María Félix (1914–2002) was larger than life. When she was alive she possessed an energy, dynamism, and intentionality that is evident in the films she starred in and the self she shared with her audiences. She transgressed norms for women of her time, making her the biggest Mexican film star at a time when the industry was at its peak of production. In her personal life, she refused to conform to sexual mores and so too did many of her characters. She performed a diva self in public, and on screen she stepped into multiple different roles enacting the fantasies of what a woman could be and do. She worked on Mexican, European, and Argentine projects challenging a prevalent conservative idea of women's place in society. In the 1970s, when film projects no longer satisfied her, she stepped away from acting and moved into an elite world of artistic patronage, privilege, and consumption.

Her influence on top brands and inspiration for a range of creative works is marked and significant. Songs, plays, and novels have been written, art has been made, jewels have been crafted, and careers have been built thanks to her. In her last decades, she reinvented herself and used television to take charge of her story and speak to audiences old and new. Across these different worlds that celebrate glamour and exceptionalism, through her personal relationships and a style of her own, Félix has left a significant legacy that continues right up to the present. She had a big impact in life and has an ever-evolving afterlife. This book looks across this life and work and examines what has made her compelling to so many and explores her enduring appeal. It considers what we can learn from a life lived large and against the grain.

Félix's refusal to conform merits close examination because, unlike those who fit in to ensure a long-lasting career, she was prepared to speak openly about working conditions, inhabited the space she required on set and on screen, and refused to be defined by what others thought about her work, taste, and style. This book will consider what contributed to this iconic status and how it was constructed by her with the help of collaborators and friends throughout her lifetime.