Erika Buenfil

Teresa de Jesús Buenfil López (Spanish pronunciation: [teˈɾesa ðe xeˈsus βweɱˈfil ˈlopes]; born November 23, 1964), commonly known as Erika Buenfil, is a Mexican actress, TV host and singer. She is best known for her lead roles in several successful telenovelas including Amor en Silencio (1988), Marisol (1996), Tres Mujeres (1999–2000) and Amores Verdaderos (2012–2013). Since September 2019, Buenfil has run a YouTube channel named as 'Sazonando con la Buenfil'.

Buenfil started her career in show business at the age of 11. Her first telenovela appearance was in 1977 in Acompañame. More roles followed in Ambicion, alongside Edith Gonzalez; Conflictos de un Medico alongside Victoria Ruffo; and Aprendiendo a Amar alongside Susana Dosamantes. An outstanding role was Cristina del Junco in the telenovela El derecho de nacer in 1981, which gave Buenfil international exposure as an upcoming young actress. In 1983 she played the role of Vicky de Martino in El Maleficio. The success of the novela gave Buenfil her first starring role in 1985 in Angelica, where she played the title character. At this point, she became recognizable in Latin America thanks to her success in novelas and hosting the Mexican show XETU. The following year, in 1986, Buenfil starred in El Engaño, alongside Frank Moro, Guillermo Garcia Cantu, and Luz Maria Jerez.^{[citation needed]}

Two years later, in 1988, Buenfil appeared in Amor en silencio. This was her third starring role and the most memorable. She played two characters; Marisela in the first half, and Ana in the second half of the telenovela. Her leading men were Arturo Peniche and Omar Fierro. Amor en silencio, produced by Carla Estrada, became an instant hit due to the cast and the well-written storyline. However, her character was killed in a surprise twist during one episode. The story continued with the plot progressing 12 years, and emerged with Buenfil reappearing in the story, now playing the teenage daughter of her former murdered character.^{[citation needed]}

Amor en silencio was the most awarded telenovela of the year, winning Best Telenovela and Best Actress for Erika Buenfil in 1989's TVyNovela awards. During this time, Buenfil's popularity had grown and her status as telenovela actress was at its highest. She made appearances in many entertainment magazines and on TV shows.^{[citation needed]}

After her success with Amor en silencio, Buenfil took a few years off from telenovelas before returning in 1991 in Vida Robada alongside Sergio Goyri and Cynthia Klitbo. The telenovela had some success, but after it ended Buenfil disappeared from the spotlight once again. In 1993, she was being considered for the lead role of Monica in the epic novela Corazón salvaje, but the role went to Edith González.^{[citation needed]} Buenfil was offered the part of the antagonist, "Aimee," but she initially refused it. In 1996, Buenfil admitted on El Show de Cristina that she had refused the role because she wanted to be the star and did not want to accept a secondary role. She said that she changed her mind over the weekend, but when she called the producer Jose Rendón, she was told that the role had already been given to actress Ana Colchero.^{[citation needed]}

By the end of 1995, Buenfil had been absent from the TV screen for over four years. However, her fortune changed when she went to Televisa to ask for better treatment at the company.^{[citation needed]} Her voice was heard and producer Juan Osorio wanted her to star in his upcoming production of Marisol alongside Eduardo Santamarina, in his first starring role. To the surprise of many, Marisol was a great hit with audiences, thanks to the great chemistry between the lead actors. It was a typical Cinderella-type story, criticized by many, but that brought much success. The success of the telenovela was such that Buenfil and Santamarina went on a promotional tour of various Latin American countries.^{[citation needed]}

After the success of Marisol, Buenfil did some theater, made a special appearance in her friend Laura Flores' vehicle El Alma No Tiene Color, and was offered various scripts, including starring in 1998's La Usurpadora. She declined and the role went to Venezuelan Gabriela Spanic.^{[citation needed]}

The next year, in 1999, Buenfil found herself headlining the cast of the novela Tres Mujeres, where she shared the lead with Karyme Lozano and Jorge Salinas, in their first starring roles. Even though Televisa placed the novela in a non-prime time slot, Tres Mujeres delivered better than the network's other primetime soaps. The show covered previous taboo issues in Latin American TV, such as homosexuality and adultery. The role of Barbara was also the first time Buenfil played a mature woman who committed infidelity. Due to the success of the novela, the cast of Tres Mujeres was asked to continue working on the novela, even though filming had ended. Eventually the novela lasted over eight months (most last a little over four months).^{[citation needed]}