The world of acting is in mourning for the loss of Teresa Gimpera, whose career was especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s, when she became the muse of the so-called ‘gauche divine’ and an icon of modernity. The actress, who also achieved success as a model, was 87 years old and passed away on Tuesday, July 23, in Barcelona, her hometown. One of her children has confirmed the sad news to the EFE agency. Family, friends, and colleagues will be able to say their final goodbye on Wednesday at the Sant Gervasi funeral home.
Gimpera’s professional beginnings took place in the fashion industry by chance. She was 21 years old when she was discovered by photographer Leopoldo Pomés, who knew that her Nordic features would create a sensation. He was not wrong. She began to accumulate projects as an advertising model, leading her to be popularly known as the television girl, as she advertised all kinds of products and was a major attraction for brands.
© Getty ImagesShe was the face of the iconic Boccacio nightclub, located on Muntaner Street in Barcelona, and won the titles of Lady Spain and Lady Europe. Furthermore, fashion always played a significant role in her life. In fact, in 1986, she launched her own modeling school. The business, called Gimpera models, is still active and is now run by her son. She used to humorously recount that Pertegaz, the creator of Queen Letizia’s wedding dress, told her that she had the power to make women like her as well.
© GTRESTeresa also triumphed in acting, even auditioning for a role in Topaz by Alfred Hitchcock. Her debut occurred in 1965 with the film Fata Morgana by Vicente Aranda. She then began to participate in numerous productions (a total of 120), including The Spirit of the Beehive, where she worked under Víctor Erice and shared the screen with Fernando Fernán Gómez and Ana Torrent. Throughout her life, she collaborated with other prominent filmmakers such as Mariano Ozores, Antonio Mercero, and Pedro Lazaga.
© GTRESAmong the accolades she received is the ACE Award from the Association of Theater Critics of New York, which named her Best Supporting Actress for her role in Asignatura aprobada; in 2006, she was awarded the Zoom Award for her entire career; in 2010, she was honored with the Work Medal from the Generalitat; and in 2017, the Catalan government awarded her the Creu de Sant Jordi.
Her personal side and the irreplaceable loss that marked her
The great blow of her life was losing her son Joan at 21 years old, a situation she described as unnatural. She managed to piece herself back together and accustomed herself to living with that pain alongside Craig Hill, one of the gifts that her profession brought her half a century ago. In the newspaper ARA, she recounted that her story began when she was filming her fourth movie: “He came from Hollywood and had made very important films, and I said, this man is nothing like the others. The important thing when you meet someone like that is that they love what you love. I didn’t have children with him; with three, I had enough, but he helped me a lot with Joan.”
In recent years, now retired, she enjoyed with Craig her greatest achievement: family. She enjoyed crocheting and cross-stitching, gifting her creations to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Additionally, every time she went out for a walk, she continued to receive the comforting affection of the public and numerous compliments for her natural beauty.