Miriam Muñoz: The sun inspires her wings.

This January 22nd, 2025, the first actress Miriam Muñoz Benítez receives the National Theater Award, a well-deserved prize for her extensive career as an actress, director of Teatro Icarón and teacher of dozens of young people who have passed through her acting workshops and today are great figures in the theater world, in Cuba and other nations of the world.
This January 22nd, 2025, the first actress Miriam Muñoz Benítez receives the National Theater Award, a well-deserved laurel for her extensive career as an actress, director of Teatro Icarón and teacher of dozens of young people who passed through her acting workshops and today are great figures in the theatrical world, in Cuba and other nations of the world.
In the theoretical meeting El Anaquel, convened by the Casa de la Memoria Escénica, I presented more than a decade ago, a research entitled Dramatic actresses in Matanzas, whose conclusive closure was to argue that Miriam Muñoz, was the most important figure of that manifestation in the history of Matanzas.
My thesis was based on the fact that since the 60’s, the first actress Miriam Muñoz Benítez Benítez has graced the Matanzas stage, cultivating her profile in this difficult genre. She has been awarded multiple prizes for her versatile interpretation of diverse and complex roles, which have required a masterful execution.
To speak of La Muñoz is to highlight her histrionic quality and continuous permanence within the dramatic genre in Matanzas for more than 50 years, despite setbacks and tempting proposals in other areas.
«He possesses the natural gift of acting. And he is famous for his artistic breath, which does not diminish in the face of any impediment. Likewise, his humility and nobility stand out, values that elevate his status within the cultural frame of the country».
In her curriculum there are characters that stand out, essential in the evolution of her career.
The following are always remembered interpretations: La Divina Tragedia, 1974; La Emboscada, 1981; Santa Juana de las Américas, 1982; Cordelia de Pueblo en Pueblo, 1983; El Cruce sobre el Niágara, 1984; El Gato de Chinchila o la Locura a Caballo, 1987; El Circo de los Pasos, 1990; Las Penas que a mí me matan, 1991; El Sexo y yo, 1992.
As well as Edith, 1997; Flores de Papel, 2001; Charlot, 2002/ Caliente, caliente que te quemas, 2003; La Ventana Tejida, 2004; El Vuelo del Gato, 2007; El día que me quieras ,2008; Dinosaurios, 2010; Uvas caletas-dientes de perro, 2010; Nevada, 2011 and Manteca, 2014.
Of the latest and renowned interpretations and stagings are the plays La otra orilla, La señorita Julia, and the monologues Las penas no me mataron and the stellar Emilia habla con los que no la escuchan, premiered in 2024.
She has won numerous awards among which stand out the Segismundo Award for best female performance, UNEAC Award for best female performance in the IV National Monologue Festival, in 1991, with Las penas a mí me matan; Award for participation in the International Theater Festival of Cancun, Mexico, 1993.
She also received the Laurel Crown from La Avellaneda, for the best female performance and the Francisco Escudero Award from the UNEAC Camagüeyana, at the VII Camagüey Festival, for Edith, 1998; plus the mention of the Caricatos Award from the UNEAC, in television, for her leading role in Edith, 1999.
Other awards include the staging award and acting award at the II Festival de Pequeño Formato de la Habana in 2000 with the play Flores de Papel; staging and acting award with the play La Ventana Tejida, 2005; nomination for the Caricatos Awards, 2007; Calzada de Tirry Lifetime Achievement Award for the most popular actress; José Ramón Brene Award, from the UNEAC Matanzas in 2010. She also received the 2011 Terry Award, the Omar Valdés National Theater Award in 2011 and the Distinction of the Performing Arts in 2011.
Relevant was her participation in the Otoño Azul International Meeting in Argentina at the San Martin Theater, where she was awarded the Audience Award for Best Performance for the monologue Las penas que a mí me matan, 2011.
Miriam Muñoz has never stopped being an actress and since 2002 she has simultaneously been the general and artistic director, on many occasions, of the group Teatro Icarón, with which she has starred in outstanding plays of contemporary Cuban dramaturgy.
She is a teacher, has served a mission in Venezuela and directs the Alas Teatro Project and an acting workshop for children and adolescents, in addition to being a public and distinguished personality in the social structures of Matanzas. She has represented Cuba in Latin American and European countries.
Congratulations! this moment of 2025, in which Miriam Muñoz is recognized in all her greatness, close to her 78th birthday.
Written by María Elena Bayón.