LUPITA LARA MAKES A COMEBACK ON SCREEN
In the Mexican film “Surviving my XV,” the 73-year-old Lupita Lara made a stellar appearance, reviving the memory of generations who enjoyed her in the television series “My Secretary.” On the big screen, Lara played the part of a peculiar drunken grandmother in the movie, marking her first film appearance since 1991.
Many fans remember Lupita Lara as the beloved character of Lupita in the family series “My Secretary,” a show that aired from the late 70s to the early 80s. Another notable role for her was as the villain Elena Martínez Bustamante in the soap opera “The Fair” in opposition to the main characters’ romance.
But what few remember is the behind-the-scenes story that led to Lara being replaced in “The Fair” after 1983. Televisa, the television station behind both projects, was reportedly unhappy that she was excelling in two shows at the same time. They pressured her to leave one of the shows, and when she chose to stay on “My Secretary,” Televisa banned her, making it extremely difficult for her to find work in the industry for several years.
After a five-year suspension by Televisa from 1985 to 1990, Lara returned with small roles in soap operas but struggled to regain the same level of success and stardom that she previously enjoyed.
Now, at 73 years old, she’s hoping to play more complex and relatable characters – someone like Secretary Lupita from “My Secretary,” in which she portrayed a woman of her age. Her return to the screen in “Surviving my XV” marks an impressive revival of her career after overcoming the hurdles imposed by her former network.