La usurpadora (1998 TV series)
| La usurpadora | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Gabriela Spanic Fernando Colunga |
| Opening theme | La Usurpadora composed by Pandora |
| Country of origin |  Mexico |
| No. of episodes | 102 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 46 minutes (approx.) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Televisa |
| Release | 1998 |
La Usurpadora (translated: The Usurper) is a Mexican romantic drama telenovela produced by Salvador Mejia Alejandre and originally broadcast on Televisa in 1998. It starred Gabriela Spanic and Fernando Colunga. This was one of the last telenovelas to feature Libertad Lamarque, who here portrayed the character of Abuela Piedad Bracho. The show's premise revolves around a pair of twin sisters who were separated when they were young, and as adults the younger sister is forced to act as a "replacement" for her wealthier elder sister who wants to leave her family for selfish reasons.
Synopsis
Paola and Paulina are twin sisters who were separated at birth and have completely different personalities. Paulina is a kind and generous young woman who lives in poverty with her agonizing mother. Paola is a cunning and hypocritical stepmother of two who is married to a handsome businessman named Carlos Daniel Bracho. When the twins cross paths by chance, Paola contrives to blackmail Paulina to take Paola's place in the Bracho home while she takes a year-long vacation with her lover.
Paulina is thusly thrown into a situation where she has to adapt to a family that is beyond her social standing and cope with various family members who have long beared ill-will to the nasty Paola. During this time, Paulina is shocked the discover how Paola has treated her stepchildren and strives to forge a maternal bond with them. Carlos Daniel, Paola's husband, is suspicious of the "Paola"'s sudden character change, but eventually comes to love her. Paulina is soon worried, for she too starts to fall in love with this family that is not hers. Many other minor problems occur during this time, mostly with Paulina having to cope with various people that wish to do "Paola" harm.
A year passes and initially Paola misses the date that she said she would return, giving Paulina hope that she would be able to stay with the family. However, a twist arises when Paola returns bound to a wheelchair and angrily accuses Paulina of usurpation. Paulina is put in jail and placed on trial. The revelation that "Paola" was in fact Paulina all along angers and shocks all the people that she has affected, who do not know what to think because of Paola's insistence that Paulina tried to kill her. The Bracho children are the first to see through Paola's lies and accept Paulina as their real mother. Paulina wins the trial and is set free, during which it is revealed that Paola faked being wheelchair-bound in order to gain sympathy of the jury.
Eventually Paola is involved in a real accident, and during her bed-bound suffering she realises the error of her ways and asks forgiveness from her husband and sister before dying.
Characters
Paulina Martinez, played by Gabriela Spanic, is a kind and thoughtful woman from Cancun, Mexico that is forced by her elder twin sister to take her place in the Bracho Manor as Carlos Daniel's wife. Paulina rises above the situation and wins over the love and respect of almost everyone who had previously hated Paola. However, Paulina starts to fall in love with the Bracho family and finds it difficult in her heart to leave. She eventually marries Carlos Daniel after Paola dies.
Paola Bracho, played by Gabriela Spanic, is the twin sister of Paulina Martinez and the second wife of Carlos Daniel Bracho. She desires money, luxury and freedom, and usually uses her feminine charm to get them. She is unfaithful to Carlos Daniel, who does not see her true nature for a long time. When she discovers her twin sister by accident, she uses this knowledge to ensure that she can have a year-long fling with her lover without being caught. She eventually returns from her holiday and accuses Paulina of deliberately usurping her position in the Bracho household. Her plans fail and she eventually dies in a car accident. She is later seen in flashbacks in Más Allá De La Usurpadora where she tells Paulina that she will die and they both meet in hell. (Paulina had just found out she got Cancer)
Carlos Daniel Bracho, played by Fernando Colunga, is the husband of Paola after his first wife Elizabeth died, leaving him with two little children named Carlitos and Lizet. He is the youngest of the two Bracho sons. He is kind but indecisive emotionally weak and easily manipulated by others. He eventually falls in love with Paulina and marries her after the death of Paola.
Abuela Piedad, played by Libertad Lamarque, is Carlos Daniel's grandmother. She was an alcoholic until Paulina rescues her from it, making Piedad once again the powerful head of the Bracho Manor as before.
Lic. Edmundo Serrano, played by Arturo Peniche, is the man who becomes Paulina's lawyer when she is accused of usurpation by Paola. He falls in love with Paulina, but she rejects his affections.
Estefania Bracho, played by Chantal Andere, is Carlos Daniel & Rodrigo's step sister. Her true mom is Fidelina.
Dona Chabela, played by Silvia Derbez, is the woman who rescues Carlitos.
Lourdes, played by Irán Eory.
Luis Felipe Benítez "Mojarras", played by René Muñoz.
Zoraida Zapata, played by Laura Zapata is the prosecutor in court at the trial of Paulina for usurpation.
Elvira, played by Azela Robinson, is Paola Bracho's personal nurse. Played by Azela Robinson.
Rodrigo, played by Marcelo Buquet is Carlos Daniel's brother. He manages the Bracho factory. His wife is Patricia Bracho.
Gema Durán Bracho, played by Dominika Paleta, is Carlos Daniel's cousin and is in love with him.
Luciano Alcantara, played by Mario Cimarro
Fidelina is Abuela Piedad's personal assistant. She is played by Magda Guzman.
Willy is played by Juan Pablo Gamboa, is Estefania's husband. He is also one of Paola's lovers and he abuses his wife.
Lalita, played by Paty Díaz, is Paola Bracho's personal assistant and confident. She used to receive tips from Paola when doing any special favor for her. She is also the maid in the Manor.
Paula, played by Nuria Bages,is Paulina's mom. She died after a long illness.
Last Lover, played by Sergio Basañez, Paola's last lover.
Production
Gabriela Spanic has a twin sister in real life, Daniela Spanic, who is a model. Daniela was approached by the producers of the show to appear in one scene where Paola and Paulina physically fight, as the sequence would have been too difficult to achieve by camera trickery.
Sequel
La Usurpadora is followed by Más Alla De La Usurpadora, which continues the story of the characters. Rachel, the Brachos' new maid, is in love with Carlos Daniel and decides to get rid of Paulina, who now has a new daughter called Paulita. Complications arise when Paulina discovers that she has cancer.