Profiles: María Cecilia Botero | Proimágenes Colombia

Over the years, María Cecilia Botero has become one of the most beloved figures in Colombian show business. Botero has worked as an actress, model, TV host, theater producer, and finally, acting coach, as head of the Academia Charlot acting school, founded by her father, the great Jaime Botero Gómez. She returns to the big screen with Los oriyinales (2017), a hyperlink film by Harold Trompetero.
 
Born in Medellin, Botero studied anthropology long before she became an actress. Her acting debut came with her starring role in Tito Davison’s film María (1972), alongside Mexican actor Fernando Allende. Her first television credit was in The Canterville Ghost, in 1971, followed by a role in The Vortex (1975), when she took the place of Mariela Hijuelos, who died during filming. From there, she built a multifaceted career that has led her to play memorable characters such as Manuela Saenz in the series Bolívar, el hombre de las dificultades in 1981; María Candia in La pezuña del diablo (1983); Yadira La Ardiente in Caballo viejo (1988); and Sándalo Daza in Música maestro (1990).
 
She has primarily been a telenovela actress. Her credits in this field have included Lunes de Comedia (1972); Caminos de Gloria (1973); La feria de las vanidades (1975); Lejos del nido (1978); Los novios (1979); La tía Julia y el escribidor (1981); El hombre de negro (1982); Amalia (1983); Gloria (1985); Camino cerrado (1985); Los dueños del poder (1986); Mi sangre aunque plebeya (1987); Destinos cruzados (1987); Cuando llega la noche (1987); Por amor (1987); Vampiromania (1989); La Rosa de los vientos, Dos mujeres (1997); Ama la Academia (2003); Lorena (2005); Amas de casa desesperadas (2006); Nuevo rico, nuevo pobre (2007); Muñoz vale por dos (2008); Todos odian a Bermúdez (2009); Secretos de familia (2010); La bruja (2011); La hipocondríaca (2013); La suegra (2014); Las hermanitas calle (2015); and Hilos de sangre azul (2016).
 
She has won numerous awards during her career, including at the TV and Telenovelas Awards, where she won Best Telenovela Actress for her role in Dos Mujeres in 1997. Also at the TV and Telenovelas Awards, Botero won Best News Anchorwoman in 1994 and 1995, and was nominated in the same category in 2000; she was also nominated for Best Female Villain in 2015 (for La Suegra). To top it all off, she received the Simon Bolivar Award for Best Actress and the Simon Bolivar Order award for her accomplished career.
 
Alongside her career as a telenovela actress, María Cecilia produced and starred in several musical comedies directed by her husband, the late Argentinian director David Stivel. Her dream of popularizing musical theater in Colombia led her to perform in important musicals such as Peter Pan, Sugar, The Woman of the Year, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Música maestro (1990), and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
 
She has hosted the news program CM&, the talk show Las Tardes de Maria C., the program Día a Día on the Caracol Televisión network, and two seasons of the reality show Protagonistas de novela.

Last updated: January 2017.