Ana Ofelia Murguía, renowned Mexican actress renowned for her portrayal of Mama Coco in Disney and Pixar’s animated masterpiece “Coco,” passed away at the age of 90, as reported by BBC News on Sunday, December 31.
Her notable role as the voice behind Mama Coco, the elderly character in the animated film, earned accolades alongside the movie’s success, winning two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Remember Me.” Murguía’s portrayal of Mama Coco, whose memories are rekindled by her great-grandson Miguel, culminated in an emotionally resonant rendition of the film’s poignant song, “Remember Me.”
“Coco” was widely praised for its respectful portrayal of Mexican culture and its poignant exploration of weighty themes such as death, all within the framework of a children’s film.
Recognizing her profound impact on the performing arts of Mexico, Mexico’s National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature paid homage to Murguía on X/Twitter.
Born in Mexico in 1933, Murguía received the Golden Ariel special lifetime achievement award in 2011, a prestigious accolade in Mexican cinema, jointly presented to writer-director Jorge Fons. Her illustrious career included multiple victories at the Ariel Awards, Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscars, where she won Best Supporting Actress in 1979, 1986, and 1996.
Boasting over 100 acting credits, Murguía embarked on her acting journey with an appearance in an episode of the Mexican telenovela “La Tormenta.” Noteworthy among her many roles are performances in films like 1994’s “The Queen of the Night,” 1992’s “Mi Querido Tom Mix,” and 1979’s “Life Sentence.”
Her final acting contribution was in a 2018 episode of “José José: El Príncipe de la Canción,” a dramatized account of the life story of the celebrated Mexican singer, José José. Ana Ofelia Murguía’s legacy remains etched in the annals of Mexican cinema and her impactful contributions to the art of acting.
