Clementina Otero
Encyclopedia
Clementina Otero de Barrios (September 13, 1909 – September 30, 1996) was a Mexican
actress and belonged to the pioneers of Mexican avant-garde
theater. She was the last living member of the Los Contemporáneos
group.
Otero was born to Antonio Otero Moreno and his wife Clementina Mena Cantón. It is reported, that she was 17 years old, when Celestino Gorostiza
, who was linked with her older sister Araceli, asked for allowance of her mother, to make her an actress. She gave her debut in the Teatro Ulises
, where she became known. During this time, the poet Gilberto Owen
, who was also part of the theater group, felt in love with her, and wrote a series of love letters to her. She had an intense friendship with Xavier Villaurrutia
, who made her a participant of daring theatrical adventures. Otero also was actress of the later Teatro Orientación.
Later Otero was director of the Escuela de Arte Teatral (School of Theatrical Art) of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura
(INBA). She was married to Carlos Barrios Castelazo. A daughter named Marinela is traced.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
actress and belonged to the pioneers of Mexican avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
theater. She was the last living member of the Los Contemporáneos
Los Contemporáneos
Los Contemporáneos can refer to a Mexican modernist group, active in the late twenties and early thirties, as well as to the literary magazine which served as the group's mouthpiece and artistic vehicle from 1928 to 1931...
group.
Otero was born to Antonio Otero Moreno and his wife Clementina Mena Cantón. It is reported, that she was 17 years old, when Celestino Gorostiza
Celestino Gorostiza
Celestino Gorostiza Alcalá was a Mexican theater and cine playwright, director and dramatist.- Biography :...
, who was linked with her older sister Araceli, asked for allowance of her mother, to make her an actress. She gave her debut in the Teatro Ulises
Teatro Ulises
The Teatro Ulises was an experimental theater, located in the calle de Mesones 42 of Mexico City, that was established around 1927/1928 by Antonieta Rivas Mercado, daughter of the architect Antonio Rivas Mercado, and further members of the group Los Contemporáneos...
, where she became known. During this time, the poet Gilberto Owen
Gilberto Owen
Gilberto Owen Estrada was a Mexican poet and diplomat.- Biography :Officially registered as Gilberto Estrada, son of Margarita Estrada from Michoacán, Gilberto Owen was born in Rosario, Sinaloa...
, who was also part of the theater group, felt in love with her, and wrote a series of love letters to her. She had an intense friendship with Xavier Villaurrutia
Xavier Villaurrutia
Xavier Villaurrutia y González was a Mexican poet and playwright, whose most famous works are the short theatrical dramas, called Autos profanos, compiled in the work Poesía y teatro completos published in 1953....
, who made her a participant of daring theatrical adventures. Otero also was actress of the later Teatro Orientación.
Later Otero was director of the Escuela de Arte Teatral (School of Theatrical Art) of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura
Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura
The Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura , located in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, is the national Mexican institute of fine arts and literature, founded on December 31, 1946...
(INBA). She was married to Carlos Barrios Castelazo. A daughter named Marinela is traced.