María Teresa Pina Cabrera

A prestigious and renowned Cuban actress. Her career of several years, which began with the theater group of Ciego de Ávila, her native city, has allowed her to embody a wide variety of characters according to the social fabric of the era: passionate women, repressed or condemned by the tragedy of their destinies.

Her family, of peasant and working-class origin, within which her parents had to raise five children, she considered herself the ugliest of her four sisters, as she recalls that Alicia was very elegant and the others had their charms; but it comforted her somewhat that her mother always told her that she was the most intelligent… and that was enough for her. Therefore, with that description as a motto for the future, she decided to cultivate herself and began to study a lot, to read everything within her reach, and that is how she came to the City of Havana.

Acting awakened in her when she accompanied her sister Silvia, an amateur actress, to rehearsals; then, the dazzlement came when she saw the Chilean theatrical work The day my friend Gumersindo died a natural death. From then on she felt it was her path and directed her steps toward that objective. She studied and worked for 15 years in the theater group of Ciego de Ávila, where she mainly performed in comedies. The anecdote is well known that to travel to Havana she posed as Enrique Núñez Rodríguez; she did not sell her bicycle, but she did sell her television.

Acting
Theater
María Teresa was enjoyed in In Praise of Folly, a mono-drama that, based on Erasmus of Rotterdam's classic book, had impactful performances in one of the always memorable editions of the National Festival of Cuban Monologue, a subgenre that reached its highest point in Cuba between 1989 and 1999, with the abundant presence of the national stage world and, on many occasions, also with foreign performers and directors who, lovers of this scenic modality, came to the Island to test their skills.

The Great Tyrant
Years later (the '90s) during one of the editions of the Camagüey Theater Festival, the seasoned Agramonte audience was dazzled by her excellent performance, alongside the distinguished actor, director, and National Theater Prize winner Mario Balmaseda, in the piece High Risk, directed by the also national theater prize winner Eugenio Hernández Espinosa.

At the end of 2010, in the capital's Sala Llauradó, Havanans and foreign visitors gave her a standing ovation on stage with the monologue by also actor, director, historian of Cuban theater and playwright Carlos Padrón, The Great Tyrant, in which she displays all her impressive histrionic talents (acting, voice…). Directed by the National Theater Prize winner and finest actress Verónica Lynn.

For such virtues of the performer, after this original performance she deserved the Jury Mention for her acting in the V National Festival of Cuban Monologue, and it is unlikely that another actress could interpret the role of La Lupe with equal quality. The work is presented again in September at the XIV National Theater Festival Camagüey 2012, continuing to be very well received by the public, which was confirmed in this new presentation at the Vicentina de la Torre Academy Theater. Subsequently it continues to be enjoyed by the public in different spaces and moments.

Capacity for observation, concentration of energies, and dual consciousness have enabled her to effectively shape her theatrical characters in singular productions such as Manteca (2002); A Colonial House (2005), Pedro Navaja (musical comedy from 2006), both by director Nelson Dorr; Tragic Game (2004) by director Luisa María Jiménez, High Risk, Nocturnal Encounter of Extreme Danger and Santa Camila de La Habana Vieja, among others.

Direction has been among María Teresa's interests, as she undertook the staging of the zarzuela The Legend of the Kiss, which earned her excellent reviews even from the New York newspaper Opera News, an experience she thinks of repeating in the future perhaps with the opera Tosca, one of her favorites.

Cover of the work
She starred in the tragedy Medea, by classical French playwright Pierre Corneille, where according to critics, the actress convinces in the role of Medea, both in the initial monologue and in the following scenes, in which she offers the sense of helplessness and revenge that conditions the plot.

The work was presented on the Cuban stage for the first time at the capital's Mella theater in January 2012, and according to what Nelson Dorr stated, none of his works had been performed in Cuba, although those of the other two members of the golden trio of that European drama had been: Molière and Racine.

"You have to do that strong theater, which demands a lot from actors, so that is how I found María Teresa Pina for the role of Medea, because she has the voice and temperament necessary to embody that role; Miguel Fonseca in the character of Jason and Carlos Padrón as King Creon, because of his stature and that strong voice that can fill the theater."

Nelson Dorr

Television
The role of Lucretia in Oh, Havana, a soap opera that is closer to her because it is precisely about a Cuban woman of these times; a single mother with three children of different ages whom she must support and educate; moving forward despite all the difficulties this brings her.

"Because of my age I am almost obligated to be the mother of… or the aunt of… I think that what is significant is not the more or less long trajectory of the character, whether it is a protagonist or not; sometimes a small role stays in the public's memory for a long time, if it knew how to touch them. What matters is whether it is dramaturgically well outlined in the script or not."

The interpretation required her to wear, for almost two years, gray lenses that with the color of her eyes give a blue tint, as her 'descendants' have light-colored eyes. "My 'children' are a love. The first thing I did to connect with them was to give each one a hug. I believe in vibrations, in the chemistry between people. That one-on-one contact had an effect; everything flowed.
With Miriam, who plays Muriel, the understanding was mutual from the first time. Little Milton García, because of his charisma, steals your heart right away. Lora, who plays Lizardo, is simple. They are very intelligent and sensitive and that allowed for communication, so basic for developing the actions. There are beautiful scenes, of infinite tenderness".

María Teresa is remembered in soap operas such as: The Echo of the Stones (1997), Despite Everything and The Fern Balcony (2002), in short stories and teleplays in which, contained or overflowing, reflective or possessed by the demons of passion, she has shown that she is one of the best-performing Cuban actresses.

"The Fern Balcony was a very beautiful experience, which required me to change my image, because if in Despite Everything I was overweight and gray-haired, for that new novel I lost the 23 pounds I had gained and transformed myself into a blonde. When taking on a role, observation and technique count... I read the script and see how the character is formed, the author, when outlining it, will be giving you its characteristics and from there I construct its psychology: how it lives, what it aspires to, what its objective is… Putting it together, giving it a voice and a presence is a very rich process".

Open Your Eyes Mommy
She also recorded the soap opera, Dust in the Wind (2007), directed by Xiomara Blanco, where she played a psychologist named Nelia, and was part of the cast of the soap opera Summer Loves, with the character Aida. She has also appeared in several teleplays such as The Serpent Will Reign, by screenwriter and director Elena Palacios, sharing the leading role with actresses Monse Duany, Yerlin Pérez and Annia Bu; Solar Tide (1998), Those Gray Days (2003), Soap Bubbles (2004) and Open Your Eyes Mommy (2010); as well as in the teletheater The House of Bernarda Alba (1999), among others.

In the space of Cuban Television's adventures, her acting appeared in Memories of a Grandfather (1998), The Chosen of Time (1999) and Summer Enigma (2000). In the space of On the Trail, she has been playing different roles, many of them negative roles, demonstrating that in each one her high quality as an actress, including that of a manipulative woman from Holguín, who abandons her son to seek an easy life in the capital, meets with citizens of bad social conduct and they end up committing a murder.
Cinema

Although cinema has rarely knocked on her door, she loves the big screen for getting into the skin of other creatures. She acted in the films Rosa la China, Always Havana, and in Pages from Mauricio's Diary.

"It was wonderful that Manolo Pérez thought of me. The role is brief, but the film very timely, the subject necessary and I did it with great love".

In 2001 she participated alongside Heydy González and Alberto Pujol, in the drama Sibila, under the direction of Paco Anca and in 2011, she had a special performance in another drama, Theorem, a work directed by Mariela López Galano. Also in cinema, she is part of the cast of the film by Cuban filmmaker Alejandro Gil, The Ambush, where she is accompanied by actors such as Patricio Wood, Tomás Cao, Caleb Casas and Orián Suárez, among others. The film shows four soldiers who survive an ambush thanks to chance.
Sports

Since the age of eight she has practiced sports. Initially, fencing: she was the first foil fencer of her province; then, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, almost all modalities of athletics and even some judo. Now, she always goes to the gym and does weights because they keep her in shape.

Other Work
The Institute of Music and the Commercial Marketing Company organized a gala on May 6, 2012, on the occasion of a tribute to Cuban composer Adolfo Guzmán. María Teresa Pina was accompanied in hosting it by Niro de la Rúa, both under the direction of Caridad Bridón.

In June she was invited to the great festival "White Nights", in the Russian city of Perm, as part of the first Cuban delegation attending this event, along with the goldsmith group Pauyet, a couple of dancers from the Tropicana cabaret and a septet of traditional Cuban music, both from Santiago de Cuba, among others. The actress participated in forums and shared her monologues with the Russian people.

On the program From the Great Stage, she accompanied Niro de la Rúa in hosting the program on September 27, 2012, where the work of Mariano Rodríguez was remembered on his centennial.
Awards

"Mahogany Mask" Acting Award / Play "The Inheritance"
1st Place Acting Award National Monologue Festival / Play "Sorrows Know How to Swim"
2nd Place Monologue Festival Award / Play "In Praise of Folly" (a work to which five awards are granted on the same occasion at the Monologue Festival).
Havana Monologue Festival
Segismundo Prize / Grand Prize
UNEAC Prize / Acting
AHS Prize / Acting
University Theater Prize / Acting
Tablas Magazine Prize / Acting
Caricato Prize (Francisco Covarrubias) / Play "High Risk"
Caricatos Mention - dramatized series "The Echo of the Stones"
XX Anniversary Medal of the AHS
The Actuar Agency and the CNAE awarded her recognition for her 25 years of artistic life.
Nominated for Caricatos and Adolfo Llauradó Awards (2011)
Jury Mention for acting in the monologue The Great Tyrant
In the 1st edition of the Enrique Almirante Prize (2015) she receives recognition in the category of Actors, Actresses and Humor (on September 25 of the aforementioned year).[5]
Artist of Merit of ICRT 2016.

Beyond achieving success as an actress, María Teresa Pina is a fortunate winner in the field of love. In this way, for several years she has been married to broadcaster and presenter Niro de la Rúa, with whom she not only formed a family. In that sense, both united their forces, ingenuity and creativity, managing to remain relevant in the artistic field.

Likewise, both left Cuba for Mexico in the year 2015, where they worked as teachers of acting and broadcasting. Later, they emigrate to Miami where Maritere's triumphant return to theater took place; especially with the work "The Great Tyrant," a tribute to "La Lupe."

Without a doubt, with this work, María Teresa Pina has achieved great popularity as a theater actress in Miami. In fact, this work has had an excellent reception among the Cuban public in Miami; who have reiterated their affection and admiration for her.

Having such a talented and well-rounded actress as María Teresa Pina is truly a source of pride for Cubans. As a result, as she celebrates sixty-one years of her birth, we can do nothing more than thank her for dedicating more than thirty years of her life to delight us with her splendid work.

Without a doubt, the life testimony of actress María Teresa Pina is a true inspiration for people; especially for Cubans.

First, because she is an example that it is never too late to dream big, and it is not impossible. Despite having certain disadvantages, this did not prevent her from succeeding in Cuban theater, cinema and television; making her dreams come true.

Furthermore, all of Maritere's achievements have been reached thanks to her effort, dedication, commitment and genuine engagement with her audience. In this way, her followers have had no other choice but to reciprocate through their unconditional affection, support and respect as an actress.

Also, María Teresa Pina has shown herself to be a versatile actress, appearing to us in a splendid way through different types of characters. Thus, we have suffered with them, and likewise we have laughed, hated, loved, and felt everything that she has managed to transmit to us with her work.