She was born Josefina Yolanda Pellicer López de Llergo on April 3, 1934 in Mexico City, Mexico. Her father was a prominent lawyer and she had seven siblings. When she was a child she took dancing and acting lessons. Pina began her career on the Mexican stage. In 1958 she was discovered by Marlon Brando who cast her in his movie One-Eyed Jacks. During filming her made a pass at her but she turned him down and told him she was a lesbian. One-Eyed Jacks wasn't released until 1961. Although the film got mixed reviews critics praised her performance. At the 1961 San Sebastian film festival she was named Best Actress. Pina had starring roles in the Mexican films Rogelia and Autumn Days.
With Marlon Brando
In 1964 she appeared in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Her sister Pilar Pellicer also became a successful actress in Mexico. After breaking up with her older girlfriend Pina fell into a deep depression. Tragically on December 3, 1964 she committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. She was only thirty years old. Pina was found dead on her bed wearing a nightgown. Right before her suicide she sent a friend $2000 and asked her to use it to pay off her debts. She was buried at the
Panteón Jardín in Mexico City, Mexico. Her final film Sinful was released in 1965.
