Verónica Judith Sáinz Castro (; born 19 October 1952) is a Mexican actress and television personality. She began her career in the late 1960s with minor film and television roles before rising to prominence as the star of the telenovela Los ricos también lloran (1979), a success that established her as one of the genre's leading figures. She later followed with El derecho de nacer (1981), Rosa salvaje (1987), and Mi pequeña Soledad (1990).
Castro also gained attention as a talk show host, presenting late-night programs such as Mala noche… ¡no! (1988) and La movida (1991), among others, which achieved strong ratings. In the early 2000s, she later worked as a reality television host on Big Brother VIP, another major audience success. After a period of reduced screen activity, she enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity with the Netflix series The House of Flowers (2018). Her honours include eight TVyNovelas Awards, including two lifetime achievement awards, and the 2005 Spanish Emmy Award for her influence on television. She is the mother of singer Cristian Castro.
Acting and music career
In 1986, she performed in the Latin version of "We Are The World", Cantare, cantaras. She also released one of her most ambitious albums to date, Simplemente Todo. The top-selling singles from Simplemente Todo were "Oye Tu," the title selection, "Nunca Lo Sabra," and "Macumba." Unlike other artists of the time, however, Castro accompanied her singles with videos, becoming one of the pioneers of the MTV age in Latin America. Even as she recorded the music video "Macumba," she worked in telenovelas in Argentina and Italy.
During the 1990s, she began hosting variety shows, and has continued to do so since.
In 2009 Verónica Castro went back to telenovelas, and left Mexico for Argentina to film the telenovela Los Exitosos Pérez. It premiered in Mexico on August 30, 2009.
In 2017, she was cast as the matronly Virginia de la Mora in Netflix's The House of Flowers, a Mexican comedy-drama series. It premiered on Netflix in August 2018.
Stage credits
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
| 2016 || Aplauso||
|-
| 2008 || Chiquita Pero Picosa||
|-
| 1995 || La Mujer del Año||
|-
| 1983 || Los Amores De Verónica||
|-
| 1980 || Chiquita Pero Picosa||
|-
| 1979 || Trú Trú entre Tres||
|-
| 1978 || 24 Horas Charlie||
|-
| 1977 || La Idiota||
|-
| 1976 || Coqueluche||
|-
|}
Albums
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
| 2013 || 80 Años Peerless Una Historia Musical ||
|-
| 2009 || Resurrección||
|-
| 2008 || Serie Diamante||
|-
| 2005 || Por esa Puerta||
|-
| 2003 || 70 Años Peerless Una Historia Musical||
|-
| 2002 ||Imágenes||
|-
| 1999 || Ave Vagabundo||
|-
| 1997 || La Tocada||
|-
| 1996 || De Colección||
|-
| 1995 ||La Mujer del Año (Theater)||
|-
| 1993 || Vamonos al Dancing||
|-
| 1992 || Romantica Y Calculadora||
|-
| 1992 || Rap de La Movida||
|-
| 1991 || Tudo É Bom Pra Se Dançar||
|-
| 1990 || Solidaridad (duets duets, charity recording)||
|-
| 1990 || Mi Pequeña Soledad||
|-
| 1978 || Sensaciones||
|-
| 1973||Verónica Castro||
|-
|}
Films
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Character
!Note
|-
| 2022 || Cuando Sea Joven ||Malena ||
|-
| 2020 || Dime Cuándo Tú || ||
|-
| 2008 || En la oscuridad || ||
|-
| 1990 || Dios se lo pague ||Main protagonist ||
|-
| 1986 ||Chiquita pero picosa ||Florinda Benitez/Flor ||
|-
| 1986 || El niño y el papá || Alicia/Guadalupe ||
|-
| 1984 || Nana||Satin ||
|-
| 1981 || Johnny Chicano || ||
|-
| 1980 || Navajeros ||Toñi ||
|-
| 1975 || Nobleza ranchera || ||
|-
| 1974 || La recogida || ||
|-
| 1973 || Novios y amantes || ||
|-
| 1973 || Volveré a nacer || María ||
|-
| 1972 || Cuando quiero llorar no lloro|| ||
|-
| 1972 || El arte de engañar ||Rebeca Madiaraga ||
|-
| 1972 || Un sueño de amor || ||
|-
| 1972 || El Ausente || ||
|-
| 1971 || Bikinis y rock ||Verónica Ordoñes ||
|-
| 1970 || Mi mesera de Zecena Dieguez ||La Chata ||
|-
| 1970 || La fuerza inútil de Taboada || ||
|-
|}
Telenovelas
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Character
!Note
|-
| 2009 ||Los Exitosos Perez || Roberta Santos ||
|-
| 2006 ||Código Postal ||Beatriz Corona ||
|-
| 1997 || Pueblo chico, infierno grande ||Leonarda Ruan ||
|-
| 1985 || Felicidad, ¿Dónde estás? ||Karina ||Protagonist
|-
| 1984 || Yolanda Luján || Yolanda Luján ||Protagonist
|-
| 1983 || Cara a cara || Laura||Protagonist
|-
| 1982 || Verónica: El rostro del amor || Verónica ||Protagonist
|-
| 1981 || El derecho de nacer || María Elena del Junco ||
|-
| 1979 || Los ricos también lloran ||Mariana Villareal ||Protagonist
|-
|}
TV shows
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| 2019 ||Pequeños Gigantes ||Judge ||
|-
| 2018 ||La casa de las flores|| ||