Maribel Verdú

María Isabel Verdú Rollán (born 2 October 1970), better known as Maribel Verdú ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), 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 Gold Medal of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain 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 (1992), Lucky Star (1997), Y tu mamá también (2001), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), The Blind Sunflowers (2008), Tetro (2009), Snow White (2012), and Abracadabra (2017). She also appeared as Nora Allen in the DC Extended Universe film The Flash (2023), her second superhero film credit after Superlópez (2018).

Early life

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

Career

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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,<ref name="cope" /> directed by Vicente Aranda 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.<ref name="cope">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shot in 1985, the film underwent a production hell,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was not released until 1991. Her first appearance in a theatrical release was thus in the 1986 film El orden cómico.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

27 Hours, by Montxo Armendáriz, 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 and Year of Enlightment by Fernando Trueba.

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 in Cradle Song; Bigas Luna in Golden Balls; again with Trueba in the Academy Award winner Belle Époque; Emilio Martínez-Lázaro in Backroads; Carlos Saura in Goya in Bordeaux; and Gonzalo Suárez in The Goalkeeper and Oviedo Express.

File:Maribel Verdú y Jaime Falero en Set "Por Dinero Negro".jpg

Verdú on set in 2005

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

She made her debut in an international work in Y tu mamá también (2001),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 2002, she starred as the title character in comedy peplum Lisístrata, playing an Athenian woman setting up a sex strike.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was cast against type to portray maid and guerrilla informant Mercedes in Pan's Labyrinth (2006).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Verdú was invited to membership in the AMPAS in 2007.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Verdú's performance in Seven Billiard Tables (2007) earned Verdú her first Goya Award for Best Actress.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2010, Maribel starred in a music video for Alejandro Sanz's song "Lola Soledad".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Verdú's portrayal of Encarna (the evil stepmother) in black-and-white and silent drama film Snow White (2012) won her a second Goya Award.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, she appeared in Abracadabra, starring as Carmen, a housewife who sees her husband's personality transformed as a result of an informal hypnosis session.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Maribel Verdú - Seminci 2011 (2).jpg

Verdú at the 2011 Valladolid International Film Festival

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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in black comedy Crime Wave as Leyre, a housewife covering the murder of her son's father, unleashing a wave of crimes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also portrayed Agatha, a villainess from planet Chitón, in superhero comedy film Superlópez, based on the comic book character of the same name.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She starred as Ana Tramel, a drug-addicted lawyer who turns in after her gambling brother is accused of murder in a casino.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In March 2021, she was cast as Barry Allen/The Flash's mother Nora Allen in the DC Extended Universe film The Flash,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> which was released in June 2023. She also appeared as eccentric millionaire Olivia Uriarte in whodunit film A Deadly Invitation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also portrayed Carmen, a toxic mother and bon vivant, in season 7 of teen drama series Elite,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the girlfriend and advisor of Leo (Daniel Giménez Cacho) in Familia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2024, she was reported to have joined the shooting of Max series When No One Sees Us, set to star as Lucía Gutiérrez (a Guardia Civil agent investigating a suicide case in Morón de la Frontera) alongside Dani Rovira, Mariela Garriga, Austin Amelio, and Ben Temple.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2024, she was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Verdú married Pedro Larrañaga on 2 September 1999. He is the son of actors Carlos Larrañaga and María Luisa Merlo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Verdú is the stockholder of the clinic Premium in Estepona.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Template:Tooltip
1992	Template:Sort	Best Actress	Lovers	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1997	Template:Sort	Best Supporting Actress	La Celestina	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1998	Template:Sort	Best Actress	The Lucky Star	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2007	Template:Sort		Pan's Labyrinth	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
	Template:Sort	Best Film Actress in a Leading Role		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Actress		Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	Template:Sort	Best Actress	Seven Billiard Tables	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Film Actress in a Leading Role		Template:Nom	<ref name="20min2008nom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="elmundo2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	6th Mestre Mateo Awards	Best Actress	The Mud Boy	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	Template:Sort	Best Actress	The Blind Sunflowers	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
	Template:Sort	Best Film Actress in a Leading Role		Template:Nom	<ref name= "20min2009nom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name = "elperiodicoaragon2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	Template:Sort	Best Actress	Tetro	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2012	Template:Sort	Best Supporting Actress	Chrysalis	Template:Nom
	Template:Sort	Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role		Template:Nom	<ref name="fotogramas2012nom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="fotogramas2012">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013	Template:Sort	Best Actress	Snow White	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Film Actress in a Leading Role		Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2014	Template:Sort	Best Supporting Actress	15 Years and One Day	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Template:Sort	Best Actress	Abracadabra	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Main Actress in a Film		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	5th Platino Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021	Template:Sort	Best Female Performance in a Series	ANA. all in	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Template:Sort	Best Main Actress in a Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Sort	Best Actress in an International Production	The Flash	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

Lifetime achievements

• Gold Medal of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• National Cinematography Award by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if:

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