Ofelia Guilmain, 83; Film, TV and Stage Actress in Mexico

Ofelia Guilmain, who fled to Mexico in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and created an illustrious career on stage, screen and television, has died. She was 83.

Guilmain, who died Friday, had been hospitalized until recently for treatment of severe bronchitis, according to her son, Juan Ferrara.

The actress was born in Madrid in 1921 and participated in the Guerrillas of Theater groups created by the Spanish Republican government.

The Republicans lost the civil war to the Nazi-backed forces of Francisco Franco.

Like many other partisans of the fallen government, Guilmain moved to Mexico in 1939. She married two years later and vanished from acting for a decade.

Despite that hiatus, Guilmain built an impressive tally of credits over a long career. She acted in at least 100 stage plays and about 50 movies, as varied as classics and low comedy.

“The name of our leading actress is written with letters of gold in the history of Mexican television, the theater and film,” the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences said in a news release mourning her death.

Guilmain appeared in “The Exterminating Angel” by fellow Spanish exile Luis Bunuel, as well as “Patrol 777” with comedian Mario Moreno, known as Cantinflas.

Her last stage role was in “The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico Garcia Lorca, a martyr of the Spanish Republican era.

She had completed work on a television soap opera, “My Truth,” which is scheduled for broadcast this year.

In addition to her son, the actress is survived by her daughters, Margarita, Esther and Lucia.