Amparo Muñoz

Amparo Muñoz Quesada (21 June 1954 – 27 February 2011) was a Spanish actress, model and beauty queen who won the Miss Universe 1974 pageant. She gave up the crown six months later when she refused to be manipulated by the organization. Immediately the world of cinema took interest in her. Over the next years, she became a popular actress and had roles in several comedies, including Mama Turns 100, and in the dramas Clara es el Precio, The Other Bedroom and Dedicatory.

Miss Universe 1974

Amparo Muñoz came from the town of Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia, where she had won the city title, to compete at the Miss Spain contest held in Lanzarote. After winning, she went on to win the Miss Universe 1974 pageant in Manila, Philippines, only to be forced to give up her crown later that year, because she did not follow organizational rules, and refused to go to Japan. No one else took her place.^[1]

Acting career

After her victory in the world of beauty, the world of cinema took interest in her. Her first steps in the world of film came in 1973 with in Wholesome Married Life, directed by Roberto Bodegas and written by José Luis Garci, she played the temptress of José Sacristán, a married man obsessed with publicity. In Tocata y fuga de Lolita she was the rebellious girl who displayed her beautiful bust, a big contributor to the movie’s popularity. In the 70’s, Spanish cinema was at the height of destape [double meaning: “liberalization” and “nudity”], and the splendid figure of Amparo Muñoz found 9 titles in which to reveal itself, including Clara es el Precio (Vicente Aranda, 1975), and The Other Bedroom (Eloy de la Iglesia, 1976), in which Amparo starred alongside the man who would be her first husband, the actor and singer Patxi Andión.

After appearances in Volvoreta (José Antonio Nieves Conde, 1976), Del amor y de la muerte (Antonio Giménez Rico, 1977), among other films, her cinematic career took a notable turn when she began a relationship with the producer Elías Querejeta, facilitating her appearances in films as important as Dedicatory (Jaime Chávarri, 1980), which called her to the attention of other directors in both Spain and Mexico, such as Felipe Cazals (Las siete cucas ), Pilar Miró (We Will Speak Tonight), Jaime Camino (The Open Balcony), Emilio Martínez Lázaro (Lulú of the Night), Imanol Uribe (The Black Moon). She became an instant celebrity in Spain, alongside the likes of Nino Bravo, Pedro Carrasco, Rocío Dúrcal, Rocío Jurado, Camilo Sesto, La Pandilla and other Spanish celebrities of the 1970s, following her victory at Miss Universe with a fruitful show business career.

In 1979, Muñoz acted in the comedy Mama Turns 100, by Carlos Saura. This was followed by performances in 1982's Todo un Hombre (He's all a Man), 1999's A Paradise Under the Stars and 2003's El Tahur. In the late-1990s, she returned to mainstream Spanish cinema with the movie Familia, by Fernando León de Aranoa and started a new life as an actress. She disappeared from film for seven years (1989-1996), living provisionally in the Philippines

Personal life

In 1976 she met singer-songwriter Patxi Andión, who would become her first husband, while making The Other Bedroom and became a real life couple. They got married in 1976 and divorced two years later. Then she had relationships with Antonio Flores, Patxi Andión, Vicente Fernández and Máximo Valverde^[3]

The most significant relationship of Muñoz's life was with Elías Querejeta.^[4] She met Querejeta on the set of Mamá cumple cien años, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards.^[5] The relationship has subsequently received much publicity. Querejeta remained married throughout their relationship; although he and his wife had been living separate lives, there was never an official split and neither party pursued a divorce. Muñoz did not interfere, and never fought for marriage.

Death

Muñoz died on 27 February 2011, aged 56, of unspecified causes.

Filmography

References

External links

• Amparo Muñoz on IMDb

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Margarita Moran	Miss Universe 1974	Succeeded by Anne Marie Pohtamo
Preceded by María del Rocío Martín	Miss Spain 1973	Succeeded by Chelo Martin