Francisca Merino

María Francisca Rosa Merino Garrido (born 9 May 1973), known as Pancha Merino, is a Chilean actress and television presenter. Her most prominent roles have been on Canal 13 series, including Adrenalina and Cerro Alegre.

Francisca Merino
Born
María Francisca Rosa Merino Garrido

(1973-05-09) 9 May 1973
Santiago, Chile
Other namesPancha Merino
Alma materSaint John's Villa Academy, Santiago
OccupationActress, television presenter
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)Claudio Labbé (2001–2016)

Biography

Francisca Merino started appearing in commercials at age 14 and has been financially independent ever since.[1] She studied theater at the schools of Gustavo Meza in Chile and Juan Carlos Corazza in Spain.[1]

She made her acting debut in 1995 on the Canal 13 telenovela Amor a domicilio, but she achieved greater popularity the following year when she portrayed Cathy Winter, the protagonist of Adrenalina.

In 1999, she starred with Jorge Zabaleta in the TV series Cerro Alegre, playing Beatriz León Thompson, a young upper-class woman in the city of Viña del Mar.

In theater she joined the cast of Te vas a morir de pena cuando yo no esté, one of the most notable productions of the 2002 Santiago a Mil International Theater Festival. This was written by Pablo Illanes, with Andrés Gómez in the other leading role. She would return to work with both of them in the 2011 play Infierno Beach.

In 2005 she appeared in the film The Last Moon by director Miguel Littín, where she was a castmate of Alejandro Goic and Tamara Acosta.

Merino's extroverted personality led to her being a frequent guest on television programs. But it was only in 2008 that she agreed to work on a series: SQP. Appearing on the variety show exposed a side of her that often drew laughter but also controversy. After spending six years on Chilevisión, where she was also a juror of the Viña del Mar Festival,[2] her contract was not renewed.

In December 2015, after being away from television, the morning show Bienvenidos, led by Tonka Tomicic and Martín Cárcamo, recruited her to be a panelist. She said she accepted that proposal because a morning show is a friendly format and is not exposed to the discussions that often occur in an entertainment show.

Although Chilevisión decided to let her go in 2014, in 2016 she was called on to reinforce Maldita moda due to the lukewarm ratings that it was receiving. In an unprecedented event in the television industry, Merino, with a contract on Canal 13, managed to work on two channels at the same time.

Personal life

Francisca Merino is a Buddhist, and took refuge in the Three Jewels on a trip to India.[3] She asserts that in show business she represents a "character", and that in her personal life she is not like that.[1] In 2001 Merino married commercial engineer Claudio Labbé, from whom she separated in 2016. She has three children: Dominic, Amanda (goddaughter of screenwriter Pablo Illanes), and Chloé (goddaughter of actor Andrés Gómez).

Controversy

On 9 April 2014, the SQP program discussed the performance of singer Ana Tijoux at the Lollapalooza festival, where some young people in the audience shouted cara de nana (housemaid face) to the artist.[4] When it was Francisca Merino's turn to comment on the news, she said "Nana's face, but pretty." This drew the anger of comedian Pedro Ruminot, SQP's guest that day, who questioned her for what she had just said. Merino replied "you are angry because you are also dark. Better bring me a little cup of coffee."[5] As a result, Chilevisión received 275 complaints with the National Television Council.[4] Later the actress was suspended for more than a week of television, and on her return to SQP on 15 May 2014, she made public apologies,[6] saying it was a bad joke.[3] However, Chilevisión was reprimanded in August for "prejudices of a social nature".[7] In the end, Merino did not continue on Chilevisión and said she did not want to return to the show.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Director
2003 El nominado Celina Gabriel López
2005 The Last Moon Alinne Miguel Littín
2007 Normal con alas Rosario Balmaceda Coca Gómez
2008 Lokas Dream woman Gonzalo Justiniano
2011 Baby Shower Claudia Pablo Illanes

Series and specials
Year Title Role Channel
2002La vida es una loteríaJennyTVN

Telenovelas
Year Title Role Channel
1995 El amor está de moda Marcela Stuardo Canal 13
Amor a domicilio Sofía Garrido Canal 13
1996 Adrenalina Cathy Winter Canal 13
1997 Playa salvaje Camila Aguirre Canal 13
1999 Cerro Alegre Beatriz Thompson Canal 13
2001 Corazón pirata Fátima Saud Canal 13
2004 Hippie Florencia Risopatrón Canal 13

Programs
Year Title Role Channel
2006 Gente como tú Host Chilevisión
2006–2014 SQP Commentator Chilevisión
2009–2011 Fiebre de baile Co-presenter Chilevisión
2013 Viña del Mar Festival Juror Chilevisión
2014 El elegido Judge Chilevisión
2014 Primer Plano Commentator Chilevisión
2015–present Bienvenidos Panelist Canal 13
2016 La divina comida Host participant Chilevisión
2016 Maldita moda Guest panelist Chilevisión
gollark: It's spam.
gollark: I feel like blaming the programming languages (which are all bad) for minoteaur is short-sighted.
gollark: I will instead discuss the inevitable failure of minoteaur.
gollark: Denied.
gollark: .

References
  1. Honorato C., Carolina (5 January 2009). "Francisca Merino: '¿Quién no ha pelado a un ex pololo?'" [Francisca Merino: 'Who Has Not Fought With an Ex-Boyfriend?']. Cosas (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. Ananías G., Nayive (8 February 2013). "Francisca Merino ad portas de Viña: 'La gala es 100% actitud y paz interior'" [Francisca Merino at the Gates of Viña: 'The Gala is 100% Attitude and Inner Peace']. La Segunda (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. "Revive el capítulo completo de Más Vale Tarde" [Relive the Full Chapter of Más Vale Tarde] (in Spanish). Mega. 11 July 2014. 1:34:08. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. Ulloa, Gabriela (25 April 2014). "CNTV recibe récord de denuncias por calificativo de Francisca Merino a Ana Tijoux" [CNTV Receives Record of Complaints for Francisca Merino's Labeling of Ana Tijoux] (in Spanish). Radio Bío-Bío. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. Palma, Cristián (10 April 2014). "Francisca Merino y Pedro Ruminot: Feroz pelea por llamar 'carita de nana' a Anita Tijoux" [Francisca Merino and Pedro Ruminot: Fierce Fight for Calling Anita Tijoux 'Granny Face']. Guioteca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. "Pancha Merino se deshace en disculpas en pantalla a Anita Tijoux tras decirle 'carita de nana'" [Pancha Merino Apologizes on Screen to Anita Tijoux After Saying 'Granny Face']. Glamorama (in Spanish). 15 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. "CNTV sanciona a Chilevisión por dichos de Francisca Merino sobre la cantante Ana Tijoux" [CNTV Sanctions Chilevisión for Remarks by Francisca Merino About the Singer Ana Tijoux]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). Santiago. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
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