Show summary Hide summary
So, Elena Anaya is a bit of that Spanish face that stays with you once you discover her. Born on July 17, 1975, so she is 49 this year, in the small town of Palencia in Castile and León. She is about 1m70 tall – that alone already helps to stand out on a set.
Honestly, her journey immediately pulls you into a world where authenticity reigns. She started young, not just anywhere in Spain, but with that passion, that temperament you sense between every role. And on the personal side, she stays quite discreet, even though it is known that she shares her life with stylist Tina Afugu Cordero and together they have a son, Lorenzo.
You will see, over the years, she has acted in highly varied projects, from big Hollywood productions to Spanish indie gems that shake things up. Pedro Almodóvar is the great story between them, with that crazy role in La piel que habito which earned her a well-deserved Goya Award.
But what I like about her is the way she chooses roles that are not always easy, sometimes a bit risky. As if her life as an actress was a journey she wanted to chart in her own way, without copying anyone. Let’s dive into her universe.
Who is Elena Anaya, an essential actress of Spain and beyond
Elena Anaya comes from the depths of Castile and León, more precisely Palencia, in a family that is not at all from the show business. Her father is an engineer, her mother runs a boarding house after a divorce. The youngest of three children, already very active, passionate about karate and climbing – I have always thought there was something of that energy in her roles.
At 17, she dropped out of school to rush into theater. She joined the famous Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático in Madrid after an initial rejection, which says a lot about her determination. You realize she fought hard, even if she later lost the school because of her acting job, but that’s where she really started to make a name for herself.
She was quickly noticed in Familia, then it was a series of roles that already showed her taste for mixing mystery and intensity. Proof of this is her supporting role in Lucia and Sex which earned her first Goya nomination in 2002. At that time, you could feel it was promising. And then, the meeting with Pedro Almodóvar in 2003, in Talk to Her, pushed it even further.
You can discover her full career on Wikipedia or through her detailed profile on AlloCiné.
Her acting career: from the local stage to the global screen
The early 2000s saw her navigate between Spanish productions and beginnings in Hollywood. Van Helsing in 2004, for example, was quite a good international exposure, even if her universe quickly returned to something more intimate, more narrative. You see her in films like Room in Rome, where intimacy plays a full role, or La piel que habito, that role of a wounded and complex woman that won the Goya for best actress. This marked a huge milestone.
She never went for the easy way with repetitive blockbusters, although she yielded to some like Wonder Woman where she plays Dr Poison, an evil character, a real contrast to her often nuanced other roles. This shows her desire for diversity and exploration.
Her work continues between films, series, and even music videos, like the very sexy one by Justin Timberlake, SexyBack, an unexpected appearance that surprised many. More recently, she appears in Rifkin’s Festival by Woody Allen, even if the film’s release has been somewhat on hold (surely, this gets her talked about besides her films).
For such a rich career, her page on IMDb will open all doors to the films, series, and other projects she has invested in.
A well-kept private life and a discreet but strong commitment
Elena Anaya, despite her definite fame, remains rather reserved about her intimate life. Over time, a few hints have emerged, such as her past relationship with director Beatriz Sanchís. Those moments on the beach in Minorca captured by the press made headlines, especially because she fully embraces her orientation in a country where it has become a more natural subject.
She also made a beautiful gesture by becoming a mother with her partner, stylist Tina Afugu Cordero, in 2017. Their lives intertwine harmoniously between career and family, with little Lorenzo who must surely brighten everyday life.
At the same time, she campaigns, gently but surely, for causes dear to her like the environment. Partnering with Greenpeace in 2015 for the “Women for the Arctic” campaign, and receiving an award in 2023 recognizing her commitment. This is another side of Elena, far from the spotlight but still deeply moving.
You will find a good summary of her journey in this article on Voici, very complete and pleasant to read.
Some surprising anecdotes about Elena Anaya
Did you know that Elena almost missed her first Goya? Yes yes, it’s almost funny when you think about it. At first, she was a bit shy, lost in this bright but tough industry. She had to hang on, insist, bounce back after school or critical failures.
She also acted in a Justin Timberlake video, which seems like a world apart, and yet she played along like a pro, almost as if she liked testing her limits, even surprising her fans.
For lovers of international cinema, know that she shot a French biopic about Jacques Mesrine. This is not so common for Spanish actresses. And despite everything, she remains rooted in her culture, her roots, which makes her even more endearing.
And if you want to take a look at her upcoming projects, her presence in series like Jett or Professionals shows she doesn’t intend to stop and wants to continue to surprise the public. In short, she still has many cards to play.
Key moments to understand the success of Elena Anaya
- 🎬 Her first notable role in Familia that launched her career.
- 🎥 Her performance in Lucia and Sex that opened the doors to the Goyas.
- 🏆 The Goya Award for La piel que habito, a pivotal moment.
- 🌍 The appearance in Van Helsing then Wonder Woman, to reach Hollywood.
- 🤝 Her commitment with Greenpeace, showing her values beyond cinema.
You can hear Elena’s voice, her way of talking about her profession, her struggles. It’s a direct window into her attitude toward life and work.
An excerpt that perfectly illustrates her intensity on screen.
