[1] She is the daughter of French businessman[3] Marcel Derbez Gilly and María de la Luz Amézquita,[4] a Mexican housewife.

[1][6][4] Her early film career included Allá en el Rancho Grande (Out on the Big Ranch) in 1948,[4] and the role of Beatriz in the classic cabaretera film noir Salón México.

[8] In addition to her film and television career, Derbez performed in theatrical productions, and formed the Derbez-Banquells theater company with Rafael Banquells.

[12] During the 1970s, her telenovela work included Angelitos negros (Black Angels), El derecho de los hijos (Your Children's Rights) and La recogida (The collection).

[15] During the 1980s, her work included participation in a remake of one of Latin America's most popular telenovelas,[16] Simplemente Maria, in 1989.