BY RONALD CONSTANTINO
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QUEEN OF PREMIERE – “One and only” is an apt description of Anita Linda, who passed away at 95. She’s one of a kind actress, the queen of Premiere in the ‘50s. She was acting almost to the very end.
Her Premiere films included Ramon A. Estella’s “Perfidia,” “Alias Sakim,” and “Hiram Na Pangalan.”
Also Gerry de Leon’s “Sisa,” “Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo,” and “Hating Gabi” (an episode in “4 Na Kasaysayang Ginto.”
“Sisa,” the tragic mother in Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” gave Anita the Maria Clara award for best actress.
When Premiere had labor problems in the ‘50s, Anita Linda bravely sided with the workers, putting her career in jeopardy.
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MORE AWARDS – In her more than six decades career in showbiz she won other awards. Among them: Gawad CCP and Natatanging Gawad Urian (lifetime achievement awards); an Urian best actress award for “Lola” and best supporting actress award for “Takaw Tukso.”
Then there’s Outstanding single performance for TV drama anthology “Huwaran” from the Pambansang Akademya para sa Telebisyon, Agham, at Sining (PATAS); Best actress award from Cinemalaya for “Adela.”
Also, FAMAS best supporting actress awards for “Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa” and “Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata.”
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SWAN SONG – Anita Linda’s last films was “Circa,” shown last year at the 100th year of the movie industry. It was directed by Adolf Alix, who also worked with her in “Adela,” “Tambolista,” and “Presa.”
Adolf said it was a joy and an honor to direct her.
Anita was born Alice Buenaflor Lake in Pasay City on Nov. 23, 1924. Her parents were James Lake, an American mining engineer, and Gorgonia Buenaflor. She married actor Fred Cortes with whom she had a son, Fred Cortes Jr.
