Imperio de cristal (English title: Crystal Empire) is a Mexican telenovela produced by Carlos Sotomayor for Televisa in 1994.
Rebecca Jones, Alejandro Camacho, María Rubio, Ari Telch, Kate del Castillo and Ignacio López Tarso starred in this telenovela.
Plot
Sofía Vidal (Rebecca Jones), her husband, Uriel (Constantino Costas), and their little daughter, Katia (Zoraida Gómez), attend a great party offered at the elegant mansion of the Lombardo family, powerful crystal entrepreneurs. After this, their life will never be the same.
Don César (Ignacio López Tarso), the patriarch of the Lombardos, discovers in Sofía the daughter of Elena (Rebecca Jones), his impossible love, who died tragically in an accident when Sofía was still a child. César, without Sofía knowing it, decides to protect her because of Elena's memory, which he cherishes still.
César is married in second nuptials to Livia Arizmendi (María Rubio), a former actress who dreams of recovering her career. Sofía's appearance seriously worries Livia, who considers her an intruder who could displace her, just as Elena would have done in the past. Livia, who hides a terrible secret involving Sofía, plots against her, trying to keep her out of the family.
Augusto (Alejandro Camacho), César and Livia's oldest son, is cruel and ambitious. His ultimate goal is to take hold of his father's empire by getting rid of Octavio (Alejandro Tommasi), César's son from his first marriage. Livia supports Augusto, since she hopes that once he has got the power, she will once again be able to become the great star she once was.
Julio (Ari Telch), the third son, returns after several years of studying abroad in order to marry his all-life girlfriend, Elisa (Ivette Proal). Julio is not keen on the family businesses, being this a reason for constant arguments with his father.
César and Livia's younger children are twins: Claudio (Germán Gutiérrez) and Narda (Kate del Castillo). Claudio suffers from infantile psychosis due to Augusto's abuse. As a result, he has been confined in a specialized institution for a long time, suffering from his family's rejection. Narda is a capricious and stubborn young woman, although she has also been a victim of her parents' lack of love.
Augusto becomes obsessed with Sofía and is determined to have her at any price, knowing besides that this is the way for his father to name him as his successor in the enterprises. Augusto does everything to end Sofía's marriage, until finally Uriel decides to abandon her and little Katia. Sofia and Julio meet and great passion arises between them to the extent that Julio is determined to face anything, even to put an end to his relationship with Elisa.
The rivalry between Augusto and Julio for Sofia's love lets forth a whirlwind of intrigue, corruption and violent struggle for power. Fragile, but dangerous as well, this crystal empire can be broken into a thousand pieces in the hands of the one who will try to possess it.
Cast
Main
Rebecca Jones as Sofía Vidal Terán de González / de Lombardo / Elena Terán de Vidal Alejandro Camacho as Augusto Lombardo Arizmendi María Rubio as Livia Arizmendi Moncada de Lombardo Ari Telch as Julio Lombardo Arizmendi Kate del Castillo as Narda Lombardo Arizmendi Ignacio López Tarso as César Lombardo Santander