[3] By 1930, Varela had acted in her first role on film, La canción del gaucho, which was produced by Chas de Cruz[4] under the direction of José A. Ferreyra and starring María Turgenova and Arturo Forte, among others.

[5] On stage in 1934, Varela was performing in Baile en el Savoy with Florencio Parravicini but had to withdraw due to illness and was replaced by Amelia Bence.

[10] In 1939, her first US film was made, El otro soy yo, under the direction of Richard Harlan and starring Tito Guízar, Renee Torres, Pilar Arcos, and Martin Garralaga.

[11] She was hired by Luis G. Basurto who was directing a company of actors called "Teatro Popular de México" that were working at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles.

[15] In the 1947 stage production of Luna de miel para tres, Varela starred with Mexican actors Gloria Marín and Jorge Negrete.