Celia

"Celia" tells the story of one of the legends of Latin music's most internationally known: Celia Cruz.

Celia (2015-2016) is a Colombian and American telenovela-style biographical drama series created by Andrés Salgado and Paul Rodríguez for Telemundo. The single season dramatizes the life of Celia Cruz, the Cuban-born salsa legend, with Aymee Nuviola playing the adult Celia at the center of the story. Around her, Luciano D'Alessandro plays Alberto Blanco, Brenda Hanst plays Ana Alfonso, Carolina Sabino plays Myrta Silva, and José Narvaez plays René Neira, each tied to her professional and personal life. The engine of the series is the struggle of an immigrant singer trying to hold on to her voice and her identity while the music industry, family obligations, and a new country pull her in different directions. Episodes unfold as long serialized chapters built from recording sessions, tours, romantic entanglements, and the pressures of building a career in exile. The show moves at the steady pace of a telenovela, with melodramatic emotion foregrounded alongside warm, celebratory music. Its setting spans the mid twentieth century across Cuba, New York, and the wider Latin music world. Fans of Selena, La Bamba, and Pasión de Gavilanes will find resonance in its blend of music, romance, and family drama.

Audiences responded positively to the biographical portrayal of Celia Cruz's life and music.

• Selenabiographical music drama, telenovela form, rise of a Latin music star
• Pasión de Gavilanestelenovela melodrama with music-industry backdrop and family drama
• La Bambabiographical drama of a celebrated musical performer's life and career

Created by

Andrés Salgado, Paul Rodríguez

Release Date

2015-10-14

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (132)

What is Celia about?

A Spanish-language telenovela dramatizing the life and rise of Latin music legend Celia Cruz, played by Aymee Nuviola.

What is Celia like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Celia as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Celia violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Celia.

What did critics think of Celia?

Audiences responded positively to the biographical portrayal of Celia Cruz's life and music.

Which shows are like Celia?

Shows with a similar feel include Selena, Pasión de Gavilanes, and La Bamba.

How long is Celia?

Celia: 1 season, 80 episodes.

Is Celia still running?

No, Celia has ended.