Marta Jiménez Oropesa

Outstanding actress of Cuban radio. Identified throughout the country as Rita Palanganillo from the radio program Alegrías de Sobremesa.

She was born in the Havana neighborhood of Víbora (Diez de Octubre). Her first stage appearance was at just 7 years old, in the old Teatro Nacional, now Gran Teatro de la Habana, in the opera "Madame Butterfly" playing the madame's son.

At 13 years old she began working almost professionally at Radio Lavin, which later became "1010", where she worked on children's programs directed by the Spanish Mercedes Pinto and acting alongside her children: Gustavo and Rubén Rojo. From this childhood period, her performance as one of the little ones in the famous story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stands out.

She performed the radio program El suceso de hoy, the crime chronicle of the era that dramatized the day's events, while it was sung in ten-line verses by Joseíto Fernández with the theme of Guantanamera. Also during this time and at just 16 years old she gave poetry recitations to packed theaters, from which came her inclination toward dramatic recitation. At just 17 years old she practiced journalism: Directing, Managing and Writing the magazine of the "Sirenas" Sports Casino.

She received lessons in dance, dramatic recitation and English language. In the theatrical work "Por la ciudad rueda un grito" she played the character of Chela Ferrer, after which she was brought to Radio and is where she was hired as an exclusive artist for a very important soap company "Crusellas y Cia.", becoming one of the most important actresses of the moment, protagonist of great novels, dramatic actress par excellence; it is at this moment that she played "Tarzán's Juana" in "Las aventuras de Tarzán", alongside Enrique Santiesteban, among others. In 1939 she did her first film work, in the movie "Chicharito alcalde", alongside a very distinguished cast of actors from that era.

In 1950 television arrived and she became part of the cast of actors that made up CMQ-TV, her versatility was put to the test in numerous programs doing equally all types of interpretations, both dramatic and humorous, not only as an actress, but also as an entertainer, announcer and presenter.

Voice and image of many commercials of the era, such as for example: the detergent "El Rápido", the toothpaste "Colgate", the cigars "Club", the soap "Palmolive", the coffee "Pilón" among others. In 1959 she participated in her second film, "La vida comienza ahora", alongside Enrique Almirante and Marujita Calvo, among others.

From 1960 she began teaching acting, voice and diction courses throughout the island, both to new actors as well as actors who wanted to improve their knowledge.

She began her career as Director of radio programs, directing for different broadcasters such as: Radio Rebelde, Radio Liberación, Radio Progreso. Many were the programs that had her direction: novels, musicals, humorous, educational, informational, historical, health programs and in which she had the pleasure of directing great works of universal literature as well as great actors of the medium. Work recognized by many for the way she carried it out.

She taught diction courses to traffic regulators.
She was president of the school for training actors.
Member and president of acting juries for UNEAC, Caracol, acting competitions, Film, Radio and Television Festivals.

She collaborated with the improvement of many radio stations throughout the island. She likewise brought her art to all the provinces, both performing and directing some of her programs from there, even offering her art and knowledge voluntarily.

Union leader since her beginnings at the "Radio Progreso" station, along with other outstanding figures, such as Martha del Río and Martha Velasco, who formed a trio within this work that achieved very good results, work that was awarded several times by the union of the sector.

In 1978 she took the position of Front of Cultural Activities of the Preparatory Committee at Radio Progreso for the activities of the "World Festival of Youth and Students", receiving once again praise for the work performed.

In 1983 she traveled to Angola on an internationalist mission with some colleagues from the "Alegrías de sobremesa" collective. Thus founding the brigade "Carlos Moctezuma".

She brought her art to military schools, infantry regiments, prisons and centers of the Ministry of the Interior, receiving recognition for her work.

Exemplary worker for many years. Her career as director ended in 1983. Her courses in acting, voice and diction ended in 1996.

Her television appearances from 1980 onwards were already more sporadic, but this did not stop her from being a Founder of Cuban Television. She made eight trips to former socialist countries, some of them to attend theatrical performances, as well as sent by UNEAC to theater festivals.

Her last performance was a theater piece for Radio Progreso in March 2009 written by Heriberto García Pereira especially for her for her 90 years of life and more than 70 since her stage debut.

Among her students are, among others, Irela Bravo, Paula Alí, Magui Castro, Julio Alberto Casanova, Julio Acanda, Natacha Díaz and Carmen Solar.

She was almost a founder of Alegrías de sobremesa, a humorous program that day after day with its freshness and Cuban spirit breaks into every Cuban home, a few months after it went on air, the writer Alberto Luberta proposed she play the role of Rita Pranganillo, a role she played for more than 40 years and where she always closed the humorous section with: "What people, gentlemen, but what people!"

Main Awards, Distinctions and Decorations
Alejo Carpentier Medal
* "Juan Marinello" Distinction.
* "Raúl Gómez García" Distinction.
* Distinction for National Culture*.
* "Pepe Prieto" Medal as founder of the Revolutionary National Militias.
* Microphone for the "70th Anniversary of Cuban Radio".
* Recipient of recognition for the 70 years of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
* Recognition Diploma for 70 years of Radio Progreso.
* Medal for the 80th Anniversary of Cuban Radio.
* "Majadahonda" Distinction for her Internationalist mission in Angola in 1983.
* "Nicolás Guillén" Diploma
* Recognition Diploma for her work for many years for the FAR and MININT.
* Sunflower of Popularity from "Opina" Magazine.
* Founder of Television. Medals for the 25th, 40th anniversaries.
* Neighborhood Prize, awarded by the CDR.
* Condition of Artist of Merit of ICRT.
*National Radio Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the year 2000.
* Special Prize from the program "Entre tú y yo" for popularity year 2005.
* Recognition Diploma for excellence on the 45th Anniversary of the Founding of UNEAC.
* Recognition Diploma for her 70 years of Artistic Life by Agencia Actuar.
*National Prize for Humor 2007
* "María Teresa Vera" Distinction
*"August 23" Medal, awarded by the National Federation of Cuban Women.
* Stamp 85th Anniversary of Cuban Radio.
* Tropical Gypsy Distinction (2012), awarded by the Provincial Directorate of Culture of Havana.