Mexico was rocked by two, to put it mildly, contradictory rumors concerning the public's favorite Veronica Castro. Some claimed that the actress, singer and TV presenter was dying of a serious lung disease in the intensive care unit of the American city of Houston. Others say that she is preparing to marry for the first time. Vero's chosen one was a Uruguayan businessman with whom she allegedly dated for three years.
The actress quickly dealt with the first rumor. “Grandma didn’t die, grandma went to a party,” Veronica joked. — I went to Houston to speak to the Spanish-speaking residents of the city. I definitely did not have any operations there. I still can’t give up smoking, my only bad habit, but I smoke quite a bit and, thank God, I feel great. The doctors finally left alone even my spine, which I damaged several years ago when I fell off an elephant while filming the final of the reality show “Big Brother.”
But refuting the second rumor required some resourcefulness from Vero. The fact is that her nameless Uruguayan lover is a semi-mythical figure. Three years ago, it was invented (or chosen at random from numerous fans) to cover up the real passion of Veronica, who is 30 years younger than her.
the aspiring Brazilian actor Rogerio Fernandez , who works under the pseudonym Duilio Silva, in Argentina, on the set of her latest series to date, “Successful Senoritas Perez.” On the set, the 27-year-old guy served as an errand boy and sometimes appeared in the crowd. “As a woman, Vero is still stunningly good,” Duilio said. “I liked watching her work.” Castro kept chasing me for coffee and mineral water, then I became bolder and began to ask myself if she needed anything. The moment came when I saw in Vero’s eyes what exactly she wanted from me, but the set was not the place where this should have been discussed. One day, while leaving from filming, she “forgot” her bag with the script and the keys to the house, she called and asked me to bring it. In the hallway our hands touched, I told her how beautiful she was, then kissed her. I was afraid, of course, that I had misinterpreted her behavior, but Veronica kissed back. I understood that she only needed her for sex, but that didn’t bother me. As well as the fact that people will consider me a hunter for money and a career. I wanted to be with Vero - that's all. I even liked that she was not going to limit her and my freedom.”
In Argentina, Veronica introduced Duilio to her eldest son Christian - not as a lover, but as a personal assistant. Rumor has it that the guy happily continues to “assist” the actress to this day, to complete mutual satisfaction. In any case, her diplomatic comment about the upcoming wedding sounded like this: “There is a man in my life - this is true, and the assumption that I will ever get married is completely absurd. Look at my family history and you will understand that marriage is not for us. They did not bring anything good to my brother and eldest son.”
Son Christian, who four years ago went through a scandalous divorce from his second wife, Argentine lawyer Valeria Lieberman, and still cannot really share his two children with her, completely shares his mother’s point of view. “I will never marry again,” said the actor. “I loved Valeria madly, but family life was painful, and divorce was ruinous. Nothing will make me go through this hell again."
Veronica, of course, is upset that she communicates with her grandchildren only by phone, but she is immensely happy to get back her son, with whom she did not communicate at all while he was married. “Valeria and I disliked each other at first sight,” admits the actress. “Sometimes it seemed to me that Valeria’s husband was not my son, not the man I raised.”
Rumor has it that Vero upset the wedding of her youngest son Michel. At the beginning of this year, the aspiring director and producer was going to marry photographer Paola Fernandez, whose affair lasted eight whole years. But three months before the appointed date, he suddenly decided to support the family tradition and remain single. “Veronica is a big owner when it comes to her sons,” say friends of the Castro family. “She doesn’t like to let them out from under her wing.” It would seem that it would be a sin for Veronica’s compatriots to rely on rumors and gossip when it comes to the nation’s darling. But for several years now she has been visiting her homeland on visits and stays away from reporters. “I am looking for opportunities to continue my career in other Latin American countries, such as Argentina or Colombia,” says the actress. — There is no more work for me on Mexican television. The company Televisa, to which I gave my best years, ignores me.”
Rogelio Guerra: from scrip to prison
The 76-year-old performer of the role of Luis Alberto, Rogelio Guerra, also has his own complaints about the television people. He remains in demand in the roles of noble fathers and elderly scoundrels, despite his difficult character and limited mobility. Several years ago, during a performance, the actor fell into the orchestra pit and was seriously injured. “I had nine surgeries on my hip and five on my spine,” Rogelio recalls. “Before the fall, I was in good shape, and I didn’t hurt myself that badly.” I would have been on my feet a long time ago if the doctors hadn’t been so lazy.”
But Rogelio's complaints about Mexican medicine are nothing compared to his resentment of Mexican justice. This spring, he lost a 10-year lawsuit with TV Azteca, which he accused of violating the terms of the contract. In 2002, the actor said that the company did not give him roles and did not allow him to star in other projects, condemning him and his family to starvation. Then the matter was decided in his favor, and Rogelio signed an agreement with Televisa. But three years later, TV Azteca filed a lawsuit claiming that until the actor fulfills all obligations, the rights to his name belong to the company. This time, the court ordered the defendant to pay $2 million, as well as return everything he had earned under the name Rogelio Guerra since the conclusion of the contract. “They even wanted to take the house,” the actor complained. “I said: “It’s better to immediately transfer my debts to prison time - I’ll serve it.” Rogelio could not resist making a dramatic gesture, although he understood that he could not lose his job, much less go to prison. The education of two sons required money, and the actor’s budget was depleted by medical bills for operations and expensive treatment for his wife.
50-year-old Maribel was infected with hepatitis C in the fall of 2010, when she got a pedicure at a beauty salon. She did not get out of bed for a year - Rogelio combined the duties of the family breadwinner and nurse. “I’ve been married three times,” he says. “But only with Maribel did I find peace of mind and a real family.” If necessary, I will give my life for her.” “When we got together, no one believed that the romance would last longer than a month,” says Maribel. - What kind of couple is this - a 20-year-old girl and a famous actor a quarter of a century older, a womanizer and a reveler? Rogelio was a friend of my parents, and since childhood I was accustomed to asking for his advice in love affairs. Suddenly something flared up between us and has not gone out for 30 years.”
For the sake of the family, Rogelio had to sacrifice his principles - he asked TV Azteca for a settlement agreement. The actor's debts were written off, and the company retained the rights to his name and deductions from his earnings. “I haven’t accepted it,” Guerra admits. “I’m going to establish a fund to protect the rights of people affected by our judicial system.”
Lucia Mendez and her men
The star of the series “Nobody But You” also encountered Mexican justice, but was very pleased with it. Just the other day, Lucia won her case against the producers of the music show “Cabaret Nights,” who accused the actress of fraud. She allegedly squandered $188 thousand, paid to her for participating in the play’s advertising campaign, but did not fulfill the conditions. The court did not find a written contract or accounting statements in the case, and did not take oral agreements into account.
Unlike her eternal rival Veronica Castro, 57-year-old Lucia maintains her position in the TV series. Last year, the actress broke her vow not to take on negative roles and played a villain in the telenovela “Heart’s Hope.” In addition, she does not hide her relationships with young lovers. However, her former friend Patricia Romani claims that most passionate novels are a figment of Lucia’s imagination, a desperate attempt to maintain the image of a femme fatale: “She is lonely, but she is ashamed to admit it. So she invents herself either a Frenchman or an Italian. And she sleeps in a cold bed and drowns out her melancholy with marijuana.”
One can’t help but wonder how the life of Lucia and her partner in the series “Nobody But You,” Salvador Pineda, could have turned out if their hot on-set romance had ended in marriage. After all, while on the screen the beautiful Raquel was fighting off the advances of the villain Maximiliano, the performers were seriously preparing for the altar. Salvador even introduced Lucia to her parents. The actors never revealed the reasons for the separation, although, knowing Pineda’s character and habits, it is not difficult to guess.
This year El Salvador celebrated its 60th anniversary. “It’s clear that we need to give up some bad habits, because our health is no longer the same, and all sorts of nasty diseases are ahead,” reflects the actor, who, like Lucia, lives most of the time in the USA. — It’s a shame to give up alcohol and other stimulants, so I decided to limit myself to sex to once a month. I believe that nothing makes a woman more beautiful than youth. I usually choose lovers from 20 to 30 years old, and they consume a lot of energy.”
At the same time, Pineda lives alone. “I will die alone,” says the actor. “I’m too nervous to live with a woman.” I can’t stand it when people question me about where I’ve been for three days, why I’m so drunk, where the bruises come from. Only directors can tell me what to do. And I don’t even want to think about children - I don’t like them. I warn all my friends: if you get pregnant, it’s your problem. I made a lot of babies - definitely more than five. I even recognized some, but I don’t maintain relations with any of them.”
In the early 2000s, ex-wife actress Mayra Alejandra tried to instill parental feelings in Salvador through the court, accusing him of neglecting his son Aaron. “She gave birth to a child, even though I made it clear that I didn’t want one,” Pineda counters. “In memory of my obsession with Myra, who, by the way, motherhood turned into a fat, crazy cow, I did everything I could: I gave him a last name and paid about $7 million in alimony. But as for love, education or, God forbid, a positive example, this is not for me.”
The third participant in the love triangle from the series “Nobody But You,” Lucia’s on-screen lover Andres Garcia, was also disappointed in his marriage. In January 2011, the 71-year-old actor married for the fourth time - to his girlfriend Margarita, whom he had previously dated for 15 years. “We invited six friends, went to nature and there, among fresh flowers, began to wait for a beautiful moonlit night,” said the elderly romantic. Soon the newlyweds filed for divorce. “We didn’t get along in character,” Andres grins through his famous mustache. - Or, on the contrary, they came together too much. We are both willful, stubborn, explosive. While everyone lived their own lives, it was fun. Once we found ourselves under the same roof, it almost ended in bloodshed.”
Victoria Ruffo: working on mistakes
Another telenovela that acquired cult status in Russia was “Simply Maria” with Victoria in the title role. While Veronica Castro is looking for work and Lucia Mendez is changing imaginary lovers, Ruffo is a picture of cloudless happiness on all fronts. She is still married to politician Omar Fayad, and her younger twin children have grown up, freeing up time for their mother to work. Since 2007, the actress has been appearing in TV series continuously. “I’m suffering again, fighting for women’s happiness and crying,” complains Victoria, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday. - It's hard. I am sensitive by nature, but not at all whiny. The only way to avoid the dampness is to play a villain, and I’m not old enough for such roles.”
Only her ex-husband, the father of her eldest son Eugenio Derbez, makes claims against the impeccable Victoria. “Only now, when José Eduardo has grown up, have I been able to really get to know him,” says the actor. — Victoria did not communicate with me herself and did not allow him. I found that her parenting methods left much to be desired. She smoked in front of the children for many years, taught her son to smoke cigarettes, and now I’m weaning him off.” “I don’t pretend to be perfect,” Victoria replies. “I’ll be honest: I don’t have a harsher critic than myself.” I can’t watch some of my series: I feel sick because of what I’ve done in them. It's the same in life. Jose Eduardo's adolescence was not without problems, and now I'm terrified of what the twins will do. But I believe that I have built my life anew after a failed marriage and corrected many mistakes. No matter how busy I am with filming or children, I always find time for my husband and our love. You know, telenovelas may seem naive, but I will continue to star in them to promote one very simple idea: love has no age, you cannot lose hope for happiness or be afraid to start all over again.”
Ekaterina ZHIVOVA, Telenedelya LLC, Moscow (especially for ZN), photoGetty Images/Fotobank
© Telenedelya
Veronica Castro now
As before, the actress lives a full and meaningful life - records new albums, performs, and hosts a TV show. The last series with her participation was released in 2020 - this is the comedy-drama story “The House of Flowers”, where she played the key role of Virginia de la Mora.
Veronica Castro in the TV series “House of Flowers”
The superstar is also involved in sports, grandchildren and developing her own business in the beauty industry, owning a network of perfume and cosmetic salons, boutiques, and a personalized line of cosmetics. She enjoyed using these products, and completely “no longer feared old age” (in her words), complementing the effect of cosmetics with the services of plastic microsurgeon Jose Khoury. True, some fans consider her passion for plastic surgery to be excessive.
