Try to define the word “woman.”

“Woman” is more than the brief description of femininity. A woman can be someone who pursues her dream career, succeeds, stands up for the rights of her and others, and among it all plays the role of a mother. Silvia Pinal is a woman.

Germ’s Old Hollywood Spotlight will now feature actors who not only made a positive impact, but who have also paved the way for diversity in TV and film throughout the 20th century. To start the diverse evolution of the Old Hollywood Spotlight this month, we feature Mexican actress Silvia Pinal.

Silvia Pinal was born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. As a child, Pinal pretended to be famous by singing and dancing for her grandmother and aunts. Although she didn’t take proper classes in singing and dancing, Pinal continued to do what made her happy. “I did what I enjoyed even though some people told me ‘be quiet, don’t be a drag.'”

Pinal’s first acting roles began in theater at a young age, and in 1948 she had her cinema debut in Bamba — which characterized her as the actress with the “husky and sensual voice and attractive physique” — and then in El Pecado de Laura, where she met her first husband, Rafael Banquells, with whom she had her first child.

Her growing success allowed her to co-star with the international star Cantinflas in El Portero and with Pedro Infante in La Mujer que yo Perdí. Her most recognized roles were in films written and directed by Luis Buñuel, which include Viridiana (1961), El Ángel Exterminador (1962), and Simón Del Desierto (1965). She appeared in the 1960 Spanish films Adiós, Mi Pompón, and Maribel y la Extraña Familia.

Mexican and Spanish films are not the only ones on her resume. There’s the Italian film Uomini e nobiluomini (1959) and Shark! (1969) — her only American film.

Pinal’s success is among the likes of other Mexican actors from the Golden Era of Mexican cinema, such as Pedro Infante, Silvia Derbez and Marga Lopez. During the late 1960s, Pinal starred in her own show with her then husband, singer and actor Enrique Guzmán. Silvia y Enrique was the Hispanic version of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, featuring funny skits and music performances done by the couple. With Guzmán she had the now popular Mexican pop singer Alejandra Guzmán and her first son Luis Enrique Guzmán Jr.

In the 1980s Pinal became the TV producer and host of the successful show Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real — a series about the many situations women and families experience, among them domestic violence and rape. Viewers submitted their stories, which were recreated into the drama series, and others sent letters asking for help. Toward the end of each episode, Pinal offered advice and mentioned organizations where viewers going through the same situations could reach for help. The series was shown in Mexico and in many parts of Latin America, and it lasted 21 years.

Pinal had an even greater impact on women when she became politically involved with women’s rights while being married to politician Tulio Hernández Gómez. Between 1981 and 1987, Pinal became the president of Mexico’s national system for the integral development of the family (DIF) — an institution that offers help to vulnerable groups in Mexico City. Also, she was the leader of the Asociación Nacional de Intérpretes, a company that tries to ensure growing economic and social welfare for interpretive artists.

Many people think Pinal’s success has been a result of the famous marriages, but a striving career woman can succeed with her own talent and hard work. In a 2015 interview, Pinal told TV presenter Paty Chapoy that after her divorce from stage director Rafael Banquells, Pinal continued her acting success, eventually starring in musical theater and in more than 100 films. Despite some people’s opinion, the actress, activist and mother has disproved it. Pinal has been successful throughout her career due to her own work. Silvia told Chapoy: “I’m happy working. I love working. It has given me everything. I feel very proud because I’ve been very successful.”

Now at age 84 and considered a living legend, Pinal continues to act and even has her own statue and a theater named after her in Mexico City. She recently wrote the autobiography Esta Soy Yo (This Is Me in English).