The Berlinale Film Festival, February 10, 2015, marked a pivotal moment for a young Indigenous woman. Introduced to a German radio audience as “a wonderful guest, the protagonist of an excellent and exciting film, the first from Guatemala to be seen at this festival,” María Mercedes Coroy stepped into the spotlight. Greeting the audience with a blend of shyness and courage, first in Spanish and then in her native Mayan Kaqchikel language, María Mercedes Coroy, a Guatemalan Indigenous actress, was making her international debut. At just 25 years old, and without any formal acting training, Coroy had already garnered critical acclaim for her roles in two groundbreaking films: Ixcanul (2015) and La Llorona, both celebrated with numerous international awards. Her journey is a testament to her natural talent and the power of authentic storytelling in cinema.
Born and raised in Santa María de Jesús, a Guatemalan town nestled on the slopes of the Pacaya Volcano, María Mercedes Coroy’s upbringing was deeply rooted in her Kaqchikel Mayan heritage. In this community, where 98 percent of residents are Kaqchikel, she spent her childhood watching movies on television, harboring a secret dream of one day appearing on screen herself. While attending school and assisting her mother in their family business, she engaged in school plays and dance, but the world of cinema seemed a distant fantasy. Fate intervened one day in Santa María de Jesús Park. It was there that Guatemalan film director Jayro Bustamante was holding auditions for his film Ixcanul, and a chance encounter would change Coroy’s life forever, launching her career as a celebrated Maria Mercedes Actress.
Film poster for Ixcanul (2015), featuring María Mercedes Coroy as Mara, a young Kaqchikel Maya woman facing challenging life circumstances.
Jayro Bustamante recognized a unique quality in María Mercedes Coroy. He described a strong intuition that she was the perfect actress to embody Mara, the central character in Ixcanul. Mara is a young Kaqchikel Maya woman living near the Pacaya Volcano, working with her family in the coffee fields. The film explores Mara’s complex situation when she falls for a man promising a life of prosperity in the United States, a stark contrast to her arranged engagement to the farm foreman. An unexpected pregnancy further complicates her life, setting the stage for a powerful narrative. Ixcanul bravely tackles critical social issues prevalent in Guatemala, including the exploitation of Indigenous communities in agricultural work, deeply ingrained machismo culture, and the devastating reality of human trafficking. For María Mercedes Coroy, taking on the lead role in Ixcanul was initially daunting. As she expressed in an interview, “Often, Indigenous women are discriminated against and undervalued, and we are told that we cannot fulfill our dreams.” This societal bias led her to initially seek a minor part in the film, hoping to be cast as a coffee cutter. However, Bustamante recognized her potential and convinced her to embrace the leading role. Ixcanul‘s success served as a springboard for her acting career. Following this breakthrough, María Mercedes actress Coroy appeared in the 2018 film Bel Canto alongside renowned actors Julianne Moore and Ken Watanabe, and secured her first starring role in the Mexican television series Malinche, demonstrating her growing international presence.
In 2019, María Mercedes Coroy took on another significant role in La Llorona, a film that delves into the painful history of genocide in Guatemala. The story unfolds through Alma, a domestic worker in the household of a general accused of perpetrating massacres against Maya villages during his time in power. Supernatural events begin to plague the general’s home, seen as retribution for his brutal actions against the Maya people. La Llorona, drawing from the well-known Latin American legend of the weeping woman who drowned her children, uses this folklore to explore themes of loss, justice, and historical trauma. In the film, Alma’s children become symbolic of the victims of genocide; her spirit embodies the suffering and the quest for justice for those lost to violence. María Mercedes Coroy explained the profound impact of this film: “The film is very important for Guatemala, especially for the population that I represent, Indigenous Peoples. My parents spoke to me a lot about the genocide. My grandfather told me many stories. I was not a stranger to everything that happened, but I did not feel these stories until I made this movie.” Her performance in La Llorona further solidified her reputation as a powerful and impactful maria mercedes actress, capable of handling complex and culturally significant roles.
María Mercedes Coroy acknowledges the hurdles she has overcome to reach her current position and expresses pride in her achievements. However, she remains ambitious and focused on future growth. Recognizing that English language proficiency is crucial in the international film industry, she is determined to learn English. Simultaneously, she is dedicated to expanding her knowledge of the Poqomam Mayan language, adding to her linguistic repertoire. During the filming of Malinche, which recounts the story of the Indigenous woman given to Hernán Cortés as a translator, she also learned elements of Yucatec Maya and Popoluca languages spoken in Mexico, showcasing her dedication to linguistic diversity and cultural authenticity in her roles.
Beyond acting, María Mercedes Coroy has become a prominent figure in advertising campaigns and an advocate for social causes. She has collaborated with organizations such as OXFAM, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, lending her voice to important global issues. She also actively participates in conferences and forums, aiming to inspire young people, particularly within Indigenous communities. Coroy believes in the need for societal change in Guatemala, advocating for greater representation of Indigenous people in media and beyond. She hopes her visibility will encourage young people to embrace their Indigenous heritage and cultural identity, expressing confidence that “the young generation that is watching me and making some kind of art will continue to do so.”
Despite her international success and travels, María Mercedes Coroy remains deeply connected to her roots. She cherishes time spent with her family, engages in traditional Maya weaving, and actively participates in community events. Her pride in her Indigenous identity is evident in her consistent wearing of Maya clothing, sourced from her own town and other regions of Guatemala. At the Berlinale festival, she proudly wore a huipil (traditional blouse) from Santa María de Jesús. During an exhibition at the festival, when invited to sign one of her photographs, she did so deliberately and thoughtfully, embodying a quiet strength and a sense of immense potential, much like the volcano near her hometown. María Mercedes Coroy’s journey is a powerful narrative of talent, resilience, and a commitment to representing her culture on the global stage, establishing her as a significant maria mercedes actress for years to come.
