María Félix in Tizoc (1957) by Ismael Rodríguez
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City will present the retrospective series “María Félix: La Doña,” from July 11 to 27, 2025, celebrating the greatest international star to emerge from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. The series showcases a selection of her most significant works made between 1942 and 1957, including collaborations with renowned directors such as Emilio Fernández and Roberto Gavaldón.
María Félix (1914–2002), still revered across Latin America as “La Doña,” was a cultural phenomenon who redefined screen femininity through her portrayals of powerful, often domineering women who defied the social conventions of their time.
From her breakout role in Fernando de Fuentes’ Doña Bárbara (1943) to the world-acclaimed Enamorada (1946), directed by Emilio Fernández, Félix’s commanding screen presence made her an enduring symbol of Mexican identity and cinematic power.
Her European career included Jean Renoir’s French Cancan (1955), underscoring her international stature. She famously refused to learn English, turning down a lead role in Duel in the Sun and maintaining a proud disdain for Hollywood. “Off-screen, her tumultuous relationship with composer Agustín Lara, her close friendships with artistic luminaries such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and the exotic rumors that fueled the Mexican tabloid press enhanced her mystique as one of Mexico's and world cinema's most captivating figures,” writes MoMA.
The retrospective will include such highlights as Enamorada (Emilio Fernández, 1946), Doña Bárbara (Fernando de Fuentes, 1943), The Kneeling Goddess / La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947), and May God Forgive Me / Que Dios me perdone (Tito Davison, 1948).
Presented by MoMA in collaboration with Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional, the Filmoteca UNAM, and the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the series is organized by Daniela Michel (FICM founder and general director), Chloë Roddick (FICM programmer), Dave Kehr (MoMA film curator), and Steve Macfarlane (assistant curator, MoMA Film Department).
