Welcome to Telenovela Talk our new weekly column where we will explore your favorite telenovelas in-depth. This week we'll talk about Ana Brenda Contreras, a rising star that is on the fast track to be the new queen of Mexican dramas.
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Ana Brenda came into the scene when she was selected to be part of the musical group T'DeTila on the reality show, Popstars.
Soon after she took extensive classes in Televisa's acting school. When she finished the course she got her first acting break in Ernesto Alonso's Barrera de Amor. At the end of that gig she was called on to participate in Duelo De Pasiones.
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In 2008, Ana Brenda got her big break. She received her first starring role as Violeta Madrigal on the telenovela Juro Que Te Amo. This was a remake of Los Parientes Pobres which starred Lucero a few years back.
Although Ana's first protagonista role was not a hit, ratings wise, her acting chops started to show and raise her profile as an actress.
When she finished, critically acclaimed producer, Carla Estrada sought her out to be a villain on her next primetime novela. Although it was not a leading role, it was an opportunity for Ms. Contreras to receive more exposure in a higher profile soap.
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Due to her playing the "baddie" in Sortilegio she was one of the favorites to star as Teresa. Ana was really close to portraying the "hembra mala," but it ultimately went to Angelique Boyer. The producer Jose Alberto Castro was really content with her casting though, that he offered her the role as the villain's best friend.
Teresa became a huge success and Breco (as her close friends call her) made her character shine. The general consensus from the public was that she was ready to be the leading lady again.
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Jose Alberto Castro was preparing his next telenovela, a remake of Monte Calvario, which was later remade as Te Sigo Amando. There were a couple names shuffled for the lead in La Que No Podia Amar, but it went to Ana Brenda Contreras. El Guero Castro believed in Ana's talent from her previous work and she would co-star with Jorge Salinas and Jose Ron.
Some detractors felt that Ms. Contreras was destined for a flop and the pressure was on. Everything happens when it is time for it and all the key components of making a telenovela a hit fell into the right place. Originally her and Jose Ron were the leading couple, but due to her chemistry with Jorge, the writer made some tweaks to the storyline so both men could be feasible love interests.
La Que No Podia Amar turned out to be one of Televisa's biggest hits of 2011 and now Ana Brenda is a hot commodity. Although the actress wanted to take a long break after finishing the successful soap, producers are calling her to be their next star.
It has been reported that producer Salvador Mejia is looking for Ana to star in a remake of Colombia's La Hija Del Mariachi.
Breco's persistence and her attitude have made her the star she is now. She has not involved herself in scandals keeping her personal life, for the most part, private. Ana is down to Earth and is on the rise. She has proven to be a versatile actress, characterizing herself as a "goody good girl" and "baddie bad girl" succesfully.
With good luck and choosing her next project wisely she is surely to be the next queen of telenovelas for many years to come.
What do you think of Ana Brenda in La Que No Podia Amar?
