Lilia Prado

Leticia Lilia Amezcua Prado (30 March 1928 – 22 May 2006), known as Lilia Prado, was a Mexican actress and dancer. Noted for her beauty and on-screen sensuality, she was a famous star and sex symbol of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.

Prado began her career in 1947 as an extra in films, and received her first leading role in Confidencias de un ruletero (1949). She was directed by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel in Subida al cielo (1952), Abismos de pasión (1954), and La ilusión viaja en tranvía (1954). Her performance in Talpa (1956) earned her a nomination for the Ariel Award for Best Actress. She was Cantinflas' leading lady in the popular comedy El analfabeto (1961).

In 1999, Prado received the Golden Ariel for her career, and the following year she was honored by the Cineteca Nacional.

Prado was born in Sahuayo, Michoacán, and from there her family moved to Mexico City, where she attended school. She wanted to be a dancer and travel around the world, but her father never gave her permission to study music or dance. In order to win her own money, she began working as a telephone operator.

Her career began in 1946 when a journalist named Javier Campos took her to the set of the film Bel Ami at Estudios Azteca. The next day, she was given work as an extra. She appeared in uncredited roles in La barca de oro (1947) and Soy charro de Rancho Grande (1947), and had a "good little role" as a maid in Dueña y señora (1948).

Around the same time, she won a beauty contest and began attending acting classes. Celestino Gorostiza, one of her acting teachers, had much faith in her and directed her in play. When Prado left the stage to work in more films, Gorostiza told one of Prado's friends, "The cinema won a star, but the stage lost a good actress".

Prado obtained her first starring role in Confidencias de un ruletero (1949) with Resortes. The film was followed by musical and comedy films in which Prado "danced and showed her legs".