Silvia Pinal Hidalgo (born 12 September 1931) is a Mexican actress and former politician. Pinal began her career in the theater, venturing into cinema in 1949. Her film work and popularity in her native country led her to work in Europe (Spain and Italy). Pinal achieved international recognition by starring in a famous film trilogy by director Luis Buñuel: Viridiana (1961), El ángel exterminador (1962) and Simón del desierto (1965). She is one of the greatest female stars of Mexico and one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is part from the Golden Age of Hollywood for her film Shark! (1969). In addition to her film career, she has also excelled in other areas. She was a pioneer of musical theatre in Mexico, ventured into television, and held some po