Yolanda Yvvone Montes Farrington, known as Tongolele, has passed away at the age of 93. Tongolele shared the screen with prominent figures such as Germán Valdés "Tin Tan" and was directed by Ismael Rodríguez and Roberto Gavaldón, icons of the golden age of Mexican cinema.
She debuted on the big screen with the movie "Detectives"; in 1967 she participated in "Las Mujeres Panteras" and since then she was also recognized by that nickname. Over the decades, her presence on screen diminished, but her beauty and talent kept her in a prominent place in popular culture, remembered for her distinctive bunch of white hair and her exotic dances.
A profile written by Rafael Aviña for the Morelia International Film Festival begins with a quote from José Emilio Pacheco, taken from "Las Batallas en el Desierto": "I hid the Sight within the Today and looked at the photos of Tongolele, Su Mu Key, Kalantán, almost naked. The legs, the breasts, the mouth, the waist, the hips, the mysterious hidden sex...".
Tongolele is remembered for her participation in films such as "Nocturno de Amor" and "¡Han Matado a Tongolele!", with which she established herself as a vedette in 1948. She shone in the Mexican film industry, highlighting her transition from black and white films to color ones, always demonstrating her talent in dance.
The National Association of Interpreters reported the passing of this actress and vedette of North American origin who achieved great popularity in the Mexican cinema and nightlife scene.
