China Zorrilla and Betiana Blum: A Reunion on Screen and a Legacy of Argentine Cinema

On March 15, 2026, eltrece is re-airing a remastered episode of “Ana María Soba, Impatient Heiress,” a 2005 installment of the series Mujeres Asesinas (Killer Women) featuring Argentine acting legends China Zorrilla and Betiana Blum. This broadcast commemorates the 104th anniversary of China Zorrilla’s birth, born March 14, 1922, and revisits a significant moment in both actresses’ careers.

A Reunion Two Decades in the Making

The episode marks a reunion for Zorrilla and Blum, exactly 20 years after they co-starred in Alejandro Doria’s iconic 1985 film, Waiting for the Hearse (Esperando la carroza). In Doria’s film, their characters, Elvira and Nora, delivered lines that became deeply ingrained in Argentine culture. Mujeres Asesinas offered a darker, more tragic exploration of their on-screen dynamic.

The Plot: A Friendship Tainted by Greed

Directed by Jorge Nisco, “Ana María Soba, Impatient Heiress” centers on Inés (China Zorrilla), a solitary elderly woman content with her cat and a distant friend. Her life takes a turn when she meets Ana María Soba (Betiana Blum), a hairdresser who feigns excessive kindness, sensing an opportunity for financial gain. Inés, believing she’s found a genuine friend, names Ana María as her universal heir, bequeathing her house. However, after the will is signed, Ana María’s true, hostile nature emerges.

The situation escalates when Inés overhears Ana María revealing her true intentions to her husband over the phone. Enraged and feeling betrayed, Inés intends to change her will in favor of the parish priest. Ana María Soba ultimately murders Inés by repeatedly striking her in the head.

A Real-Life Crime and its Aftermath

The episode is based on a real event, and Ana María Soba was sentenced to 8 years in prison for simple homicide.

A Legacy of Acting Excellence

Betiana Blum later recalled her colleague with deep emotion, describing China Zorrilla as a “wonderful being” and emphasizing the authentic connection they shared on set, which transcended their characters. The episode showcased Blum’s versatility in portraying a cold-blooded killer and Zorrilla’s ability to convey vulnerability.

China Zorrilla: A Life in the Arts

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1922, China Zorrilla came from a family steeped in the arts. Her father was the renowned sculptor José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín, and she was related to Uruguayan hero José Gervasio Artigas and poet Estanislao del Campo. She spent part of her childhood in Paris and her adolescence in London, where she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Before establishing herself in Argentina, Zorrilla founded the Teatro de la Ciudad de Montevideo in 1961 and worked in New York during the 1960s. She moved to Argentina in 1971, escaping the dictatorship in Uruguay. Her nickname, “China,” originated from a shortened version of a childhood nickname used to avoid misunderstandings abroad.

Notable Roles and Accolades

Zorrilla’s career is filled with memorable roles, including her portrayal of Elvira Romero in Waiting for the Hearse (1985). She also starred in Realize (1984), directed by Alejandro Doria, and captivated audiences in the Argentine-Spanish co-production Elsa & Fred (2005). She made special appearances on television, such as Mercedes Lozada in The Rolands (2004).

China Zorrilla remained active in her profession until the age of 90. She was honored as an Illustrious Citizen in three cities and commemorated with a postage stamp in her native Uruguay.