Raquel Olmedo (pronounced[raˈkelolˈmeðo]; born Siomara Anicia Orama Leal on 30 December 1937) is a Cuban-born Mexican singer and actress. She started her career in her native Cuba before moving to Mexico in 1959. She performed in the last years of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
Biography
Olmedo was born in Caibarién, Las Villas, Cuba, and began her career there in theatre singing opera. In the wake of the 1959 Cuban revolution, Olmedo came to Mexico in 1959 as an unknown artist. She did a little work in the movie business before finally landing a small role in the telenovelaLa sombra del otro in 1963.[citation needed]
Following a starring role in the 1975 telenovelaLo Imperdonable, Olmedo got a record deal with CBS Records and released her first album, Mitad Mujer, Mitad Gaviota. Her career as a singer proved initially successful, with the title track from this record (written by Lolita De La Colina) becoming a radio hit. She toured throughout all Latin America in the coming years while continuing her television and film work. In the coming years, she released a total of five albums, her last being the ranchera album Mañana Ya Ni Vengas in 1983, produced by ranchera song arranger Pedro Ramirez, best known for his work with Javier Solís and Vicente Fernández.[citation needed]
Her most recent role on the television series Barrera de amor proved to be one of her most successful roles. This was also one of the first times she played a villain.[citation needed]
