Irma Serrano

At the time of her death, she was one of the last surviving actresses from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In the 1970s and 1980s, Serrano achieved great success as an actress and producer in a series of controversial stage plays, especially the controversial play Naná (1973). In the 1990s, she also ventured into politics and occupied a seat in the Mexican Senate. In her later years, she was the center of multiple scandals and controversies. She appeared in celebrity gossip magazines and television shows because of her political career as senator for her home state of Chiapas from 1994 to 1997.

• Name — Irma Serrano • Birth Name — Irma Consuelo Cielo Serrano Castro • Born — 9 December 1933 • Birthplace — Comitán, Chiapas, Mexico • Died — 1 March 2023 • Other Names — La Tigresa La Tigresa de la Canción Ranchera • Occupation — *Singer • actress • politician • theatrical entrepreneur • author • Years Active — 1962–2005 • Partner — Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Alejo Peralta • Relatives — Rosario Castellanos (cousin)

Serrano was the third of three children (Mario, Yolanda, and Irma). Her father, Santiago Serrano Ruiz "El Chanti" (25 July 1897 – 17 December 1957), was a distinguished author, poet, and politician born in Suchiapa. Her mother, María Castro Domínguez, was a local aristocrat who owned various haciendas. Her older siblings were Mario and Yolanda. Her parents divorced when she was 7 years old. She was a cousin of poet, author, and diplomat Rosario Castellanos.

Irma Serrano began her artistic career as a dancer in the choreographic group directed by the dancer Chelo La Rué. Later, Serrano began her career as singer when signing a contract with Columbia Records in 1962. In 1963, she won several awards such as the Folklore Revelation Trophy, the Macuilxóchitl as the Revelation Songwriter and the Musa Trophy of Radiolandia. Serrano became one of the most popular Mexican folk music artists of the 1960s. One of her most remembered songs is the corrido of La Martina, considered a classic of the Mexican folk genre.

• Illustration — Serrano in 1975 In 1972, Serrano acquired the old Virginia Fábregas Theater, located in Calle Donceles in Mexico City's Historic Center. The actress remodeled the theater and renamed it Teatro Fru Fru. From the 1970s, Serrano starred in and produced a series of theatrical montages that caused controversy, particularly Naná (1973), a free adaptation of Serrano of the novel of the same name by Émile Zola. The stage play was produced by Serrano and directed by Maricela Lara. Naná caused controversy in Mexico because of its highly erotic content, and it remained on the billboard for four uninterrupted years (1973–1977). In 1977, Serrano partnered with actor, producer, writer and director Alejandro Jodorowsky to perform the stage play Lucrecia Borgia. Nevertheless, the differences between the two caused a dispute that led to them independently producing their own versions of the work. Other stage plays starring Serrano in the Teatro Fru Frú were A Lady Without Camelias (1977), Oh... Calcutta (1977), Yocasta Reina (1978), The Cross-legged War (1979) and the autobiographical A calzón amarrado (1980, based on the controversial book published by La Tigresa a little earlier). In addition to starring in these works, Serrano also served as co-producer, co-director and co-author of the scripts, some along with the director, actor and producer Pablo Leder. Her last theatrical projects were The Two Emanuele (1984, alongside Isela Vega and also represented in the Million Dollar Theater of Los Angeles) and The Well of Solitude (1985). As a producer, she also performed a series of theatrical productions, some of them as part of the successful Theater at Midnight concept, created by Pablo Leder for a strictly adult audience. These productions included Emanuele LIVE (1981), Jail for Girls (1981), Vampira! (Emanuele de ultratumba) (1983) and Carmen (2004).

It was rumored that Serrano and Mexican president Gustavo Díaz Ordaz had a short-lived romantic liaison. Neither confirmed the rumor until she published her book A calzón amarrado, in which she admitted the affair. In 1994, Serrano successfully ran for the Senate, representing her home state of Chiapas. On 25 March 2009, Serrano was arrested in Chiapas and taken into custody to Mexico City's federal. Serrano resided in Comitán, Chiapas. She died from a heart attack on 1 March 2023, at the age of 89.

• *1994 Juana la Cubana *1986 The Lovers of the Lord of the Night *1985 Nana *1983 Lola the Truck Driver *1978 Carnival Nights *1973 The Monastery of the Vultures *1973 The Tigress *1973 Santo y el aguila real *1972 La Martina *1971 La venganza de Gabino Barrera *1971 La chamuscada (Tierra y libertad) *1968 Los amores de Juan Charrasqueado *1968 El caudillo — *1966 Los malvados *1966 El hijo del diablo *1966 Los gavilanes negros *1965 El hijo de Gabino Barrera *1965 Los sheriffs de la frontera *1965 La conquista de El Dorado *1965 El zurdo *1965 Gabino Barrera *1964 El corrido de María Pistolas *1963 Tiburoneros *1962 The Extra *1962 Santo contra los zombies

• 2005 La Madrastra (TV series) • 2004 Hospital el paisa (TV series) • 1977 Variedades de media noche (TV series) • 1974 La tierra (TV series) • 1972 Aun hay mas (TV series)

• Naná (1973) • A Lady Without Camellias (1977) • Oh...Calcutta (1977) • Lucrecia Borgia (1977) • Yocasta Reina (1978) • The Cross-legged War (1979) • A Calzón amarrado (1980) • The Two Emanuele (1984) • The Well of Solitude (1985)

• Emanuele...Live (1981) • Jail for Girls (1981) • Vampira! (Emanuele de Ultratumba) (1983) • Carmen (2004)

Irma Serrano was recorded at birth as Irma Consuelo Cielo Serrano Castro. The authorities additionally record the heading Irma Consuelo Cielo Serrano Castro. Her recorded language was Spanish.