On February 11th, the great Cuban artist Rosita Fornés (New York, 1923 - Miami, 2020) would have turned 102 years old, and her daughter, Rosa María Medel, wanted to share her memory with CiberCuba on such a special date for her.
"Always for us, for her grandchildren, for all her friends and admirers who loved her so dearly, it is about recalling the beautiful moments I was able to live with my mother, our beloved Rosita, because I had the privilege of working extensively with her in theater, on television, and even on the radio," said Rosa María Medel in statements to this platform.
On such a significant day, Rosa María Medel reminisces about the trips she took with Rosita Fornés to Spain, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. "They were unforgettable memories for me. Being by her side meant a lot. Since I was little, there was something that fascinated me, and it was her smile. My mother had a very unique smile, not just for her audience but for everyone around her."
From Rosita Fornés, her daughter also recalls that she always had a nice phrase, a loving phrase for everyone, although she could get angry too. "She had her own character because she wanted everything to be perfect. She was the kind of person who, if work was done in the house, wanted everything to remain intact, but then she would get over it and return to showing that joy and that unique smile of hers."
Her mother, Rosa María Medel, sums up her successful life in a short phrase: "She was a person who lived to give love and joy," and she explains, filled with pride: "Her art, her professionalism were ways to share the love she felt in her heart, which gave her excellence both as an artist and as a person."
Rosa María Medel is aware that her mother, the great Rosita Fornés, "was an enviable woman, a masterful woman" and today she thanks God for allowing her to "dream with her." She expresses that she feels "happy, honored, and privileged" to be Rosita's daughter and to be able to celebrate her 102nd anniversary today.
The great Cuban Rosita Fornés, born in New York as Rosalía Lourdes Elisa Palet Bonavia, triumphed in the 1940s and from that moment on, she never stopped shining. She excelled as a singer, actress, and vedette. No medium could resist her—be it film, theater, radio, or television. Her versatility allowed her to navigate effortlessly through zarzuelas, operettas, and musical revues. Mexico and Cuba applauded her talent, and today many fondly remember the great Cuban diva of all time, who passed away in Miami on June 10, 2020, at the age of 97. She departed in the early morning, surrounded by family and friends, who keep her memory alive.
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