Katy Jurado was born María Cristina Estela Jurado García on January 16, 1924, into a wealthy family. However, her family's lands were confiscated by the federal government, leading to a loss of property. Despite this, her grandmother continued to live by her aristocratic ideals.
At the age of 16, Jurado was discovered by movie star Emilio Fernández, who wanted to cast her in one of his films. However, her grandmother objected to her wish to become a movie actress. To get around this, Katy married actor Víctor Velázquez.
Jurado made her debut in the 1943 film "No matarás" during Mexico's "Golden Age of Cinema". She specialized in playing determined women in a wide variety of films in Mexico and the United States. Her unique indigenous features and assertive personality carved a niche for herself in Mexican cinema.
In addition to acting, Jurado worked as a movie columnist and radio reporter to support her family. She also worked as a bullfight critic, where she was spotted by John Wayne and director Budd Boetticher. Boetticher cast her in his autobiographical film "Bullfighter and the Lady" (1951),despite her limited English-language skills.
Jurado's breakthrough in American films came with her role as Gary Cooper's former mistress, saloon owner Helen Ramirez, in "High Noon" (1952). This role earned her two Golden Globe nominations and a win for Best Supporting Actress.
Jurado's portrayal of Helen Ramirez undermined the Hollywood stereotype of the flaming, passionate Mexican "spitfire". She proved that Latino women could be more than just sexpots in American cinema. Her restrained performance emphasized the shortcomings of the other characters and introduced the model of the un-stereotyped Mexican woman.
Jurado continued to work in Hollywood, appearing in films such as "Broken Lance" (1954),"Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973),and "The Hi-Lo Country" (1998). She also worked in Mexican films, including "Nosotros los pobres" (1948) and "Fe, esperanza y caridad" (1974).
Jurado won three Ariel awards, the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar, and was awarded a Special Golden Ariel for Lifetime Achievement in 1997. She was also honored with a Golden Boot Award by the Motion Picture & Television Fund in 1992 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jurado died on July 5, 2002, at the age of 78 at her home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She was survived by her daughter.
