Miss Del Rio with Barbara Mujica

About this episode

The episode explores the life of Dolores, a trailblazing woman in Hollywood, narrated by her fictional hairdresser and friend.

1910, Mexico. As the country’s revolution spreads, Dolores, the daughter of a wealthy banker, must flee her comfortable life in Durango or risk death. Her family settles in Mexico City, where, at sixteen, she marries the worldly Jaime del Río. But in a twist of fate, at a party she meets an influential American director who recognizes in her a natural performer. He invites her to Hollywood, and practically overnight, the famous Miss del Río is born. Dolores’s star quickly rises, and her days become a whirlwind of moviemaking and glamorous events. Swept up in L.A.'s glitzy inner circle, she takes her place among film royalty such as Marlene Dietrich and Orson Welles. But as her career soars, her personal life becomes increasingly complicated, with family tragedy, divorce, and real heartache. And when she’s labeled box office poison amid growing prejudice before WWII, Dolores must decide what price she’s willing to pay to achieve her dreams and if her heart and future instead lie where it all began…in Mexico. Spanning half a century and narrated by Dolores’s fictional hairdresser and longtime friend, Miss del Río traces the life of a trailblazing woman whose legacy in Hollywood and…

People in this episode

Host: James Lott Jr

Guest: Barbara Mujica

Topics covered

• Hollywood
• Mexican history
• feminism
• film industry
• personal struggle
• cultural legacy

Keywords

• Dolores
• Hollywood
• Mexican Revolution
• Barbara Mujica
• film royalty
• personal tragedy
• feminism
• cultural legacy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Miss del Río

Places: Mexico, Mexico City

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