Pepa Flores, “Marisol”, Goya of Honor 2020

The actress and singer from Malaga, an iconic figure in our cinema, will receive the honorary award for “her unforgettable performances and for being one of the actresses most loved and remembered by the public.”

The Board of Directors of the Film Academy has agreed to recognize Pepa Flores, “Marisol”, with the Goya of Honor 2020. Iconic figure of Spanish cinema, the actress and singer from Malaga will receive this honorary award for “her unforgettable performances and for being one of the actresses most loved and remembered by the general public.”

A mass phenomenon of the 60s and 70s, the artist known as Marisol made people sing, dance and smile in the successful and popular musical comedies in which she starred. As she came of age, she demonstrated her ability as a dramatic actress in productions directed by Juan Antonio Bardem, Carlos Saura and Mario Camus, under whose orders she filmed The days of the past, a work that earned her the award for best female performance at the Karlovy Vary Festival.

In statements to the institution after hearing the news, she stated that she felt “very honored and grateful for this recognition, and for this I want to thank the Academy and wish our cinema good health.”

The one who was the most idolized child prodigy in Spain became an artist who marked several generations. Icon of Spanish culture, this committed woman, who wanted to be one more when everyone wanted to be like her, crossed borders with her talent, charm and charisma and, since her voluntary retirement at the end of the 80s, has broken her silence on very rare occasions.

a ray of light, a film with which she won the award for best child actress at the Venice Film Festival, was the film debut of that girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, the brightest star of the national show for her beauty, friendliness and ease.

Born in Malaga in 1948, the beginnings of the Marisol-Pepa Flores myth go back to her participation in a performance with the Malaga choir and dance group on TVE, where she was discovered by the producer and representative Manuel Goyanes, with whom she began her film career. Her legend was forged from her first steps as an actress and singer because, as remembered a ray of light, under the orders of Luis Lucía, with whom he also filmed An angel has arrived, Tómbola, Marisol's 4 weddings y Just the two, they continued Marisol heading to Rio; The new Cinderella, with Antonio the dancer; Find me that girl, with the Dynamic Duo; Cabriola, directed by Mel Ferrer; and Carola by day, Carola by night, de Jaime de Armiñán.

Comienza la década de los 70 trabajando con Juan Antonio Bardem (La corrupción de Chris Miller y El poder del deseo) y Mario Camus (Los días del pasado, una historia de soledad y miedo en la que encarnó a una maestra andaluza que lucha por reencontrarse con su compañero sentimental, miembro del maquis antifranquista). En Los días… compartió gran pantalla con su pareja y padre de sus tres hijas, Antonio Gades, con el que también colaboró en blood wedding y Carmen, firmadas por Carlos Saura.

Caso cerrado, en cuyo reparto figura otro malagueño que en ese momento empezaba a resaltar, Antonio Banderas, es el último filme de la protagonista de La chica del Molino Rojo y de la miniserie Proceso a Mariana Pineda, en cuyo currículum también figura la obra de teatro Quédate a desayunar, junto a José María Rodero.

Hizo su último disco en 1983 (su carrera discográfica cuenta con cerca de 500 canciones grabadas e interpretaciones en varios idiomas). Además, representó a España en el primer Festival OTI, donde logró el tercer puesto con el tema Niña, y su última película en 1985. Una prolífica carrera en la que también figura su aparición en El show de Ed Sullivan de la televisión estadounidense, giras internacionales y numerosos reconocimientos. Una artista icónica que, aunque vive en el anonimato, continúa estando muy presente para el público.