Núria Espert Romero (born 11 June 1935 in

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (; ), often shortened to L'Hospitalet or just L'H, is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Barcelonès Comarques of Catalonia, ''comarca'', in Catalonia (Spain). It is part of the Barcelona metropolitan area, ...

, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish theatre and television actor, and theatre and opera director. When she was 19 years old, she married the actor

Armando Moreno Armando may refer to: * Armando (given name) * Armando (artist) (1929–2018), the name used by Dutch artist Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd * Armando (producer) Armando Gallop (sometimes written as Armando Gallup) (February 12, 1970 – December 17, ...

, who would later become her manager. Teatro Nuria Espert

As a tribute to this actor, the city of

Fuenlabrada Fuenlabrada () is a city and municipality of Spain located in the Community of Madrid. , it has a population of 193,586, making it the region's fourth most populated municipality. Placename The etymology of ''Fuenlabrada'' comes from the contra ...

named a theatre "Sala Municipal de Teatro Núria Espert".

Professional trajectory

Núria Espert studied high school at the Maragall Institute in

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

and later completed her studies with music and

Language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...

s. At only sixteen years of age, she began to work in amateur theatre and in the 1950s she had the opportunity to perform, in her native Barcelona, great classics such as La vida es sueño (Life is a Dream) (1950) and El jardinero de Falerina (The Gardener of Falerina) (1953), by Calderón de la Barca; Los empeños de una casa (1952), by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; or

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

(1953), by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

, adapted into Catalan by Josep Maria de Sagarra. In this language she interpreted numerous works, such as El marit vé de visita (1951). Her big break came in 1954, when she replaced actor Elvira Noriega in ''Medea''. The triumph she achieved through her performance at the

Teatre Grec The Festival Grec de Barcelona (or Grec Festival of Barcelona) is an international theatre, dance, music and circus festival. Over the course of its history, this long-standing event has become a major summer attraction in Barcelona, Catalonia, ...

in Barcelona was decisive for her to dedicate herself to acting in a professional manner. During the following years, and as part of the Lope de Vega Company directed by José Tamayo, she consolidated her position as one of the figures on the Catalan and Spanish scenes. In this line, she obtained success in plays like El caballero de Olmedo (1954), by Lope de Vega; La muralla (1955), by Joaquín Calvo Sotelo; Julio César (1955), by William Shakespeare, together with Mary Carrillo; Las brujas de Salem (1957), by

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), '' Death of a Salesman'' (1 ...

; or; Don Juan Tenorio (1958), by Zorrilla, together with Luis Prendes. In 1959, she created her own theater company and, shortly after, she premiered Gigí at the Recoletos Theater 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 ...

and Eugene O'Neill's play, Anna Christie.

Europe Theatre Prize

In 2018, she was awarded a Special Prize of the XVII

Europe Theatre Prize The Europe Theatre Prize ''(Premio Europa per il Teatro)'' is an award of the European Commission for a personality who has "contributed to the realisation of cultural events that promote understanding and the exchange of knowledge between peo ...

, in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

. The Prize organization stated:

It is not at all common that the growth of an extraordinary artistic talent should coincide with the development of parallel human qualities. Since her birth in 1935, Núria Espert is that rare example of a tireless, sensitive and empathetic actress who, from the start of an acting career at barely 13 years old that grew side by side with a life of cultural passions, civil and political engagement, has become an icon of the Twentieth Century and contemporary life. Woman of the theatre, still fully active today, she has journeyed from the classics (she has several times played an unforgettable ''Medea'') to Garcia Lorca, plunged into the most contemporary theatre, auteur cinema, and directing in film and theatre, not forgetting some important work in directing opera.
Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shak ...
likened her to ‘a glass of water that can freeze and boil at the same time’. For his part,
Terenci Moix Terenci Moix (; real name Ramon Moix i Meseguer; 5 January 1942 – 2 April 2003) was a Spanish writer, who wrote in the Spanish and in Catalan languages. He was the brother of poet/novelist Ana Maria Moix. Life and work Moix was born and ...
claims she is made of ‘air and fire’. It is no surprise that the unforgettable José Monleón, who valued her highly and once put her in touch with
Jerzy Grotowski Jerzy Marian Grotowski (; 11 August 1933 – 14 January 1999) was a Polish theatre director and theorist whose innovative approaches to acting, training and theatrical production have significantly influenced theatre today. He is considered one ...
, allowing her to discover his theatre, should have put her name forward several times in the world of European theatre. Núria Espert is not only a fantastic theatre animal, difficult to cage: she is truly a free spirit, creative, multi-faceted, unpredictable, passionate and soaring. Now, this year, the Special Prize is added to the many awards she has received in her long career, to recall her genius, ductility and civil engagement, transmitted through an art that fully represents the ideal of a Europe that is united, open, democratic and culturally active.

Prizes and Awards

*1984

Premio Nacional de Teatro The National Theater Award () is a cultural prize that is awarded annually by the Spanish Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to: * Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania) * Ministry of Culture (Algeria) ...

*2016 Premio Princesa de Asturias de las Artes *2018

- Special Prize *2024 The Royal

Central School of Speech and Drama The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, commonly shortened to Central, is a drama school founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for ...

- awarded the Degree of Doctor of Literature

Filmography

*1954: ''

Once pares de botas ''Eleven Pairs of Boots'' (Spanish: ''Once pares de botas'') is a 1954 Spanish comedy sports film directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta and starring José Suárez, Mari Carmen Pardo and Elisa Montés.Bentley p.128 Plot Laura, the daughter of t ...

'' *1958: ''La tirana'' *1961: ''

A las cinco de la tarde ''At Five O'Clock in the Afternoon'' (, also released as ''At Five in the Afternoon'') is a 1961 Spanish drama film directed by Juan Antonio Bardem and starring Rafael Alcántara. The film was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign ...

'' *1971: '' Viva la muerte'' *1976: ''

La ciutat cremada ''La ciutat cremada'' (''The Burned City''; Spanish title: ''La ciudad quemada'') is a 1976 Spanish historical film directed by Antoni Ribas Antoni Ribas i Piera (27 October 1935 – 3 October 2007) was a Catalan Spanish film director an ...

'' *1991: ''

The House of Bernarda Alba ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' () is a play (theatre), play by the Spain, Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. Commentators have often grouped it with ''Blood Wedding (play), Blood Wedding'' and ''Yerma'' as the Rural Trilogy. García Lorc ...

'' *1996: ''actors'' *2003: ''Soneto'' *2007: ''Barcelona (un mapa)''

Theatre

*1969: ''

The Maids ''The Maids'' ( ) is a 1947 play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. The play has been revived in Fr ...

'' *1973: ''

Yerma ''Yerma'' is a Play (theatre), play by the Spain, Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. It was written in 1934 and first performed that same year. García Lorca describes the play as "a Tragedy, tragic poem." The play tells the story of a c ...

'' *1981: ''

Doña Rosita la soltera The terms Don (in Spanish and Italian), Dom (in Portuguese), and Domn (in Romanian), are honorific prefixes derived from the Latin ''Dominus'', meaning "lord" or "owner". The honorific is commonly used in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as well a ...

'' *1981: ''

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; ; ) is the daughter of Aeëtes, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress, an accomplished "wiktionary:φαρμακεία, pharmakeía" (medicinal magic), and is often depicted as a high- ...

'' *1983: ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'' *1985: ''

Salome Salome (; , related to , "peace"; ), also known as Salome III, was a Jews, Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II and princess Herodias. She was granddaughter of Herod the Great and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. She is known from the New T ...

'' *1990: ''Maquillaje'' *1998: ''Master Class'' *1999: ''

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' is a play by Edward Albee first staged in October 1962. It examines the complexities of the marriage of middle-aged couple Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they rece ...

'' *2003: ''

La Celestina ''The Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea'' (), known in Spain as ''La Celestina'', is a work entirely in dialogue published in 1499. Sometimes called in English ''The Spanish Bawd'', it is attributed to Fernando de Rojas, a descendant of conv ...

'' *2006: ''Play Strindberg'' *2007: ''Hay que purgar a Totó'' *2009: ''La casa de Bernarda Alba''

Opera

* 1987: ''

Madama Butterfly ''Madama Butterfly'' (; ''Madame Butterfly'') is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story " Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Lu ...

'',

Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini (22 December 1858 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for List of compositions by Giacomo Puccini#Operas, his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he ...

. * 1988: ''

Rigoletto ''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had c ...

'',

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...

. * 1988: '' Elektra'',

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

. * 1989: '' La Traviata'', Giuseppe Verdi. * 1991: ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

'',

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

. * 1995: ''

Stiffelio ''Stiffelio'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, from an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. The origin of this was the novel ''Le pasteur d’hommes'', by Émile Souvestre, which was published in 1838. This was adapted into the F ...

'', Giuseppe Verdi. * 1999: ''

Turandot ''Turandot'' ( ; see #Origin and pronunciation of the name, below) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. Puccini left the opera unfinished at the time of his death in 1924; it ...

'', Giacomo Puccini. * 2004: ''

Tosca ''Tosca'' is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1 ...

'', Giacomo Puccini. * 2012: ''

Ainadamar ''Ainadamar'' (from the Arabic 'Fountain of Tears') is an "opera in three images" by Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov to a libretto by American playwright David Henry Hwang translated from English into Spanish by Golijov. In a series of fl ...

'',

Osvaldo Golijov Osvaldo Noé Golijov (; born December 5, 1960) is an Argentine composer of classical music and music professor, known for his vocal and orchestral work. Biography Osvaldo Golijov was born in and raised in La Plata, Argentina, to a Jewish family ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Espert, Nuria 1935 births Living people Stage actresses from Catalonia Film actresses from Catalonia Spanish women theatre directors 20th-century Spanish actresses 21st-century Spanish actresses Actresses from Catalonia