Background:

Mexican actress/singer Thalía gained fame primarily in many Latin and Asian countries as María Mercedes, her titular role in a 1992 Mexican soap opera. She also increased her fame after roles in the soap opera “Marimar” (1994), “María la del Barrio” (1995) and “Rosalinda” (1999).

As a singer, after releasing several well-received albums, Thalía hit the jackpot with the album Arrasando (2000), which won a Latin Grammy Award and earned a Latin Grammy nomination, and a 2002 self-titled album, which garnered her two Latin Billboard Awards (also received a Latin Grammy and two Latin Billboard nominations). The singer with a mezzo-soprano voice also hit the music scene with such singles as “Piel Morena” (1995), “Amor a la Mexicana” (1997), “Entre El Mar Y Una Estrella” (2000) and “Dance Dance (The Mexican)” (2003, won an International Dance Music Award).

Apart from her acting and singing career, Thalía also owns a fashion line called “Thalía Sodi Collection” and the chocolate brand “La Dulcería Thalía,” which was manufactured by Hershey’s chocolate company. Currently, she spends most of her time in New York, where her joint and individual business affairs are based. She now works in business with her husband, Tommy Mottola, whom she wed in 2000.


Luxurious Nuptial

Childhood and Family:

Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda, who was later famous as Thalía, was born on August 26, 1971 (some say 1972), in Mexico City. The youngest of five to Ernesto Sodi Pallares and Yolanda Miranda Mange, Thalía is the sister of Laura Zapata (actress), Federica, Gabriela and Ernestina.

Growing up seeing sister Laura’s performances, little Thalía enjoyed acting and music, which led to her singing in the nationwide group Din Din and later, Timbiriche. She also quickly launched her acting career in a Mexico City theater, playing the lead role of Sandy in a play version of “Grease.” Within a few years, she had built a solid career on the small screen.

On December 2, 2000, Thalía had a lavish wedding with recording mogul Tommy Mottola (producer, former president of Sony Music), at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. The couple currently lives in New York.


María Mercedes

Career:

Thalía began acting on screen with an unaccredited performance in the musical comedy La Guerra de los pasteles (1979) and the musical series “Jugemos a cantar” (1982). While replacing group Timbiriche’s vocalist Sasha Sokol, Thalía made her way to TV by playing Diana in the Mexican soap opera “La Pobre Señorita Limantour” (1983).

Thalía accepted the role of Beatriz in “Quinceañera” (1987) and the leading role of Alma in “Luz y sombra” (1989), before going to the United States to work on her solo debut album. Released in 1990, her self-titled album spawned “Un Pacto Entre Los Dos” and acquired gold certification the next year. It was immediately ensued by the gold sophomore recording Mundo De Cristal (1991) and the album Love (1992), which was awarded platinum certification.

In 1992, Thalía made her mark with the titular role of a cheerful poor girl falling in love with a boy from an arrogant rich family in the soap opera “María Mercedes” (1992, also sang the theme song), which scored huge success in many Latin and Asian countries. Still with the Cinderella-themed story, she took on the title characters in “Marimar” (1994, as Marimar ‘Bella’ Pérez Aldama, also sang the titular theme song) and “María la del Barrio” (1995, played María Hernández de la Vega, also sang the theme song).

Moving to EMI Records, Thalía released the album En Éxtasis (1995) with the major hit single “Piel Morena,” which led to a soundtrack performance for Disney’s animated feature Anastasia (1997), “Viaje Tiempo Atrás.” Recording executive Emilio Estefan, Jr., who was impressed by Thalía’s singing, produced her next album, Amor a la Mexicana (1997), which created sensations such as “Por Amor,” “Mujer Latina” and the title track. Amid her ever-rising music career, Thalía cemented her fame with a role in the comedy movie Vamos al baile (1996) and the titular leading role in the poor-turned-rich plotted “Rosalinda” (1999).

Subsequent to her minor turn in the romantic comedy Mambo Café (2000, as Nydia), the performer heightened her music career with Arrasando (2000), which won a Latin Grammy award for Best Sound Engineered Album and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Artist of the Year. Its singles “Entre El Mar Y Una Estrella,” “Regresa a Mí,” “Reencarnación” and the title song received heavy airplay. A year later, Thalía issued the greatest hits album Con Banda, Grandes Éxitos (2001).

Her second eponymous album, released in 2002, ruled the Top Latin Album charts for 6 weeks and won two Latin Billboard awards. It also earned a Latin Grammy and two other Latin Billboard nominations. Aside from the chart-topping singles “No Me Enseñaste” and “Tú y Yo,” the award-winning album also generated the top ten hit “A Quién Le Importa.” In 2003, The English version of Thalía was released, featuring her collaboration with American rapper Fat Joe. The same year, her club track “Dance Dance (The Mexican)” was handed an International Dance Music award.

Following her Greatest Hits (2004), Thalía received lukewarm response for her studio album El Sexto Sentido (2005), possibly due to a lack of publicity. The guest star of the comedy series “Juan y José show” (2005) re-released her latter album under the title El Sexto Sentido Re+Loaded (2006) and added four new songs.


Awards:

• International Dance Music: “Dance Dance (The Mexican),” 2003
• Latin Grammy: Pop Female Album, Thalía, 2002
• Latin Billboard: Premio de la Audiencia, Thalía, 2002
• Latin Billboard: Best Sound Engineered Album, Arrasando, 2000