Martha Higareda to Star in Fox’s Country Music-Themed Musical Drama “Monarch”

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda has gone country…

The 38-year-old Mexican actress, producer and screenwriter has joined the lead cast of Fox’s upcoming musical drama Monarch alongside Emma Milani.

Higareda and Milani will appear alongside Susan Sarandon, Albie Roman, Anna Friel, Trace Adkins and Beth Ditto.

Created by Melissa London Hilfers, Monarch is described as a Texas-sized, multigenerational musical drama about America’s first family of country music, the Romans. The Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon). Along with her beloved husband, Albie (Adkins), Dottie has created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.

Higareda will play Catt Phoenix, the stunning and unpredictable mother of 17- year-old Ana Phoenix, a talented young singer and who is trying to get signed to the Roman Family’s record label. Catt harbors a deep-seated grudge against the Romans, Nicky in particular, and her presence creates quite a stir in Austin.

Milani will portray Ana Phoenix, the sweet, wide-eyed daughter of Catt with a beautiful voice, who is a recent TikTok sensation with her modern, Spanish language interpretation of Roman’s first hit song.

They join recently announced cast members Inigo Pascual, John Sasse and Meagan Holder.

Monarch debuts with a special two-night event beginning on Sunday, January 30.

Higareda can be seen in Hulu’s Into the Dark: Culture Shock. Her recent credits also include Netflix’s Altered Carbon, Queen of the South and Royal Pains.

Milani, who recently appeared on Solve, is a 2020 graduate of the Acting Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts. Also a vocalist, Milani has appeared in productions of The White Rose and 12 Angry Jurors.

Lionsgate & Pantelion Films to Release Higareda’s Spanish Comedy “3 Idiotas” in June

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda is hitting the road this summer…

Lionsgate and Pantelion Films will release the Spanish-language comedy 3 Idiotas, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress on June 2.

Directed by Carlos Bolado, the film centers on two nerdy friends and their arch rival from college who go in search of a long lost buddy who disappeared on graduation day.

The film, in which the characters relive college life and recall memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently even as the rest of the world called them idiots, also stars Alfonso Dosal, Christian Vázquez, Germán Valdés, Vadhir Derbez and Rodrigo Murray.

Higareda co-write the screenplay with Bolado, Antonio Abascal and Cory Brusseau. It is said to be a remake of the 2009 Bollywood film starring Indian superstar Aamir Khan.

Higareda’s film credits include McFarland, USA and No Manches Frida.

Chaparro’s “No Manches Frida” Opens Solidly at the U.S. Box Office

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Omar Chaparro has a hit on his hands…

Lionsgate/Pantelion Films’ Spanish-language film No Manches Frida, starring the 41-year-old Mexican actor, had a solid start over the Labor Day weekend.

The comedy opened in 362 locations grossing $3.65 million Friday to Sunday.

The comedy, from Lionsgate and Televisa’s Pantelion Films label, grossed $3.65 million in 362 locations from Friday to Sunday, with an estimated $4.65 million for the entire Labor Day weekend.

Starring Chaparro, Martha Higareda and Mónica Dionne had a three-day per theater average of $10,083, the highest of any film in national release and second-highest for the weekend overall.

It’s Pantelion’s second most successful opening weekend ever, behind only Instructions Not Included, which grossed over $7.84 million in its debut weekend in late August 2013 in 348 theaters ($22,547 average), going on to cume over $44.4M.

No Manches Frida outgrossed the label’s 2015 Labor Day weekend release Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos, which bowed in 395 locations, taking over $3.42 million ($8,670 PTA). It went on to cume over $9 million.

“Labor Day weekend has historically been very positive for us,” said Pantelion’s Paul Presburger Sunday morning. “We’ve been at the marketing of the movie for over a month using social media as well as Spanish-language television and radio…We knew we had something strong that would resonate with audiences.”

Pantelion’s Edward Allen, who helped spearhead the project, noted that the film has generated social media attention among younger English-speaking audiences in the run-up to this weekend.

“It’s resonating with fans that may not typically go to our movies,” said Allen.

No Manches Frida is a re-make of 2013 German film Fack ju Göhte. It’s the story of Zequi, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice before going to jail. They return to the site only to find that Frida Kahlo High has built a gymnasium over the loot. To get the money, he poses as a substitute teacher for a school that can’t seem to keep any teachers around. He meets the sweet and earnest Lucy, as well as an unruly classroom. Lucy and her fellow teachers have no control over the students, and Zequi comes in ready to lay down the law- but he quickly finds out that life on the inside may have been easier to deal with than a school full of wild and rebellious teenagers.

The film will open in Mexico in two weeks.

Added Presburger: “We’ll be supporting the movie this week with additional media, while talent will be down in Mexico to support the movie there.” No Manches Frida will expand next week, but specifics will be decided after the holiday weekend.

Higareda to Star in Netflix’s Futuristic Drama Series “Altered Carbon”

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an altered reality for Martha Higareda…

The 32-year-old Mexican Actress has been cast as the female lead opposite Joel Kinnaman and James Purefoy in Altered Carbon, Netflix’s futuristic drama series conceived, written and executive produced by Laeta Kalogridis.

Based on Richard Morgan’s award-winning 2002 cyberpunk sci-fi novel, Altered Carbon is set in the 25th century when the human mind has been digitized and the soul is transferable from one body to the next. Takeshi Kovacs (Kinnaman), a former elite interstellar warrior known as an Envoy who has been imprisoned for 500 years, is downloaded into a future he’d tried to stop. If he can solve a single murder in a world where technology has made death nearly obsolete, he’ll get a chance at a new life on Earth.

Higareda will play Kristin Ortega, a smart and tough Lieutenant in the Bay City PD. She and her family are immigrants from the North LaTam Zone (an area that was once Mexico, Belize, Guatamala and El Salvador) and Ortega is following in the footsteps of her father, a cop who died heroically in the line of duty.

Purefoy will play Laurens Bancroft. One of the superwealthy class known as Methuselahs, Bancroft is rich, influential, and over 500 years old. He is a man of contradictions, ruthlessly powerful yet unexpectedly moral, his deep passion for all the pleasures of life matched only by his need to exert iron control over everything around him.

Miguel Sapochnik will direct the first episode.

Higareda’s previous credits include television appearances on Royal Pains and El Mariachi, as well as film appearances in McFarland, USA and Borderland.

Higareda Signs on for Televisa USA’s Scripted Action Drama Series “Coma”

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda is preparing for double-duty on Televisa USA’s new project.

The 30-year-old Mexican actress will executive produce and star in Televisa USA’s scripted action drama series Coma.

Described as an hourlong action drama with sci-fi elements, Coma focuses on 10,000 comatose patients around the world who in the course of three days suddenly wake up fighting for their lives. Inexplicably, they all have the same message: Stop Ian Wallace, the man they say will be responsible for starting World War III.

Higareda will portray Dr. Victoria Neves in the pilot.

The division of Televisa, a subsidiary of Spanish-language producer-distributor Grupo Televisa, acquired the spec series written by Francesco Papini and Noé Santillán López.

Televisa USA will shop the series to broadcast, cable and digital outlets including Netflix and Amazon.

The deal comes as Televisa USA continues its push into original scripted fare. The banner co-produces ABC Family‘s Chasing Lifeas well as Lifetime‘s Devious Maids.

Higareda to Appear on USA Nettwork’s “Royal Pains”

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda has landed a royal role…

The 30-year-old Mexican actress has landed a role on the USA Network’s concierge medicine practice-themed series Royal Pains.

Higareda, who appeared on El Rey Network’s El Mariachi series, will portray Viviana, the lively bartender at a quiet local bar that becomes a sanctuary for Jeremiah (portrayed by Ben Shenkman).

Higareda’s other television credits include Hawaii Five-0, CSI: Miami and the mini-series Carlos the Jackal.

The sixth season Royal Pains will premiere on June 10.

Rodriguez’s “El Mariachi” to Be Made Into a Spanish-Language Series

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez’s debut film is getting a brand new life…

Sony Pictures Television has announced plans to produce 70 episodes of El Mariachi, an original series based on the 45-year-old Mexican American director’s 1992 cult film of the same name.

In 2011, El Mariachi was selected as an addition to the National Film Registry of films for preservation by the Library of Congress for it’s “enduring significance to American Culture.”

The Spanish-language drama marks the first time Sony and its Colombian partner Teleset will produce a series entirely in Mexico.

Soy tu Fan star Ivan Arana takes on the role of the lovestruck, revenge-seeking mariachi who wages war against fearsome drug cartels.

El Mariachi also features Mexican actors Martha Higareda and Julio Bracho.

“Staying true to the story, we are producing the series in Mexico, shooting in magnificent locations and utilizing some of the country’s best talent,” said Angelica Guerra, Sony senior vice president of production in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market.

The series will air on Sony Entertainment Television in Latin America and on a yet-to-be-announced U.S. network.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s latest film, Machete Kills, will have its world premiere on September 19 at the Fantastic Fest in Austin.

Higareda Signs Talent Deal with Fox

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s known as “the Mexican Sandra Bullock”… But, Martha Higareda may soon be giving the real Sandra Bullock a run for her money.

The 28-year-old Mexican actress has signed a talent holding deal with Fox as part of the network’s initiative to find untapped Latin American talent, according to Deadline.com.

Higareda has had some presence in the United States. She’s appeared in Smokin’ Aces 2 and Street Kings, the CBS pilot Skip Tracer and most recently guest-starred on CSI: Miami. Additionally, Higareda appeared in the miniseries Carlos and Lifetime’s Lies In Plain Sight.

But the actress—the daughter of actress Martha Cervantes and artist Jose Luis Higareda—is best known in her native Mexico for her standout work opposite big name stars like Jaime Camil and Ximena Sariñana. Higareda even received a Mexican Academy Award nomination for her role in Fuega Del Cielo.

As part of her talent deal with Fox, Higareda will be exposed to producers and directors of the network’s current collection of pilots.

But Higareda isn’t the only Mexican actor to sign a talent deal with Fox…

Adan Canto, a rising star in Mexico but virtual Hollywood newbie is also on reserve for pilot season at Fox.

The 30-year-old Mexican actor/singer only has a handful of projects under his belt, but has apparently demonstrated a lot of potential.

No word on what projects Canto or Higareda may be under consideration for, but Fox currently has a Latino-themed project in the works: Silvio Horta’s Latino family dramedy centered on three sisters, which is being executive produced by Fox’s biggest Latina star, American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez.

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