Amelia Bence
Her luminous, expressive eyes captivated a nation, making her the silver screen's most beloved face during Argentina's cinematic golden age.
1914–2016 (age 102)·Argentine actress·Birthday: November 13·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born Amelia Batvinis in Buenos Aires, she adopted the stage name Amelia Bence and stepped into the spotlight as a teenager. Her career ignited in the 1930s, a period when Argentine cinema was finding its voice and its stars. Bence possessed a rare, delicate beauty and a potent emotional transparency that translated powerfully to black-and-white film. She became a favorite of directors like Luis Saslavsky, starring in classics such as 'La Guerra Gaucha' and the haunting 'Los ojos más lindos del mundo'—a title that nodded to her most famous feature. For over two decades, she was not just an actress but a cultural fixture, her image gracing magazines and her performances defining an era of romantic and dramatic storytelling. While her peak coincided with the studio system's height, she continued to work in television and theater long after, a revered link to a glamorous past. Her legacy is that of an artist who embodied the dreams and sorrows of her audience, making the personal profoundly public.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Amelia was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amelia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Amelia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2016Died at 102
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Became one of the definitive leading ladies of Argentina's Golden Age of cinema, starring in over 50 films.
- Her performance in 'Los ojos más lindos del mundo' (1943) cemented her status as a major box-office draw.
- Received a lifetime achievement award from the Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences in 1993.
- Her career successfully transitioned from film to television, including a role in the popular series 'Rosa de lejos'.
Did You Know?
She was originally a ballet student before an injury led her to pursue acting.
Her famous eyes were insured for a substantial sum at the height of her fame.
She was a cousin of fellow Argentine film star Mirtha Legrand.
She published an autobiography titled 'Los ojos más lindos del mundo' in 2011.
“The camera sees what you feel, not just what you show.”
