“When she began working in my films, it was like watching her undergo a transformation. She told me it was the first time in her life she felt so fulfilled.” – Jess Franco

Soledad Redon Bueno was born July 9 1943 in Seville, Spain. Her family was filled with show business performers and she began her career at the age of eight in San Fernando talent contest. In 1960 at the age of sixteen Soledad would make her feature film debut in the film Queen of the Tabarin Club directed by a young auteur who was just starting his career as a director Jesus Franco. Even though she only appeared in a small unaccredited role she would make an impression on the young director who she would later forge a hugely successful collaboration with.

Soledad would spend the rest of the 1960’s in bit parts and films that always obscured her talents as an actress. At this point in her career she had given up on acting. She would marry José Manuel da Conceiçao Simones with whom she would have a child. In walked Jesus Franco who had big plans for Soledad as an actress. He would cast her as Lucy Westenra in his adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula which included an all star cast that included Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and Klaus Kinski.

Over the next two years Soledad would work with Franco in eight films culminating with the film She Killed in Ecstasy. While working with Franco she assumed the pseudonym Susann Korda to hide from her family the movies she was making. Soledad would transform through her collaborations with Franco into a beautiful woman who eyes were served as a doorway to her soul. Vampryos Lesbos would see Franco and Soledad reach the height of their collaboration as auteur and actress. The Devil Came from Akasava would mark Soledad’s final performance in a Franco film.

Soledad and her husband where in Lisbon, Portugal on their way to sign contracts in Berlin when the convertible they were in was involved in a collision. The impact of the crash was on the side passenger side were Soledad was sitting leading to her critical injuries. Her husband José survived the accident virtually free of any major injuries. Prior to their marriage in 1967 they had on a short film Un d’a en Lisboa which involved a couple traveling from Estoril to Lisbon. Which also happen to be their starting and ending destinations that fateful day?

Filmography:

She Killed in Ecstasy (1971)
Vampyros lesbos (1971)
The Devil Came from Akasava (1971)
Nightmares Come at Night (1970)
Eugenie de Sade (1970)
Juliette (1970)
Sex Charade (1970)
Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula (1970)
“Irreal Madrid, El” (1969) TV Series
Lola the Coal Girl (1969)
“Última moda, La” (1969) TV Series
Furnished Studio 2.P. (1969)
Unmarried and Mother in Life (1969)
100 Rifles (1969)
White Comanche (1968)
Young Rebel (1967)
Sugar Colt (1966)
He Is My Man (1966)
The Family Plus One (1965)
Currito of the Cross (1965)
The Black Cats (1964)
Beach of Formentor (1964)
Sound of Horror (1964)
Weekend (1964)
The Song of the Homesickness (1964)
Pyro (1964)
Four Weddings and Tip (1963)
Eva 63 (1963)
The Daughters of Helena (1963)
Shame (1963)
The Castilian (1963)
Beautiful Mimi (1963)
Cradle Song (1961)
Ursus, Son of Hercules (1961)
Queen of the Tabarin Club (1960)