María Isabel Verdú Rollán (born 2 October 1970), better known as Maribel Verdú (), is a Spanish actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades throughout her career spanning nearly four decades, including two Goya Awards for Best Actress, an

Ariel Award for Best Actress The Ariel Award for Best Actress (Spanish: Premio Ariel a Mejor Actriz) is an award presented by the Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas (AMACC) in Mexico. It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding p ...

, the Gold Medal of the

Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain The Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain () is a professional organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of Cinema of Spain, Spanish cinema. Founded in 1986, it is responsible for the annual Goya Awards, Spain's princ ...

in 2008 and the National Cinematography Award in 2009. Verdú made her acting debut at thirteen in '' Captain Sánchez's Crime'' (1985). Some of her film credits include performances in '' Lovers'' (1991), ''

Belle Époque The Belle Époque () or La Belle Époque () was a period of French and European history that began after the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and continued until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Occurring during the era of the Fr ...

'' (1992), '' Lucky Star'' (1997), ''

Y tu mamá también ''Y tu mamá también'' (Spanish for ''And Your Mother Too'') is a 2001 Mexican Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age comedy drama Road movie, road film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who co-wrote the script with his brother Carlos Cuarón, Carlos. I ...

'' (2001), '' Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006), '' The Blind Sunflowers'' (2008), '' Tetro'' (2009), ''

Snow White "Snow White" is a German fairy tale, first written down in the early 19th century. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'', numbered as Tale 53. The original title was ''Sneewittch ...

'' (2012), and ''

Abracadabra ''Abracadabra'' is a magic word, historically used as an Apotropaic magic, apotropaic incantation on amulets and common today in stage magic. The actual origin is unknown, but one of the first appearances of the word was in a second-century work ...

'' (2017). She also appeared as Nora Allen in the

DC Extended Universe The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comic ...

film ''

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'' (2023), her second superhero film credit after ''

Superlópez Superlópez is a Spanish comic book character created by Jan (comics), Jan. Created in 1973, Superlópez is a parody of Superman. Born ''Jo-Con-Él'' (translated as ''Damn-with-him'') on the planet ''Chitón'' (Spanish slang meaning something l ...

'' (2018).

Early life

Verdú was born in

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

, Spain. She began acting at 13, appearing in various commercials. She left school at the age of 15, so that she could fully devote herself to her acting career. Verdú has appeared in more than 60 movies, since

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

, the majority of them in Spanish. She has also been on numerous TV shows.

Career

Her first work experience was as a model in ''spots'' and fashion magazines for known commercial firms. Her first television opportunity was given to her at 13, featuring in the anthology series '' La huella del crimen'', directed by

Vicente Aranda Vicente Aranda Ezquerra (; 9 November 1926 – 26 May 2015) was a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. Due to his refined and personal style, he was one of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers. He started as a founding member ...

in the episode " Captain Sánchez's Crime". She made her feature film debut in ''El sueño de Tánger'' at age 14, starring alongside Fabio Testi. Shot in 1985, the film underwent a production hell, and was not released until 1991. Her first appearance in a theatrical release was thus in the 1986 film ''El orden cómico''. '' 27 Hours'', by

Montxo Armendáriz Montxo Armendariz (born as Juan Ramón Armendariz Barrios; 27 January 1949 in Olleta, Navarra, Spain)Torres, ''Diccionario Espasa Cine Español'' p. 83 is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. His film ''Las cartas de Alou'' won at the San ...

, about a girl who is a drug addict, was one of the most powerful experiences in her life, up to that point. After this film, other more important films started coming her way, including '' Hostages in the Barrio'' by

Eloy de la Iglesia Eloy de la Iglesia (1 January 1944 – 23 March 2006) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. De la Iglesia was an outspoken gay and socialist filmmaker who is relatively unknown outside Spain despite a prolific and successful career in hi ...

and '' Year of Enlightment'' by

Fernando Trueba Fernando Rodríguez Trueba (born 18 January 1955), known as Fernando Trueba, is a Spanish filmmaker, writer, producer and book editor. Career Between 1974 and 1979, Trueba worked as a film critic for Spain's leading daily newspaper '' El Paí ...

. Later, Verdú said that her role in '' Lovers'' marked a turning point in her screen career and has brought about maturity as a performer. Thereafter, she worked with such directors as

José Luis Garci José Luis García Muñoz (born 20 January 1944), known professionally as José Luis Garci, is a Spanish film director, Film, producer, critic, TV presenter, screenwriter and author. One of the most influential film personalities in the history o ...

in '' Cradle Song'';

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in '' Golden Balls''; again with Trueba in the

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

winner ''

'';

Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Torre (born 1945) is a Spanish filmmaker known for directing box office hits such as ''The Other Side of the Bed'' (2002) and ''Spanish Affair (2014 film), Spanish Affair'' (2014). Biography Emilio Martínez-Lázaro wa ...

in '' Backroads'';

Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (4 January 1932 – 10 February 2023) was a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. With Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be among Spain's great filmmakers. He had a long and prolific career th ...

in '' Goya in Bordeaux''; and Gonzalo Suárez in '' The Goalkeeper'' and '' Oviedo Express''. Verdú's performance in drama '' Lucky Star'' (1997) earned her another goya award nomination; she played one-eyed pregnant Marina, in a love triangle with a gelded butcher and a handsome criminal. She made her debut in an international work in ''

'' (2001), portraying Luisa Cortés, an exotic ''madrileña'' who ends up accepting a trip offer across rural Mexico from a Mexican cousin-in-law and his friend. In 2002, she starred as the title character in comedy peplum '' Lisístrata'', playing an Athenian woman setting up a sex strike. She was cast against type to portray maid and guerrilla informant Mercedes in '' Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006). Verdú was invited to membership in the AMPAS in 2007. Verdú's performance in '' Seven Billiard Tables'' (2007) earned Verdú her first Goya Award for Best Actress. In 2010, Maribel starred in a music video for

Alejandro Sanz Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro, better known as Alejandro Sanz (; born 18 December 1968), is a Spanish musician, singer and composer. He has won 22 Latin Grammy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He has received the Latin Grammy for Latin Grammy Award ...

's song " Lola Soledad". Verdú's portrayal of Encarna (the evil stepmother) in black-and-white and silent drama film ''

'' (2012) won her a second Goya Award. In 2017, she appeared in ''

'', starring as Carmen, a housewife who sees her husband's personality transformed as a result of an informal hypnosis session. She made her theater debut in 1986, starring as the character of Julieta and has since then combined theater with cinema. She has also intertwined the two in television shows, such as '' Turno de oficio'' and '' Segunda enseñanza''. In 2018, she starred in comedy film '' Empowered'', portraying Paz, an undervalued middle-aged woman who stops keeping quiet about things, and in black comedy '' Crime Wave'' as Leyre, a housewife covering the murder of her son's father, unleashing a wave of crimes. She also portrayed Agatha, a villainess from planet Chitón, in superhero comedy film ''

'', based on the comic book character of the same name. In 2020, she began shooting legal thriller television series '' ANA. all in'', her first acting credit in television since her work in '' Código fuego'' (2003). She starred as Ana Tramel, a drug-addicted lawyer who turns in after her gambling brother is accused of murder in a casino. In March 2021, she was cast as Barry Allen/The Flash's mother Nora Allen in the

film ''

'', which was released in June 2023. She also appeared as eccentric millionaire Olivia Uriarte in whodunit film ''A Deadly Invitation''. She also portrayed Carmen, a toxic mother and bon vivant, in season 7 of teen drama series ''

Elite In political and sociological theory, the elite (, from , to select or to sort out) are a small group of powerful or wealthy people who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power, or skill in a group. Defined by the ...

'', and the girlfriend and advisor of Leo ( Daniel Giménez Cacho) in '' Familia''. In 2024, she was reported to have joined the shooting of

Max Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

series '' When No One Sees Us'', set to star as Lucía Gutiérrez (a

Guardia Civil The Civil Guard (; ) is one of the two national law enforcement agencies of Spain. As a national gendarmerie, it is military in nature and is responsible for civil policing under the authority of both the Ministry of the Interior and the Minis ...

agent investigating a suicide case in

Morón de la Frontera Morón de la Frontera () is a Spanish town in Province of Seville, Seville province, Andalusia, South-East of Seville. Situated in the south of the province, it is the center of the region that bears the same name and is the head of one of the 85 ...

) alongside Dani Rovira, Mariela Garriga, Austin Amelio, and

Ben Temple Ben Temple (born 1969) is an American-born actor who has developed his career in Spain. Biography Ben Temple was born in 1969 in New York City, New York. After moving to Spain in 1991, he installed permanently in the country in 1999. In 2003, ...

. In December 2024, she was awarded the

Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts The Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts () is awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featurin ...

Personal life

Verdú married Pedro Larrañaga on 2 September 1999. He is the son of actors Carlos Larrañaga and María Luisa Merlo. Verdú is the stockholder of the clinic Premium in Estepona.

Accolades

Lifetime achievements

* Gold Medal of the

in 2008. * National Cinematography Award by the Spanish Ministry of Culture (Spain), Ministry of Culture in 2009.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Verdu, Maribel 1970 births Living people 20th-century Spanish actresses 21st-century Spanish actresses Actresses from Madrid Ariel Award winners Best Actress Goya Award winners Spanish child actresses Spanish film actresses Spanish television actresses