Scene from Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas (1993)

Alternate Names: Ana Teresa Álvarez Páez

Physical Characteristics:

• Hair Color: brown hair

First Appearances:

• Little Spanish Soldier (1988) as Camarera

Most Important Roles:

• Malinche's Dream (2019) as Narrator (voice)
• Solo o en compañía de otros (1991) as
• Geisha (1996) as Mónica
• Suspicious Minds (2010) as Carolina
• Brujas (1996) as Sol
• Los peores años de nuestra vida (1994) as Actriz
• Alas rotas (2002) as Laura
• Prime Time (2008) as Mónica
• Cota roja (2004) as
• ¡Oh, cielos! (1995) as Cuqui

Career Highlights:

• Malinche's Dream (2019)
• Solo o en compañía de otros (1991)
• Geisha (1996)
• Suspicious Minds (2010)
• Brujas (1996)
• Los peores años de nuestra vida (1994)
• Alas rotas (2002)
• Prime Time (2008)
• Cota roja (2004)
• ¡Oh, cielos! (1995)

Awards:

• Won Golden India Catalina - Best Actress (1994)
• Won Special Mention (1995)
• Won Silver Biznaga - Zonacine - Best Actress (Mejor Actriz) (2010)
• Won Best Actress (1993)

Born as Ana Teresa Álvarez Páez, the Spanish actress was born on November 19, 1969, in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz. While she is widely known simply as Ana Álvarez, her full birth name follows the traditional Spanish naming custom, including both her paternal and maternal surnames.

At the age of 13, she moved to Madrid with her family. Before transitioning into acting, she established a successful international career as a model, moving to Japan at age 17 and later working in major European fashion capitals like Paris and Athens. Her film debut came in 1988 with Jarrapellejos, but she gained significant attention in the early 90s. In 1993, she appeared as the "innocent villain" Oscura in the romantic drama Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas.

That same year marked her major breakthrough with her haunting performance in La madre muerta (The Dead Mother), which earned her several international "Best Actress" awards, including honors at the Stockholm and Cartagena film festivals. Since then, she has remained a prominent figure in Spanish cinema and television, starring in hit productions like Cha-cha-chá (1998) and the series Sin tetas no hay paraíso.

Beyond her acting career, she is also known for her interest in philosophy and literature, and in 2015, she founded Mr. Willbe, a creative education center for children.

First Appearances:

• El espíritu del animal (1971) as Rebeca

Most Important Roles:

• The Secret of Joy (2016) as Peasant Woman
• Las aventuras de Enrique y Ana (1981) as Reportera
• Puede ser divertido (1995) as Diana
• The Sea and the Weather (1989) as
• Violet (2014) as Madre
• Muerte en la carretera (1976) as
• Marlene (2000) as Lupe Velez (uncredited)
• El espíritu del animal (1971) as Rebeca
• Love Ravings (1986) as (uncredited)
• Farewell (2024) as

Career Highlights:

• The Secret of Joy (2016)
• Las aventuras de Enrique y Ana (1981)
• Puede ser divertido (1995)
• The Sea and the Weather (1989)
• Violet (2014)
• Muerte en la carretera (1976)
• Marlene (2000)
• El espíritu del animal (1971)
• Love Ravings (1986)
• Farewell (2024)

Awards:

• Nominated for 1 Best International Short Film Fiction (2020)
• Won TMIF Impact Award - Best Short Film (2021)

Laura Bayonas began her acting career at age 4, securing her first lead role at 7 in 'Correo de guerra' (1972) alongside her mother Lola Salvador, a renowned scriptwriter and film producer. She enjoyed a prolific career in Europe, working with prominent Spanish directors such as Luis Buñuel, Julio Medem, and Fernando Fernán Gómez. Bayonas also published the novel 'Yes Father, no Father', which criticized parental education and became a bestseller in the 90s. She received an award for her screenplay 'Panfilas'. After moving to Los Angeles, she appeared in 'CharlottaTS' (2011).

First Appearances:

• Police Calling 091 (1960) as (uncredited)

Most Important Roles:

• All About My Mother (1999) as Huma
• The Devil's Backbone (2001) as Carmen
• Life Is Beautiful (1997) as Dora's Mother
• Després de la pluja (2007) as Executive Director
• The Flower of My Secret (1995) as Leo Macías
• Opera Prima (1980) as Zoila Gómez
• Queens (2005) as Reyes
• Dark Habits (1983) as Sor Estiércol
• High Heels (1991) as Becky del Páramo
• Savages (2001) as

Career Highlights:

• All About My Mother (1999)
• The Devil's Backbone (2001)
• Life Is Beautiful (1997)
• Després de la pluja (2007)
• The Flower of My Secret (1995)
• Opera Prima (1980)
• Queens (2005)
• Dark Habits (1983)
• High Heels (1991)
• Savages (2001)

Awards:

• Won Golden India Catalina - Best Actress (Mejor Actriz) (1992)
• Won Lifetime Achievement Award (2016)
• Won Fotogramas de Plata - Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine) (1996)
• Won Fotogramas de Plata - Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine) (1992)
• Nominated for 1 Fotogramas de Plata - Best TV Performer (Mejor intérprete de televisión) (1971)
• Won Fotogramas de Plata - Best TV Performer (Mejor intérprete de televisión) (1969)
• Won Nacho Martínez Award (2007)
• Won Honorary Goya (2018)
• Nominated for 1 Goya - Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Protagonista) (1996)
• Nominated for 1 Goya - Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz de Reparto) (1988)
• Won Golden Kikito - Best Actress (Melhor Atriz) (1992)
• Won Best Actress (1996)
• Won Silver Biznaga - Best Actress (Mejor Actriz) (2010)
• Nominated for 1 MMFF Award - Best Supporting Actress (2006)
• Nominated for 1 Golden Aries - Best Foreign Actress (2000)
• Won SFFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress (2000)
• Nominated for 1 Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast (1999)
• Won Taormina Arte Award (2003)
• Won Espiga de Honor (Honorary Spike) (2017)
• Won Cinemania Award (2003)

Marisa Paredes was born as María Luisa Paredes Bartolomé on April 3, 1946, in Madrid, Spain. Growing up in the working-class neighborhood of Plaza de Santa Ana, she discovered her passion for acting early, making her film debut at the young age of 14 in the 1960 movie Los económicamente débiles (or Police Calling 091 according to some sources).

While she began her career as a teen star in the 1960s, she achieved international acclaim later in life, primarily through her iconic collaborations with director Pedro Almodóvar. She became one of his most celebrated "Almodóvar girls," starring in masterpieces such as High Heels (1991), The Flower of My Secret (1995), and the Oscar-winning All About My Mother (1999). Beyond Spanish cinema, she appeared in notable international productions like Roberto Benigni's Life Is Beautiful (1997) and Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone (2001).

Throughout her illustrious career, which spanned over six decades, she served as the President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2000–2003) and received the Honorary Goya Award in 2018. Marisa Paredes passed away on December 17, 2024, in her hometown of Madrid at the age of 78.