Sara-Montiel-Obituary

Sara Montiel

Obituary

MADRID (AP) — Sara Montiel, a famed, sultry-voiced Spanish actress who became the first to also achieve Hollywood stardom, died Monday. She was 85.

Her biographer, Peter Villora, said Montiel died at her home in Madrid after passing out. "She was both an actress and singer, but mainly an actress, fulfilling the dream of her life," Villora said.

Montiel was born Maria Antonia Abad in Campo de Criptana in the central region of La Mancha. An acknowledged beauty with an almost husky singing voice, Montiel starred in more than 50 films, many of which were musicals.

She married Anthony Mann, an American actor and film director, in 1957. But press reports, which Montiel never denied, claimed she had turbulent affairs with author Ernest Hemingway and actor James Dean.

She became known for smoking Havana cigars on stage while singing, something that was at the time associated mostly with men. Montiel said it was Hemingway who taught her to smoke.

After limited success in Spain, her career took off in Mexico in the late 1940s where she featured in successful Spanish language films such as "Carcel de Mujeres" (Women's Prison).

From there she made the leap to Hollywood, where she soon attracted the attention of actors and directors. She played a supporting role in the legendary 1955 western "Vera Cruz" alongside actors Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster.

Her second U.S. film was the musical "Serenade," with tenor Mario Lanza and Joan Fontaine and Vincent Price as stars.

"She was the Spanish star with the greatest international impact until the arrival of Javier (Bardem) and Penelope (Cruz)," Spanish actor Jose Sacristan said.

Having found success in Mexico and the U.S., Montiel then earned star status in her native Spain with 1957's "El Ultimo Cuple" (The Last Couplet), which became one of the highest grossing movies in Spanish cinema history.

The fee for her next film, "La Violetera" (The Violet Seller) netted Montiel more than $1 million, something unheard of for a Spanish star in those days.

In the mid-1970s, Montiel gave up film work and dedicated herself to live musicals on stage and television.

Montiel is survived by her daughter Thais and son Zeus.

___

HAROLD HECKLE,Associated Press

Jorge Sainz in Madrid contributed to this obituary.


Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May you Rest In Peace in God's arms, Beautiful Lady!
Forever in my heart!



I'll always love you.

May the god of comfort be a source of strength for your family at this difficult time. 2Corn 1:3, 4. Deepest Sympathy, Sue, Concord, NC

so sorry for your lose,may Jah(GOD)be with you.Happy are the mericiful since they will be shown mericiful..matt..5:7~~

A great artist an unique beauty rest in peace Saritisima.

The News of your passing hurt me so much.You were my all time favourite actress.You were not only a talented actress with great voice,great humour, legendary beauty but also a great human beeing. I remember well when I saw your first movie shown in my native country Romania called Carmen la de Ronda.I was just a teenager but saw it at least 5times.I managed to see all your movies and became a great fan of yours.Thanks to videos,dvds I managed to have a nice colection of your movies,shows...

May the God comfort be with the family during this difficult time.

You were so pretty! I still remember when you came to visit my elementary school when I was nine years old. Rest in Peace my dear, Rest in Peace.