A role in the hit film Chicago and other acting opportunities followed.
It was good enough however to set her on the way to winning vital experience - and other roles soon followed.
These roles followed a long and distinguished career in the theatre.
These were the first of many television western roles to follow for the then 31-year-old Alcaide.
From there, a role on the soap Certain Women followed.
The feature was followed by a role in the short film "Dignity" (2002).
This was followed by a more substansive role in the 2005 film Boogeyman.
This was followed by a major role in the 1977 film Tigres de papel.
The civic musicians thus served a particular and necessary role in the complex system of rituals followed for visitors.
More film roles followed, but, for Mackie, theatre is still the most powerful medium.