Famous People Born In Madrid

Elsa Pataky is one of the most famous Spanish models and actresses to make it big in the American film industry. She is best known for playing Officer Elena Neves alongside Dwayne Johnson in The Fast and the Furious film franchise. A polyglot, Elsa Pataky can speak Spanish, English, Romanian, Portuguese, French, and Italian fluently.

One of the most popular Spanish singer-songwriters of all time, Enrique Iglesias is widely known as the King of Latin Pop. Having sold more than 180 million records worldwide, Enrique Iglesias is among the best-selling Latin music artists list. He often uses his popularity to help raise funds to benefit humanitarian organizations like the American Red Cross.

Spanish opera singer and conductor Plácido Domingo has performed in a variety of languages, such as English, Italian, French, Spanish, and German. The winner of nine Grammys and five Latin Grammys, he later performed as part of The Three Tenors, with legends Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, releasing bestselling albums.

Iker Casillas is a Spanish former footballer who won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Counted among the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport, Casillas was renowned for his spectacular saves and athleticism. He was named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper on a record five occasions. Also a philanthropist, Casillas owns a charitable foundation in Spain.

Alvaro Morata is a Spanish professional soccer player who has represented popular clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, and Atlético Madrid. He is also an important player for the national team, having gathered the experience of playing in high-pressure tournaments like the UEFA European Football Championship. A versatile player, Alvaro Morata is best known for his pace, energy, and technique.

Oona Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, is best known as Talisa Maegyr from the iconic series Game of Thrones. She had started as a Shakespearean theater actor. She has also been seen in series such as The Hour and Taboo, and has been cast in the upcoming Avatar sequels.

Charles II of Spain reigned as the king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. He was the last king from the House of Habsburg to rule the Spanish Empire. Despite suffering from many illnesses throughout his life, Charles proved to be a reasonably influential king. The town of Charleroi and the Caroline Islands in modern Belgium were named after Charles.

Spanish actress and ballerina, Maria Pedraza first came to limelight with her role in the Netflix series Money Heist, debuting on screen earlier in the same year with Amar: With You Until the End of the World. Since then she has been appearing in number of productions, including the thriller teen drama series, Elite, concurrently focusing on her ballet.

Felipe VI of Spain is the current King of Spain, reigning since 2014. He ascended the throne upon the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos I. His mother is Queen Sofía. As the king, he is head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces as well. He also serves as the honorary president of several associations and foundations. 

Best known for her role in the Netflix series Elite, Madrid Theater Award-winning Spanish actor Ester Expósito is a true-blue feminist who has attended rallies for the cause. She had started attending acting classes as soon as she finished school. She is also a passionate dancer.

Alba Flores, the only daughter of Spanish musician Antonio Flores, achieved international fame as Nairobi in the Spanish series La Casa De Papel, or Money Heist. Apart from drama, she is trained in the piano, too. She is also an avid animal lover and has campaigned for PETA.

Marian Rivera is a Spanish-Filipino model and actress. She is known for playing important roles in TV series like Marimar, Amaya, and Temptation of Wife. Apart from winning awards for her acting skills, Rivera has also been named FHM Magazine's Sexiest Woman on a couple of occasions. Also known for her philanthropic efforts, Marian Rivera often participates in fundraising campaigns.

Spanish actor Blanca Suárez of Cable Girls fame also earned a Goya Award nomination for the psychological thriller The Skin I Live In. Her debut performance as Julia Medina in the Spanish drama-thriller series The Boarding School earned her initial fame. She was also GQ’s Woman of the Year in 2012.

Mexican singer-songwriter and actress Belinda Peregrín, tagged as "Princess of Latin Pop" by international press is best known for her commercially hit studio albums like Belinda and Utopía and singles like Vivir, which made her the third best-selling female Mexican act. She also had screen success with films like The Cheetah Girls 2 and Mexican telenovelas like Amigos x siempre.   

One of George Santayana’s initial works, The Sense of Beauty, spoke about aesthetics, an oft-repeated topic in his later works. The Spanish-born American philosopher and Harvard professor is remembered for his quote “Only the dead have seen the end of war,” which has often been misattributed to Plato.

Marcos Alonso Mendoza is a Spanish football player who plays for the Chelsea Football Club of Premier League. Alonso was part of the Chelsea Football Club when they won the 25th season of the Premier League and the 48th season of UEFA Europa League. Over the years, Alonso has also been an important member of the Spain national team.

Alfonso XIII began ruling as the king of Spain under the regency of his mother, María Cristina. His strategy of rotating governments led to 33 governments in 21 years. Known as El Africano for his support to those who wished to colonialize African countries, he eventually had to leave Spain.

Spanish singer-actor Edurne started her career as a child actor and later soared to fame with the show Operación Triunfo. She then released hit singles such as Amores Dormidos and Despierta, and was part of the Spanish version of Britain’s Got Talent. She is also the wife of Spanish footballer David De Gea.

Alejandro Sanz is a Spanish singer, musician, and composer, who has won 22 Latin Grammy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He is best known for his flamenco-influenced ballads. A versatile singer, he often experiments with different genres, such as pop, funk, rock, jazz, and R&B. He has collaborated with artists like Shakira, Alicia Keys, and Juanes. 

Amarna Miller is a Spanish internet personality and former pornographic actress, director, writer, and producer. She has also appeared in popular magazines like Mongolia. Starting from 2014, Miller won three consecutive Ninfa Awards. After giving up on her pornographic career, Amarna Miller has been publishing literary works. She has also established herself as a popular YouTuber.

Adelina Patti was an Italian opera singer who achieved immense poularity in the USA and Europe. One of the finest singers of her generation, Patti was also among the highest-paid at the peak of her career. Along with her near contemporaries Thérèse Tietjens and Jenny Lind, Adelina Patti is considered one of the most popular sopranos of all time.

Julio Iglesias, Jr. is a Spanish singer. He is the son of singer Julio Iglesias and journalist Isabel Preysler.  Enrique Iglesias is his brother. Julio Jr. began his career as a model and was offered acting gigs. However, he declined the acting offers to focus on music. He has participated in several reality TV shows.