Isela Vega Durazo (5 November 1939 – 9 March 2021) was a Mexican actress, singer-songwriter, and filmmaker. She won four Ariel Awards (once for Best Actress and thrice for Best Supporting Actress), as well as the Golden Ariel in 2017.
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Early life
Vega was born and raised in Hermosillo, Sonora. In 1957, Vega was chosen as "Princess of the Carnival" in Hermosillo. Shortly afterwards, she began modeling.
Career
In 1960, Vega began her acting career. In 1969, she released an album of her singing. Vega's most internationally known role is that of Elita in Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). The film features a track titled "Bennie's Song", which she wrote. Vega was subsequently photographed nude for the July 1974 issue of Playboy magazine. She was the first Latina model to do so.
Vega won four Ariel Awards for acting, as well as the Golden Ariel in 2017.
In the 1980s, Vega made her debut behind the camera by writing, producing and directing a number of films. She was called to sing the songs "Amanecí en tus brazos" and "El Siete Mares" in the 1986 film Gringo mojado. Overall, Vega participated in 150 movies.
Personal life
Vega had a son named Arturo with singer Alberto Vázquez, with whom she had a short-lived troubled relationship, but never married; and a daughter, Shaula, who is an actress and dancer, from her long lasting relationship with the actor Jorge Luke.
Death
Vega died of metastasis in Mexico City on March 9, 2021, at the age of 81.
Filmography
As writer, director, producer
1980: Navajeros (producer)
1982: Una gallina muy ponedora (producer)
1986: Los amantes del señor de la noche (writer, producer, director)
2018–2019: Like La Leyenda
Discography
Para Mi Departamento (Peerless, 1969)
