“It’s where she belongs, isn’t it?” Lupe Vélez and Dolores del Río in Hollywood

Mexican artistic influence at the beginning of the twentieth century was prevalent in America, most notably muralism, but also talent associated with the movies. This influenced the way Mexico was perceived in the United States, and by extension the way Lupe Vélez and Dolores del Río, the most successful Mexican actresses in early Hollywood, were appreciated. Both actresses had come to Hollywood to fulfill their dream of a career in the movies. At first, they were successful playing a variety of roles in silent movies, but once sound arrived, their accents made obvious their foreignness at a time when American culture was beginning to spread around the world and to establish its preeminence. They were aware of the challenges they faced and knew there was a price to pay if they wanted to continue in a business where the public decided, at a time when Americans distrusted foreigners. So, if that price was to overplay her earthy Mexicaness, in the case of Vélez, or emphasize her aristocratic image, in the case of del Río, they were ready to pay it. Mexico became the other par excellence in the early twentieth century, and these heavily accented actresses were evidence of that.