Hollywood’s Most Successful Hispanic and Latina Actresses

Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch is an American actress who is best known for her roles in multiple Hollywood films and as the reigning international sex symbol of the 1960s. She was born Raquel Tejada in Chicago, Illinois on September 5, 1940, to a Bolivian father and Irish-American mother. Her family moved to San Diego, California when Raquel was still a baby.

Raquel took dance lessons as a child and grew up to become one of the top teen models in California winning many beauty pageants. With her sights set firmly on an acting career, Welch studied theater arts from 1958 at the San Diego State College where she also got married.

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Off-campus, Welch was a TV weather girl up until she eventually quit college in 1961. She also ended her marriage and performed a string of small roles in small screen films.

Raquel’s first significant film role was in the 1965 film ‘A Swingin’ Summer’ which earned her a contract with 20th Century Fox. While there, Raquel made appearances in multiple Hollywood films which earned her worldwide stardom. She won numerous awards including a Golden Globe for her performance in ‘The Three Musketeers.’

Raquel Welch has a lot to do with Hollywood’s golden age thanks to:

• The Three Musketeers
• The Last of Sheila
• Fathom