Famous Spanish Women

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The contemporary Spanish woman is beautiful, intelligent, confident and ready to take the world in her stride! But this was not the way it had always been in Spain. Up until a few decades ago, Spanish women were subjected to certain very strict social norms that dictated them to be confined to the roles of wives and mothers. After being restricted and restrained for so long, the Spanish woman struggled to break free of the shackles that society bound her with to prove that she was no less than men when it came to contributing to the world heritage and culture.

Vote for Your Favourite Spanish Women
 1 
Penelope Cruz
(The First and the Only Spanish Actress to be Nominated for and to Win an Academy Award)
Penelope Cruz
52
Birthdate: April 28, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Alcobendas, Spain

Penelope Cruz is a Spanish model and actress who has had major success in the American entertainment industry. Also known for her work as a philanthropist, Cruz has been touching the lives of many for the past several years. Apart from donating money to charity, Cruz has also volunteered in India and Uganda. She has also advocated for PETA's anti-fur campaign.

 2 
Millie Bobby Brown
131
Birthdate: February 19, 2004
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Marbella, Spain

Millie Bobby Brown, the English actress and model, rose to prominence after acting in the TV series Stranger Things and then in the film, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, in 2019. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in April 2018, making her the youngest person ever to be so.

 3 
Ana de Armas
(Actress)
Ana de Armas
93
Birthdate: April 30, 1988
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cuban and Spanish Actress Known for Her Role in the Film ‘Una Rosa de Francia’

A Spanish-Cuban actress, Ana de Armas worked in Spanish films and television shows before moving to Hollywood. Overcoming the obstacle of not knowing English, she established herself as a solid actress by working in films like Knives Out and Blade Runner 2049. She will play a Bond girl in No Time to Die movie and will portray Marilyn Monroe in the Netflix biopic Blonde.

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 4 
Elsa Pataky
(Known for Her Role as Elena Neves in the 'Fast & Furious' Franchise)
Elsa Pataky
35
Birthdate: July 18, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

 5 
Catherine of Aragon
(Queen Consort of England (1509 - 1533))
Catherine of Aragon
29
Birthdate: December 16, 1485
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Alcala de Henares, Spain
Died: January 7, 1536

Catherine of Aragon was one of the most popular English royal consorts of all time. A patron of Renaissance humanism, she gained widespread admiration for starting a program for the relief of the poor. A woman who was ahead of her time, Catherine commissioned The Education of a Christian Woman, a controversial book promoting women's right to education.

 6 
Rosalia
(Singer)
Rosalia
18
Birthdate: September 25, 1993
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Spain

Grammy-winning Spanish flamenco singer Rosalia is quite a sensation in Latin music and has often experimented with R&B, hip-hop, and electronic music, too. She gained global fame with the single Malamente and also scripted history as the first-ever Spanish-language artist to gain a Best New Artist nomination at the Grammys.

 7 
Oona Chaplin
(Spanish-British Actress Known for Her TV Series: ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘The Crimson Field’ and ‘Taboo’)
Oona Chaplin
13
Birthdate: June 4, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

 8 
Úrsula Corberó
(Actress and Model Best Known for Her Role as ‘Tokyo’ in Netflix Series ‘Money Heist’ )
Úrsula Corberó
36
Birthdate: August 11, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sant Pere de Vilamajor, Spain

Úrsula Corberó is a Spanish actress who achieved international fame after playing Tokyo in the popular heist crime drama TV series, Money Heist. Renowned for her good looks, Corberó has been the face of many brands, such as Maybelline, Tampax, and Calzedonia. Also a philanthropist, Corberó has been part of many awareness campaigns pertaining to breast cancer and climate change.

 9 
Maria Pedraza
(Actress)
Maria Pedraza
9
Birthdate: January 26, 1996
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

 10 
Infanta Leonor of Spain
(Heir Presumptive to the Throne of Spain)
Infanta Leonor of Spain
41
Birthdate: October 31, 2005
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 11 
Alba Flores
(Spanish Actress Best Known for Her Role as 'Saray Vargas' in the TV Series 'Vis a Vis')
Alba Flores
11
Birthdate: October 27, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Madrid, Madrid, Spain

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.

 12 
Ester Expósito
(Actress, Model)
Ester Expósito
28
Birthdate: January 26, 2000
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

 13 
Charo
(Actress Best Known for Her Sassiness, Sexy Outfits and Signature Phrase during the 1970s, ‘Cuchi-Cuchi')
Charo
16
Birthdate: January 15, 1951
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Murcia, Spain

Spanish-American actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco-guitarist Charo, whose birth year remains a subject of dispute for several years, is known for her seductive deep voice with Spanish accent, unrestrained and exuberant manner, and the catch-phrase cuchi-cuchi. She has released albums like Guitar Passion, featured in films like The Concorde...Airport '79 and guest starred in TV series like The Love Boat.

 14 
Mabel
(Singer-songwriter)
Mabel
9
Birthdate: February 20, 1996
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Málaga, Spain

Born to a music producer father, Cameron McVey, and a singer mother, Neneh Cherry, Mabel McVey was destined to make a career in music. The English singer-songwriter debuted on SoundCloud with her track Know Me Better. It is believed she had initially used music as a therapy for her anxiety.

 15 
Paz Vega
(Spanish Actress)
Paz Vega
9
Birthdate: January 2, 1976
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Seville, Spain
Spanish actor Paz Vega is best known for her roles in films such as Sex and Lucia, Spanglish, All Roads Lead to Rome, and Rambo: Last Blood. Fans loved her as Catalina Creel in the Mexican series Cuna de lobos and as Renata in the American series The OA
 16 
Lucrezia Borgia
(Duchess Consort of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (1505 - 1519))
Lucrezia Borgia
6
Birthdate: April 18, 1480
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Subiaco, Italy
Died: June 24, 1519
Spanish-Italian noblewoman Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI, ruled as the governor of Spoleto. She was part of many politically motivated marriages. She has been portrayed as the femme fatale in many movies and novels. Dosso Dossi’s Portrait of a Youth is the only credible portrait of Lucrezia.
 17 
Astrid Berges-Frisbey
(Best Known for Playing 'Mermaid Syrena' in the Film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’)
Astrid Berges-Frisbey
7
Birthdate: May 26, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain

Born to a French-American mother and a Spanish father, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey had initially worked as a waitress and had even decided to pursue a career in osteopathy. The actor-model later made waves with her roles in The Sea Wall and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

 18 
Queen Letizia of Spain
(Queen Consort of Spain)
Queen Letizia of Spain
8
Birthdate: September 15, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Oviedo, Spain

Queen Letizia of Spain was initially a journalist for EFE and ABC and then worked as an anchor for Televisión Española and CNN+. She had covered events such as the 9/11 attacks. She is married to King Felipe VI of Spain and was previously married to a high-school teacher.

 19 
Montserrat Caballé
(Spanish Operatic Soprano Known for Her Pure and Powerful Vocals With Exquisite Pianissimo)
Montserrat Caballé
4
Birthdate: April 12, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain
Died: October 6, 2018

Spanish opera singer and a legend of classical music, Montserrat Caballé became an international sensation after recording the duet Barcelona, the official anthem for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, with Freddie Mercury. She is also remembered for his iconic portrayal of the title role of Lucrezia Borgia.

 20 
Hilaria Baldwin
(American Yoga Instructor, Entrepreneur, Author and Wife of Actor Alec Baldwin)
Hilaria Baldwin
9
Birthdate: January 6, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
 21 
Isabel Preysler
(Filipina Socialite, Television Host and Mother of Enrique Iglesias)
Isabel Preysler
20
Birthdate: February 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Manila, Philippines

Isabel Preysler is a  Filipina socialite and TV host. As a teenager, she participated in beauty pageants and worked as a model. She later started working as a journalist. An elegant woman, she is considered a fashion icon. Her first husband was Julio Iglesias, a Spanish singer.  Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias Jr. are her sons.

 22 
Carolina Marin
(Badminton player)
Carolina Marin
1
Birthdate: June 15, 1993
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Huelva, Spain
 23 
Ariadna Gil
(Spanish Actress Known for Her Films: 'Belle Époque' and 'Black Tears')
Ariadna Gil
4
Birthdate: January 23, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain

Ariadna Gil is a Spanish actress best known for playing Violeta in the 1992 Spanish comedy-drama film, Belle Époque, for which she received the Best Lead Actress award at the prestigious Goya Awards. Although she predominantly acts in Spanish films, Ariadna Gil has also played important roles in films of various other languages, such as English, Catalan, and French.

 24 
Blanca Suárez
(Actress)
Blanca Suárez
2
Birthdate: October 21, 1988
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

 25 
Ivana Baquero
(Actress)
Ivana Baquero
3
Birthdate: June 11, 1994
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain
 26 
Esther Acebo
(Actress)
Esther Acebo
5
Birthdate: January 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 27 
Najwa Nimri
(Best Known for Her Role as 'Alicia Sierra' in the Spanish Series 'La Casa De Papel'(Money Heist))
Najwa Nimri
12
Birthdate: February 14, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

Najwa Nimri is a Spanish actress and singer best known for playing a  policewoman inspector in the TV drama series La casa de papel. As a singer, she formed the band Najwajean with Carlos Jean and has also released a few solo albums. In 2020, she hosted a podcast called Vis a vis: Cara B. 

 28 
Alejandra Silva
(Spanish Publicist, Political Activist and Wife of Actor Richard Gere)
Alejandra Silva
8
Birthdate: February 16, 1983
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: A Coruña, Spain
Spanish publicist, activist, and Instagram star Alejandra Silva is best known for her philanthropic efforts, most notably her non-profit, the Beautiful Life Fund, which focuses on homeless and distressed children. She has also worked to promote sports among underprivileged African communities. She is married to actor Richard Gere. 
 29 
Mónica Cruz
(Spanish Actress and Younger Sister of Actress 'Penélope Cruz')
Mónica Cruz
6
Birthdate: March 16, 1977
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Alcobendas, Spain

Known as the younger sister of Spanish actor Penélope Cruz, Mónica Cruz is not just an actor but also a trained dancer, specializing in flamenco and ballet. Known for her roles in projects such as The Inquiry and Last Hour, she is now also a mother of a daughter, through artificial insemination.

 30 
Queen Sofía of Spain
(Queen Consort of Spain)
Queen Sofía of Spain
2
Birthdate: November 2, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tatoi Palace, Greece
 31 
Aitana
(Singer)
Aitana
5
Birthdate: June 27, 1999
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sant Climent de Llobregat, Spain

Spanish singer Aitana first gained attention with her YouTube covers and then with the reality show Operación Triunfo. She then released her gold-certified debut single, No Puedo Vivir sin Ti, and later continued to release hits such as Lo Malo and Telephono. She is also known as the Spanish Princess of Pop.

 32 
Paloma Picasso
(Known for Her Jewelry Designs for Tiffany & Co. & Daughter of Distinguished Painter Pablo Picasso)
Paloma Picasso
1
Birthdate: April 19, 1949
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vallauris, France

Fashion and jewelry designer Paloma Picasso is best known as the daughter of legendary artists Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot. She began her career designing costume jewelry for Yves Saint-Laurent and later designed for Tiffany & Co. Known for her signature red lipstick, she also has her own range of perfumes.

 33 
Infanta Sofía of Spain
(Younger daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia)
Infanta Sofía of Spain
35
Birthdate: April 29, 2007
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Madrid
 34 
Belinda Peregrín
(Spanish-Mexican Singer, Songwriter and Actress)
Belinda Peregrín
9
Birthdate: August 15, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.   

 35 
Mina El Hammani
(Actress)
Mina El Hammani
3
Birthdate: November 29, 1993
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 36 
Christina Ochoa
(Spanish Actress and Science Communicator Known for Her TV Series ‘Animal Kingdom’ and ‘Promised Land’)
Christina Ochoa
2
Birthdate: January 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Christina Ochoa is a Spanish actress best known for her portrayal of Grace D'Argento in the American science fiction series, Blood Drive. Ochoa is credited with founding QE Productions, which produced the critically acclaimed short film, Stay with Me. Also a science communicator, Christina Ochoa has been the host of many scientific shows and conferences.

 37 
Itziar Ituño
(Actress)
Itziar Ituño
6
Birthdate: June 18, 1974
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Basauri, Spain
Itziar Ituño is best known to audiences as Raquel Murillo in the iconic Spanish series La casa de papel, or Money Heist. While she initially studied sociology, she simultaneously studied acting, too. Her initial projects included the role of a lesbian police officer in the Basque opera Goenkale.
 38 
María Valverde
(Spanish Actress Best Known for Her Film ‘The Weakness of the Bolshevik’)
María Valverde
8
Birthdate: March 24, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Carabanchel, Spain

María Valverde is a Spanish actress who has played important roles in Spanish as well as British films. Valverde didn’t take long to hog the limelight as she won the Goya Award for her debut performance in The Weakness of the Bolshevik , at the age of 16! She is best known for playing Zipporah in the epic film Exodus: Gods and Kings. 

 39 
Lilian Garcia
(Singer, Ring announcer, Beauty pageant contestant)
Lilian Garcia
3
Birthdate: August 19, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Juan

The daughter of a US Embassy employee, Lilian Garcia was born in Spain. She was a singer as a child and worked as an RJ after graduation, following which she soared to fame as a WWE announcer. She scripted history when she became the first female announcer at WrestleMania.

 40 
Berta Vazquez
(Ukrainian-born Spanish Model, Actress, and Singer)
Berta Vazquez
15
Birthdate: March 28, 1992
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kyiv, Ukraine
 41 
Belén Cuesta
(Actress)
Belén Cuesta
2
Birthdate: January 24, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seville, Spain

Best known to international audiences for her performance as the transgender character Manila in the iconic hit series La Casa de Papel, or Money Heist, Belén Cuesta is a popular Spanish actor. A fine theater actor, too, she has been part of production such as Sonias and Metamorfosis.

 42 
Chabeli Iglesias
(Spanish Journalist and Socialite & Daughter of Spanish Singer 'Julio Iglesias' )
Chabeli Iglesias
2
Birthdate: August 1, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cascais, Portugal

Chabeli Iglesias is a Spanish journalist and socialite. Born into the popular Iglesias family, she is the daughter of singer Julio Iglesias and Filipina socialite Isabel Preysler. She has been featured on the covers of numerous gossip and entertainment magazines worldwide. She is married to businessman Christian Fernando Altaba and has two children. 

 43 
Pilar Rubio
(Reporter, TV Presenter)
Pilar Rubio
1
Birthdate: March 17, 1978
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain

Spanish model, actor, and TV presenter Pilar Rubio had initially decided to study economics but later quit it without a degree, to join the entertainment industry. Best known for presenting the show Sé lo que hicisteis..., she also appeared naked on Interviú. She is married to Spanish footballer Sergio Ramos.

 44 
Hiba Abouk
(Actress)
Hiba Abouk
1
Birthdate: October 30, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 45 
Maria Belon
(Spanish Motivational Speaker Who Survived the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in 2004)
Maria Belon
2
Birthdate: May 12, 1966
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Maria Belon is a Spanish motivational speaker and physician. She achieved popularity after surviving the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Belón was badly injured and nearly died. The story inspired the 2012 disaster drama film The Impossible, in which Maria Belon was played by Naomi Watts. Belon has also appeared in many TV shows.

 46 
Rocio Durcal
(Singer)
Rocio Durcal
2
Birthdate: October 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Died: March 25, 2006
 47 
Charlotte Vega
(Actress)
Charlotte Vega
3
Birthdate: February 10, 1994
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 48 
Maribel Verdú
(Actress)
Maribel Verdú
0
Birthdate: October 2, 1970
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
 49 
Maggie Civantos
(Actress)
Maggie Civantos
1
Birthdate: December 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Málaga, Spain
 50 
Amarna Miller
(Spanish Youtuber and Former Adult Film Actress)
Amarna Miller
2
Birthdate: October 29, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

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.

Beatriz Galindo was no doubt a pioneer in Spanish history for she became the country’s first female physician way back in the late 15th century! More recently Esperanza Aguirre defied tradition to enter into politics, a male dominated domain, to become the first female President of the Senate in Spanish history. Bull fighting is a very popular sport in Spain and Cristina Sánchez de Pablo proved that she is no lesser a match to a raging bull than a man and became the first professional female bullfighter. Spanish women are very artistic as proved by the performers Niña Pastori and Eva Amaral. And who can forget the beautiful Penélope Cruz when we talk of Spanish women in showbiz? Read to learn more interesting facts about the famous Spanish women who have left their mark on the world.