María Herminia Pérez de León, better known as Mimí Derba (9 October 1893 – 14 July 1953) was a Mexican actress, screenwriter, and film director, considered the first female film director in Mexico.

Early life

At the age of seventeen in Derba sang for the Mexican theater; she successfully transitioned from singing to acting in silent cinema.

Career

Activism

When Derba wasn’t acting or directing films, she had a very active political life. She founded the first actors' union to foster the art of live theatre by negotiating wages, improving working conditions, and adding benefits like health and pension plans. Due starting this union, Derba lost film jobs.

Azteca Films

During the silent film era, Derba founded Azteca films with Enrique Rosas and produced five films in 1917. '' En defensa Propia'' was the first film made by Azteca films. Azteca films, however, faced the crisis of the Spanish pandemic in 1918, and as a result, her sixth film, ''

Chapultepec Chapultepec, more commonly called the "Bosque de Chapultepec" (Chapultepec Forest) in Mexico City, is one of the largest city parks in Mexico, measuring in total just over 686 hectares (1,695 acres). Centered on a rock formation called Chapultep ...

'' was never finished. After an unsuccessful attempt to market Azteca’s films abroad, she closed the company and retired from production. She continued to act and appeared in the film, ''

Santa Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

,'' one of Mexico’s first sound film in 1931.” Films by Azteca Films include '' En Defensa Propia'' (1917) , '' En la sombra'' (1917) , '' Alma de sacrificio'' (1917), ''

La soñadora ''La soñadora'' ("The Dreamer") is a 1917 Mexican silent film. It starred Mimí Derba, Eduardo Arozamena Eduardo Arozamena Lira (13 October 1875 – 21 May 1951) was a Mexican actor. His nickname was "El Nanche Arozamena". Son of Juan Aro ...

'' (1917),'' La Tigresa'' (1917), and ''

'' (1917). While Mimí Derba owned Azteca films, she directed and produced '' La tigresa'', about Eva, a budding actress willing to do anything to be the main character in a cruel and painful romance. She plots to convince a young woman to fall in love with the humble craftsman Bruno, but he ends up falling in love with Eva instead. Bruno later goes insane and admits himself into a madhouse where he is tormented with images of a tigress with Eva’s face, attacking her in her delusions. '' En Defensa Propia'' is Mimí Derba’s second film and first screenplay for Azteca films. The story is about orphan Enriqueta, who must work hard for a living. She finds a job with the widower Julio Mancera, her young daughter. Julio and Enriqueta fall in love and get married. However, soon after their wedding, Julio’s cousin returns from Europe and conspires to drive a wedge between the couple so they will break up. The cousin’s plan almost works until they all end up at the same party one night, where she finds Julio, Enriqueta, and the other guests in a compromising situation.

Selected filmography

* '' La Tigresa'' (1917) * '' En Defensa Propia'' (1917) * '' En la sombra'' (1917) * '' Alma de sacrificio'' (1917) * '' El automóvil gris'' (1919) * ''

'' (1932) * ''

Women of Today ''Women of Today'' was a 1950 British television talk show which aired on the BBC. It was described in the ''Radio Times'' as "A series of personal portraits". It was hosted by Jeanne Heal, and ran for about four episodes. It is unlikely that an ...

'' (1936) * '' La razón de la culpa'' (1942) *''

Wild Flower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the w ...

'' (1943) * '' María Eugenia'' (1943) * ''

Porfirio Díaz José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori ( or ; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), known as Porfirio Díaz, was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 28 November 1876 to 6 Decem ...

'' (1944) * ''

My Memories of Mexico ''My Memories of Mexico'' (Spanish:''México de mis recuerdos'') is a 1944 Mexican historical musical film directed by Juan Bustillo Oro and starring Fernando Soler, Sofía Álvarez, Joaquín Pardavé, Dolores Camarillo and Salvador Quiroz.Segre ...

'' (1944) * ''

The Hour of Truth ''The Hour of Truth'' (Spanish: ''La hora de la verdad'') is a 1945 Mexican drama film directed by Norman Foster and starring Ricardo Montalbán, Virginia Serret, Lilia Michel.Mora p.70 It is set in the world of bullfighting. Cast * Ricardo Montal ...

'' (1945) * '' Salón México'' (1949) * ''

Immaculate The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, meaning that it is held to be a divinely revealed truth w ...

'' (1950) * ''

Oh Darling! Look What You've Done! ''Oh Darling! Look What You've Done To Me!'' (Spanish:''¡Ay, amor, cómo me has puesto!'') is a 1951 Mexican romantic comedy film directed by Gilberto Martínez Solares and starring Germán Valdés, Rebeca Iturbide and Marcelo Chávez.Monsiváis ...

'' (1951) * ''

The Plebeian ''The Plebeian'' (Spanish: ''El plebeyo'') is a 1953 Mexican drama film directed by Miguel M. Delgado and starring Rosita Arenas Rosa "Rosita" Arenas (born 19 August 1933) is a Mexican actress and singer whose film career was most prominent d ...

'' (1953)

References

External links

* . * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Derba, Mimí 1893 births 1953 deaths Mexican film actresses Mexican silent film actresses 20th-century Mexican actresses