Soledad Miranda was a Spanish actress best known for her roles in Count Dracula, Vampyros Lesbos, and Nachts, wenn Dracula erwacht. She was born on July 9, 1943, in Seville, Spain, and became a cult figure due to her amazing beauty and tragic early death.
Personal and Family Life
Soledad was born as Soledad Rendón Bueno to parents Mercedes Bueno and Juan Antón Rendón. She was married to José Manuel Simões, with whom she had one son, Antonio. She had a younger brother named Armando and four younger sisters: Ana, Carmen, Mercedes, and María Elena. Her artistic surname, Miranda, was chosen by drawing it from a hat.
Career Highlights
Her career began at a young age when she started as a flamenco dancer and singer. Mirroring her talents, she made a film debut at sixteen and went on to star in over thirty films throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, becoming notable in horror and drama genres. She worked closely with director Jess Franco, who regarded her as his most significant discovery.
Death and Legacy
Soledad Miranda’s life came to a tragic end on August 18, 1970, when she died in a car accident in Portugal. Just prior to her death, she had received an offer from a German film producer that could have propelled her to stardom. Even after her passing, she gained a cult following, with fans rediscovering her work and celebrating her legacy as a beautiful, albeit doomed, actress.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Nachts, wenn Dracula erwacht | 1970-04-03 | Lucy Westenra |
| Der Teufel kam aus Akasava | 1971-03-05 | Jane Morgan |
| Sie tötete in Ekstase | 1971-12-10 | Mrs. Johnson |
| Eugénie | 1973-04-05 | Eugénie Radeck de Franval |
| Fuego | 1964-01-22 | Liz Frade |
| 100 Rifles | 1969-03-26 | Girl in Hotel |
| Eva 63 | 1963-12-05 | Soledad |
| Vampyros Lesbos | 1971-07-15 | Countess Nadine Carody |
| El sonido de la muerte | 1967-10-08 | Maria |
| Sugar Colt | 1967-11-29 | Josefa |
| Currito de la Cruz | 1965-07-01 | Rocío Carmona |
| Cuadecuc, vampir | 1972-05-05 | Self |
| Soltera y madre en la vida | 1969-10-13 | Paloma |
| Les Cauchemars naissent la nuit | 1970-05-26 | Neighbour’s Girlfriend |
| La Familia Y Uno Más | 1965-09-10 | Patricia |
| Sex Charade | 1972-05-01 | Anne |
| Lola la Piconera | 1970-01-24 | Rosarillo |
| Canción de cuna | 1961-12-04 | Teresa |
| Ursus | 1961-09-12 | Fillide |
| El valle de las espadas | 1963-03-07 | Maria Estévez |
| Juliette | 1970-07-01 | Juliette |
| Canção da Saudade | 1964-09-18 | Babá |
| Soledad Miranda, una flor en el desierto | 2015-10-01 | Herself (archive footage) |
| Cervantes | 1967-11-02 | Nessa |
| Comanche blanco | 1968-06-21 | India |
| Playa de Formentor | 1965-11-01 | Sandra |
| La reina del Tabarín | 1960-11-14 | Reina consorte de Brandemburgo (uncredited) |
| Bochorno | 1963-11-18 | Piluca |
| Las hijas de Helena | 1963-01-02 | Mari Po |
| Cuatro bodas y pico | 1963-01-01 | Mari-Luci |
| Fin de semana | 1964-11-23 | Sonsoles |
| ¡Es mi hombre! | 1966-03-26 | Leonor Jiménez |
| Estudio amueblado 2.P. | 1969-10-17 | Maribel |
| La bella Mimí | 1961-10-02 | Bailarina |
| Beloved Count | 2007-02-27 | Lucy (archive footage) |
| Dracula vs. Vampir | 2012-10-06 | |
| Famous T&A 2 | 2022-02-25 | (archive footage) |