Carmen Sevilla, the movie star was also a flamenco dancer
We tell you about the close relationship between the Andalusian actress and the art of flamenco.
Carmen Sevilla portrayed by Slim Aarons in 1976.
We recently bid a fond farewell to one of the key figures of the Spanish imagination of the 1950s, Carmen Sevilla, a great woman whose sympathy, smile and extraordinary talent we can continue to enjoy in the more than 70 films in which she participated throughout her artistic career.
This Andalusian artist born in 1930 was one of our most recognized, beloved and international stars. And, although she is best known for her career as a film and television actress, Carmen Sevilla also dabbled in flamenco cante and maintained a special connection with this art.
Carmen Sevilla
Born to a musician father, Antonio García Padilla, aka "Kola", composer and lyricist of copla, she began her career in cante and baile flamenco at a very early age and at only twelve years old she made her stage debut with the show Rapsodia española of the Estrellita Castro Company, together with Paquita Rico and Ana Esmeralda. He would later form part of the companies of El Príncipe Gitano and Paco Reyes, showing a continuous interest in flamenco cante, which he began to explore as one of his artistic facets.
It will be in 1947 when he will begin his film career with the film Serenata española, by Juan de Orduña. His talent would lead him to star in his first film in 1949, Jalisco canta a Sevilla, alongside Mexican actor and singer Jorge Negrete.
Carmen Sevilla performing in one of our flamenco tablaosthe Corral de la Morería, in 1958.
Nicknamed "The Bride of Spain", the folk artist became at a very young age one of the most important stars of cinema and song in Spain, along with Lola Flores and Sara Montiel, and one of the greatest exponents of the star system of Franco's regime, whose image would sell abroad a modern, cheerful and popular Spain. His fame was such that he came to star in Hollywood films such as Rey de reyes and Marco Antonio y Cleopatra, starring and directed by Charlton Heston.
Carmen Sevilla and Charlton Heston in Mark Antony and Cleopatra
In 1965 came out a single that would sound in all Spanish homes: Flamenca yeyé, a song that Carmen Sevilla interpreted in flamenco key for one of the most successful advertising campaigns of the 60s in Spain for the Phillips brand. In the TV commercial, Carmen would appear talking about the benefits of Phillips TV sets to make Spanish families happy, wearing a flamenco dress and clapping her hands.
Phillips television commercial with Carmen Sevilla performing Flamenca yeyé
Apart from this anecdotal appearance on television, Carmen Sevilla maintained a close relationship with the art of flamenco. Steeped in the flamenco folkloric environment since she was a child, there were numerous occasions, to our good fortune, in which the artist dazzled us performing cante and baile.
Carmen Sevilla playing Carmen de España in the movie La guerrillera de Villa (1967).
We will never forget you, Carmen.