La Polaca
Josefa Cotillo Martínez, La Polaca, (Madrid, June 16, 1944 - Seville, June 2, 2010) was a Spanish dancer and actress.
She was born in the Lavapiés neighborhood of Madrid. After leaving her studies at the age of ten, she began to dedicate herself to flamenco dancing and created her own style in an absolutely self-taught way. At the age of twelve, she made her debut as a professional in the play “La Parrilla”, at the Alcázar theater in Madrid. At the age of sixteen, she went to America as part of the company of the dancer José Greco, in which she quickly became one of the main figures. Her nickname is attributed to her dancing a Polish dance.
At the end of the fifties she toured the Soviet Union, Europe, and the United States, where she appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and performed before President Kennedy. Back in Spain, she consolidated her upward career with successive tours and reached the status of leading figure in flamenco ballets such as “Los canasteros” and “Las brujas”.
She made her film debut in 1965 with the film “Con el viento solano”, by Mario Camus. Throughout the seventies she participated in various titles giving life to passionate characters through which she frequently exhibited her dancing skills. Among the films in which she intervenes are “El amor brujo” (1967), by Rovira-Beleta; “The Secretaries” (1969), by Pedro Lazaga; and “Del amor y la muerte” (1977), by Antonio Giménez-Rico. In 1978 she appeared as a judge on the dance contest “Fiebre del 2”, a Mexican program on Televisa. At the turn of the decade, in the eighties, her career began to decline, although she would still participate in Carlos Saura's new version of El amor brujo (1986).
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 1.552 |
Birthday | 1944-06-16 |
Place of Birth | Madrid, Madrid, Spain |
Also Known As | Josefa Cotillo Martínez, |
1986
El amor brujo
7/22
In a Gypsy village, the fathers of Candela and José promise their children to each other. Years later, the unfaithful José marries Candela but while d...
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El amor brujo
1968
Las secretarias
2/1
Three young and attractive secretaries, Julia, Paula and Doli, work in an insurance company.
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Las secretarias
1970
Verano 70
5.8/4
Typical Spanish comedy of the seventies set in Benidorm, the famous coastal town of Alicante where numerous families come to spend the summer. It tell...
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Verano 70
1977
Del amor y de la muerte
3.2/4
Don Diego goes to war and his son Don Gonzalo is, in his absence, the new lord of the region. The milling Elvira, one of the mistresses of Don Diego,...
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Del amor y de la muerte
1974
La boda o la vida
3/1
Elena is pregnant and Carlos, the future father does not have financial means to marry her. The solution is in a game show that offers substantial rew...
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La boda o la vida
1967
The Last Meeting
6.2/5
A flamenco dancer (Antonio Gades) reflects on his life and career when he is surprised to be honored on a television show telling his life story. The...
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The Last Meeting
1970
El abominable hombre de la Costa del Sol
4.5/2
A young dreamer as attractive as dreamer see his shabby promised as a distinguished gentleman, fascinating and radiant. This, however, eventually reac...
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El abominable hombre de la Costa del Sol
1969
Españolear
4.4/5
Luis, the son of the greater of the farm owned by Don Pedro, is accused of stealing a large amount of money. Stolen money has really Joseph son of Don...
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Españolear
1971
Si estás muerto, ¿por qué bailas?
6/1
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Si estás muerto, ¿por qué bailas?
1970
Hurrah for Adventure!
0/0
Two Parisians and inseparable friends, Alexandre and Philippe, decide to spend their vacations in Palma. Philippe arrives by car, accompanied by his y...
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Hurrah for Adventure!
1971
Rum Runners
4.5/30
During the prohibition era, Cornelius, a bootlegger, is on the run from the American coastguards. He comes across a silent film actress, Linda, on the...
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Rum Runners
1967
With the East Wind
5.8/12
The life of Sebastián (Antonio Gades), a 28-year-old gypsy, changes drastically after he kills a man. From that moment, he must flee, experiencing the...
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With the East Wind
1974
The Godfather and His Goddaughters
5/1
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The Godfather and His Goddaughters
1967
Bewitched Love
5.7/6
This tragic drama is based on the ballet by famed composer Manuel De Falla. A young woman is caught between the violent struggle of two rival suitors...
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Bewitched Love
1973
Corazón solitario
6/1
Antoñito is a bachelor who works in a cabaret as a clarinetist. He has put an advertisement in the newspaper, looking for a good and honest girl, and...
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Corazón solitario
1971
Delusions of Grandeur
7.432/668
Don Sallust is the minister of the King of Spain. Being disingenuous, hypocritical, greedy and collecting the taxes for himself, he is hated by the pe...
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Delusions of Grandeur
1975
Canciones de nuestra vida
0/0
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