María Mercedes Varela Nimo Domínguez Castro de Ortiz, professionally known as Mecha Ortiz, was a renowned Argentine actress, born on September 24, 1900, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Her parents, Vicente Varela Nimo and Josefa Domínguez Castro, instilled in her a love for the performing arts, which would later shape her illustrious career.
Mecha Ortiz's personal life was marked by a marriage to Julián Ortiz, a small farmer, with whom she had a son, Julián, who would go on to become a diplomat, translator, and playwright, and marry Violeta Bertina.
Her family was filled with creative talent, as she had a brother, José, who was a theatre director, and a sister, Amanda, who was also an actress. Mecha Ortiz had two more sisters, Josefa and Aurora, who would also contribute to the family's rich cultural heritage.
Notably, Mecha Ortiz was a relative of Argentine President Roberto M. Ortiz, a testament to her esteemed family background.
Her journey in the world of theatre began at the National Drama School, where she honed her craft and prepared for her debut in 1929.
Throughout her illustrious career, Mecha Ortiz brought to life the works of renowned playwrights, including Terence Rattigan, Frank Voksper, Agatha Christie, James Barrie, W. Somerset Maugham, and Noël Coward.
Her filmography boasts an impressive array of titles, including Women Who Work (1938),Safo: A Passion Story (1943),Camino del infierno (1946),Madame Bovary (1947),Bendita seas (1956),and Piedra libre (1976).
