Birth Name: María de los Ángeles de las Heras Ortiz

Nickname: Marieta

Height: 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)

Mini Biography:

Rocío Durcal, was born María de los Angeles de las Heras Ortíz, in Madrid, Spain on October 4th, 1945. At the age of 10, she took part in the radio show, ‘Conozca a sus Vecinos’ (‘Meet Your Neighbours’). In these shows, Marietta (her familiar nickname, pronounced Mar-ee-etta) charmed the audience with her clear and melodic voice that also made her a winner in many other radio contests that she participated in those years.In 1960, when she not yet 15, she appeared in the TV show ‘Primer Aplauso’ (‘First Applause’) where a Spanish movie producer discovered her. She took the stage name Rocío Durcal (Rocío is a popular girls’ name in Spain, after the place of pilgrimage where ‘La Romeria’ – an annual festival of worship to the Virgin Mary – is held, and Durcal is a town in the province of Andalucia in southern Spain). Her first movie was ‘Canción de Juventud’ (‘Song of Youth’) in 1961, the first of many musical comedies she was to star in and that would gain her fame in Spain, Portugal, France and Latin America.At this time many other young singer-actors in Spanish films were popular, including Raphael, Marisol, Ana Belén, Joselito, the Dúo Dinámico, Miguel Ríos, and the twin sisters, Pili and Mili. Other films included ‘Rocío de La Mancha’, ‘La Chica del Trébol’, ‘Tengo 17 Años’, ‘Más Bonita que Ninguna’, ‘Acompáñame’, ‘Amor en el Aire’, ‘Cristina Guzmán’, ‘Las Leandras’ and ‘La Novicia Rebelde’.In 1970, Rocío married the Philippine singer and composer, Antonio Morales , better known as Júnior, a former member of the pop group, Los Brincos (considered at the time as the Spanish version of The Beatles). Their marriage proved one of the more solid marriages in the world of show business and they had three children: Carmen María (born in 1971), Antonio (born in 1974) and Shaila (born in 1980), and one grandson, Christian (born in 1997, the son of Carmen María).In 1975, Rocío retired from movies to dedicate herself to her family but returned to show business two years later when she recorded the first of many records of material written by the Mexican singer-composer, Juan Gabriel. Backed by the Mexican band, Mariachi América, these resulted in unexpected hits, popularity and awards, not only in Spain and Mexico, but also in Latin America and in the Hispanic community of the United States.Rocío Durcal (ironically, being Spanish) revitalised the Mexican music scene in the 1970s and 80s and became even better known as a singer of ‘rancheras’ (traditional Mexican song) in her later years than she had been as an actress at the start of her career.With thousands of fans worldwide and records sales in their millions, this Madrid-born lady was, undoubtedly, one of the brightest stars of Spanish language show business.In 2001, Rocio Durcal was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus that unfortunately was later found to have spread to her lung and brain. Despite extensive treatment, Rocio died on 25 March 2006 in Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain.

Spouse:

Junior (15 January 1970 – 25 March 2006) (her death) 3 children

Trivia:

She was discovered in a TV quiz, “Primer Aplauso”, and debuted in the cinema in 1961. She is a singer-actress.
Since 1999 her younger daughter Shaila Dúrcal works with her as chorister.
When she wasn’t working at shows, she liked to cook for her family and friends at home or dance at discotheques (especially Salsa and Meringue) or play with her grandson.
Her son Antonio Morales became the father of two children, twins, on August 30th, 2003.
Her stage last name, Dúrcal was chosen by Marieta herself when, blindfolded, she pointed to it on a map of Spain.
Her daughter, Carmen Morales, has a son named Christian(b. 1996).
Juan Gabriel composed a song for her, based on a personal experience, mostly as a tribute for her daughter: Amor Eterno (Eternal Love.).
Mother of Carmen Morales, Antonio Morales and Shaila Dúrcal.

Height: 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)

Mini Biography:

Born in Salzgitter, Germany, upon completing her academic education, actress Sebnem Donmez began her professional career, at a young age, in 1990. Her introduction to TV was an immediate success and there was great demand for her both as a personality and presenter. Her obvious talent and enthusiasm made her one of the most sought after names for big budget TV and live TV broadcast events.Between 1990 and 1998 Sebnem’s star continued to rise as she took on leading roles in some of Turkeys most highly rated TV series; during that time she also became the advertising face for a number of local and international brands.In 2000, during the rapid rise of Turkish film making, Sebnem won leading movie roles in; ‘A Guide To Make Money’ (2002) ; ‘Runaway Mummy’ (20003) and Turkish blockbusters ‘Where’s Feruze’ (2004) and ‘Killing the Shadow’ (2005).In addition, to her success at a national level Sebnem became one of those rare Turkish actresses to cross over to Hollywood, when in 2005 she won a role in the Columbia TriStar film ‘The Net 2.0′ which was shot in istanbul and directed by Charles Winkler.Well-known as one of the hardest working actresses in Turkey, Sebnem Donmez strives to improve her art and professionalism and to this end has attended numerous local and international advanced acting seminars and workshops.Sebnem’s great personality and talent as an actress has endeared her to all in Turkey, but it is her ability to connect with the youth of today that has made her the ‘face’ of the ‘new generation’ here in Turkey.Fluent in English, Sebnem is now looking to expand her horizons to include more roles both in world cinema and Hollywood itself.

Spouse:

Ezel Akay (21 August 2004 – 12 July 2007) (divorced)

Date of Birth: 21 June 1987

Birth Name: Richard Agustin Dominguez

Nickname: Ricky Richie

Height: 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)

Mini Biography:

Ricky Dominguez was born on June 21, 1987 in Fontana, California to Agustin and Fabiola Dominguez. He was raised and currently resides in San Bernardino County, California. He began acting in student films at the age of 16. With a Hispanic Ethnic background, he speaks fluent Spanish and English. Alongside acting, Ricky is a pianist and a singer as well. He has been playing the piano for 13 years.

Trivia:

His high school graduating class consisted of only 12 students.
Brother of actress Stephanie Dominguez
Has been playing piano for 13 years
Has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do
Richard has five dogs: Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm, Dino, Coco and Peluche
Currently learning French and German [2005]
Friends with Actor Bobby Edner.
Friends with Actor Frankie Muniz.

Yulian Díaz was born in Cuba in 1983. He moved to Mexico as a child, where he studied acting and singing. He has appeared in various theater productions both in Cuba, Mexico and the United States including the famous El barquito de Papel. He has also appeared in various commercials. He appeared in Julian Schnabel’s Before Night Falls (2000) as one of the kids responsible in getting Reinaldo Arenas, Javier Bardem’s character, into prison. Had the lead role as Javier De La Rosa as a writer gone blind in Martin Bustamante’s debut film, ‘Poesías Sin Lenguaje’, aka as Poetries without Language.

Birth Name: José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori

Mini Biography:

Porfirio Diaz, known for his long and autocratic rule of Mexico and his disdain for the poorer classes, was actually born into a lower-middle-class Spanish/Mixtec Indian family in Oaxaca. His father was a blacksmith and an innkeeper and died when Diaz was only three years old. He was educated by the Catholic church in what was to be his preparation for entering the priesthood, but by the age of 16 Diaz realized he had no intention of becoming a priest. Many men of Oaxaca had joined the Mexican army to fight in the Mexican-American War of 1846, and at 18 Diaz did the same, but the war ended before he saw combat. He left the army and returned to Oaxaca to study law, and there he became acquainted with Benito Juarez, the state’s governor. In the civil war of 1854 that pitted Juarez and his liberal reformers against the dictatorship of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Annaz — of “the Alamo” fame — wealthy landowners and the Catholic Church, Diaz came out squarely on Juarez’s side, fleeing Oaxaca to join Juarez’s revolutionary army. Diaz proved to be an able commander and defeated the opposition forces in several engagements, eventually earning a promotion to general. Juarez was victorious, but the victory didn’t last long, as Mexico was soon invaded by the French, who overthrew Juarez and installed a member of the Hapsburg royal family as ruler, calling him Emperor Maximilian. Diaz again fought with Juarez against this French occupation, and upon Maximilian’s overthrow and execution, Diaz resigned from the army and retired to Oaxaca. Juarez died and was succeeded by Sebastian Lerdo, whose administration was racked by internal squabbles, chaos and rebellions. Diaz was persuaded to lead a rebellion against Lerdo, and in 1876 after several battles, Diaz’s forces took Mexico City and he became president.At first Diaz’s regime instituted many needed reforms, settled the national debt and embarked on an ambitious program to modernize the country, bringing railroads and telegraph services to many areas of the country that didn’t have them. He was succeeded at the end of his term in 1880 by his former Minister of War, but ran for president in the 1884 election and won handily. However, his administration grew more repressive the longer it stayed in power, and eventually it became allied with the very forces it had once fought. Diaz wanted to bring foreign investment into the country, and to that end instituted a controversial program of wholesale “evacuations” of the poor from the cities to the countryside, so that foreign investors and tourists wouldn’t see them and would be more inclined to invest their money in Mexico. Eventually his autocratic rule and repressive policies engendered several rebellions, led by, among others, such legendary Mexican figures as Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata and Venustiano Carranza. In 1913 these leaders combined their forces in a final assault on Mexico City, Diaz’s seat of government, and forced him to flee the country. Ironically, although he came to power in Mexico largely because of his fight against the French, he wound up spending his exile in Paris, where he died in 1915.

Spouse:

Carmelita Romero Rubio (1881 – 1915) (his death)

Trivia:

Was President of Mexico from 1877-1880 and 1884-1911.
In 1881, a widower of 51 years of age, he married his second wife, Carmelita Romero Rubio, who was only 17 years of age.
On May 21, 1911 he was forced to resign from the Presidency at age 80, and by the 26 of May he was forced into exile to France.

Personal Quotes:

Poor Mexico–so far from God and so close to the United States.

Birth Name: Francisco Diaz Rocha

Mini Biography:

Chico Díaz was born in Mexico, but due to his Paraguayan father’s diplomatic career, spent his childhood in Peru and went to Brazil in 1969, where he has remained ever since. He was a young stage actor when he was cast in his first movie.

Spouse:

Sílvia Buarque (? – present) 1 child

Trivia:

Brother of actor Enrique Díaz.
Has a son named Antônio (b. 1996), with Cecília Santana. Chico and Cecília split in 2002.
Has a daughter with wife Sílvia Buarque named Irene (b. October 3th 2005).
Son-in-law of actress Marieta Severo and song writer Chico Buarque de Hollanda.
Has two sisters-in-law: Helena Buarque de Hollanda and Luísa Buarque de Hollanda.
Son of Maria Cândida Rocha and Juan Enrique Díaz.
Studied architecture.

Mini Biography:

Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1950, his childhood was marked by the republicanism of his family opposed to dictator Francisco Franco, winner of the Spanish civil war. He spent his childhood in schools run by republican teachers where he received a liberal education. In the seventies he got a degree in history and worked for years as a literary critic. Interested by cinema he wrote some screenplays. Some of then were adapted in the mid-eighties. Those films were thrillers involving strong female characters. For “Baton Rouge” and “A solas contigo” both starred by spanish actress Victoria Abril he was nominated for best original screenplay by the Spanish Academy.In 1990 he was assistant to director Pedro Almodovar in the shooting of “Atame” played by Spanish stars Antonio Banderas and Victoria Abril.Thanks to his reputation as screenwriter and the support of Victoria Abril he was able to set up his first film as director: “Nadie hablara de nosotras cuando hayamos muerto”. It became the greatest hit of spanish cinema at its release in 1995. In the Festival de San Sebastian that movie won several awards (including best actress). “Nadie hablara de nosotras cuando hayamos muerto” also won 8 awards from the Spanish academy (including best film, best new director, and best actress). Inspired by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese or Paul Schrader, “Nadie hablará de nosotras …” stunned audiences and critics by its violence and by the dark story of redemption of Gloria Duque, the main character of the movie.In spite of the success of his first movie, Diaz Yanes spent a few years trying to make a new picture, titled “Madrid Sur”, a science-fiction movie set up in the capital of Spain, but was unable to make it due to financial problems.In 2001, he was able to feature together the two most international spanish actresses in his second movie “Sin noticias de Dios” a fantastic comedy that received 11 nominations for the Spanish Academy awards (including best picture and director) but disappointed many of the fans of his first movie.In March 2006, he will started the shooting of his third movie “Capitán Alatriste”, an adaptation of Arturo Perez Reverte’s best-seller. Starred by LOTR’s star Viggo Mortensen it tells the story of Alatriste a pessimistic Spanish soldier that will have to survive in the dangerous and decadent Spain of the XVIIth century.

Mini Biography:

Born in Caguas, but soon after, his family moved to Ponce. Studied social sciences and spent most of his time among the poor. Is immensely popular in Puerto Rico as the country’s most famous writer.