María Kosty
- Actress
María Soledad Mesa Pachón (professionally known as María Kosty) is a Spanish actress. She was raised in Madrid, where she first entered the entertainment industry through television, participating in the Spanish music variety show 'Escala en hi-fi' on TVE in 1966, which was directed by Fernando García de la Vega. Following her television debut, Kosty quickly transitioned to theater, joining the theatrical company of Milagros Leal, which provided her with foundational stage experience that would inform her later screen performances. Her film career began in 1967 with a role in 'El paseíllo,' directed by Ana Mariscal, marking her entry into Spanish cinema during a period of significant cultural and artistic transformation in the country. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kosty became particularly associated with the horror film genre, which was experiencing considerable popularity in Spain during this era. She appeared in several notable horror productions including 'El perfil de Satanás' and 'La rebelión de las muertas' (Vengeance of the Zombies) in 1973, establishing herself as a recognizable figure in Spanish genre cinema. Her television work expanded significantly during the 1960s and 1970s, with appearances in prominent Spanish television series such as 'Estudio 1,' which began in 1965, 'Novela' from 1963, and various other television productions that showcased her versatility as a performer across different formats and genres. Kosty continued to work steadily in both film and television throughout her career, appearing in productions such as 'The Family, Fine, Thanks' (1979), 'Tiovivo c. 1950,' 'Cristóbal Colón, de oficio... descubridor,' and the television series 'Anillos de oro' and 'Las chicas de oro.' Her filmography also includes appearances in 'La tía de Carlos,' 'El calzonazos,' 'Sangre de mayo,' and 'Venta por pisos,' demonstrating her ability to work across various genres from horror to comedy to drama. María Kosty represents a significant figure in Spanish entertainment history, having worked consistently across multiple decades and contributing to the development of Spanish television and cinema during periods of important cultural change, particularly helping to establish horror cinema as a viable genre in Spanish film production while maintaining a diverse career that spanned television, theater, and film.