10 Best Spanish Actors and Actresses of 2021
Spanish cinema has become increasingly popular in recent years, and that wouldn’t be possible without its amazing Spanish actors and actresses.
Keep reading to discover 10 of the best Spanish actors and actresses of 2021—who they are, their films, and their latest awards and nominations.
Top Spanish Actors and Actresses: Criteria
Before getting to the list of astonishing Spanish actors and actresses, you’d probably like to know how they’re being evaluated.
This list includes people originally from Spain who won Goya Awards in 2021 or were nominated for best actor/actress. Goya Awards are Spain’s most renowned national film awards, organized by The Academy—basically the Spanish equivalent to the Oscars.
10 Brilliant Spanish Actors and Actresses
Here are the most recognized Spanish actors and actresses of 2021. Each of the 5 men and 5 women on this list is known for their extraordinary talent.
1. Mario Casas
Goya Award 2021: Best leading actor (mejor actor protagonista)
Movie: Cross the Line (No matarás)
Mario Casas is one of the most famous Spanish actors of the 21st century. He was born in 1986 in La Coruña, Galicia, Spain. After working in advertising, he went to Madrid with the intention of becoming an actor and attended the Cristina Rota Theater School.
He began to appear in television series in 2005, achieving fame on the small screen thanks to the police soap opera Los Hombres De Paco. However, his first film role was in the Antonio Banderas film El Camino De Los Ingleses (2006).
He starred in the Spanish films Fuga De Cerebros (2009), Mentiras y Gordas (2009), and Tres Metros Sobre el Cielo (2010). Mario has appeared in series, such as Sms, Sin Fiedo a Soñar (2006-2007) and El Barco (2011-2013). Since then, he’s appeared in more than 40 film projects.
2. Alberto San Juan
Goya Award 2021: Best supporting actor (mejor actor de reparto)
Movie: The People Upstairs (Sentimental)
Alberto San Juan is a Spanish actor and screenwriter from Madrid. He studied Information Sciences before switching to acting and studying at the Cristina Rota theater school.
In 1996, Alberto made his debut on the small screen with the series Menudo es mi padre, and Más que amigos.
His brief role in Morirás en Chafarinas (1995) was a success, and in Airbag, he shone on the screen. Since then, he has appeared in films such as Entre las piernas, Los lobos de Washington, and El otro lado de la cama (for which he received his first Goya nomination).
Alberto’s most famous projects include Días de fútbol, Horas de luz, Bajo las estrellas, Casual Day, and Una pistola en cada mano. He made his directorial debut and starred in the movie Las furias o el rey. His filmography includes more than 70 projects, which makes him one of the most recognized Spanish actors.
3. Javier Cámara
Goya Nomination 2021: Best leading actor (mejor actor protagonista)
Movie: The People Upstairs (Sentimental)
Javier Cámara was born in 1967 in Albelda de Iregua, La Rioja, Spain. He took his first steps as an actor by performing plays at his school. Later, he moved to Madrid to study dramatic art at RESAD.
Javier made his professional theater debut in the early 90s and began his film career under the direction of Fernando Colomo in the movie Rosa Rosae (1993). Television made him famous, first in the role of Father Ángel in the series ¡Ay, Señor, Señor!, and later in Periodistas, and in the comedy 7 Vidas.
After achieving popularity on the small screen, he managed to work in the cinema in big box office hits such as Torrente, El Brazo Tonto De La Ley (1998) for which Javier was nominated to a Goya award for best new actor.
He has worked with renowned directors Pedro Almodóvar—in Hable Con Ella (2002) and La Mala Educación (2004)—and Isabel Coixet, in La Vida Secreta De Las Palabras (2005).
His filmography includes more than 67 projects. Javier is certainly one of the greatest Spanish actors of 2021.
4. Ernesto Alterio
Goya Nomination 2021: Best leading actor (mejor actor protagonista)
Movie: A Normal World (Un mundo normal)
Ernesto Alterio is an Argentine-Spanish actor. He was born in 1970 in Buenos Aires, Argentina but grew up in Madrid, Spain. He began university studies in biology and history, but was more drawn to study interpretation at the Cristina Rota School. Ernesto made his film debut acting in short films.
His first feature film was ¿Matar A Mi Mujer? Era una broma (1992), and his breakthrough as an actor came with Los años Bárbaros (1998), for which he was a candidate for the Goya award. Later, he acted in Cuarteto De La Habana (1999) and Rivales (2008).
On television, he has appeared in El Joven Picasso and telenovelas (soap operas) such as Todos los hombres son iguales, Vientos de agua, and La chica de ayer.
His filmography includes more than 70 film projects, making him one of the most famous modern Spanish actors.
5. David Verdaguer
Goya Nomination 2021: Best leading actor (mejor actor protagonista)
Movie: Uno para todos (“one for all”)
David Verdaguer was born in 1983 in Girona, Spain. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be an actor. His first performance at age 7 was onstage in El enfermo imaginario de Moliére. By 19, he was taking his first steps on Catalan television with brief roles in series such as El cor de la ciutat and Ventdelplà.
David’s debut on the big screen took place in “Three Days With the Family” in 2009, which was followed by 10,000km, the film that made him a rising star, nominated for the Goya for Best New Actor.
He has continued to intersperse theatrical successes with television productions such as Polònia, La Embajada, Requisitos para ser una persona normal, 100 metros, and Verano 1993 (for which he won his first Goya Award).
With a filmography that includes 41 film projects, this Spanish actor is a shining star.
6. Patricia López Arnaiz
Goya Award 2021: Best leading actress (mejor actriz protagonista)
Movie: Ane
The Spanish actress Patricia López Arnaiz was born in 1981 in Vitoria, Spain. After studying advertising at the University of the Basque Country, she decided to study acting at the Vitoria-Gasteiz “Ortzai” Theater School. She began her professional career with small roles in theater and films such as En 80 días (2010) and Un otoño sin Berlín (2015).
In 2017, she achieved greater popularity with the film El guardían invisible, playing the role of Rosaura Salazar, as well as leading roles in the series La otra mirada (2018-2019) and La peste (2018-2019).
Patricia recently starred in David Sañudo’s debut feature, Ane (2020). Her performance as Lide, a mother who undertakes a search with her ex-husband to find her kidnapped daughter earned her the Best Leading Actress prize at the 2021 Goya Awards.
7. Nathalie Poza
Goya Award 2021: Best supporting actress (mejor actriz de reparto)
Movie: Rosa’s Wedding (La boda de Rosa)
Nathalie Poza was born in 1972 in Madrid. She made her debut on the small screen in 1995 with Médico de la familia. She later appeared in other television productions including Periodistas (1999), Hermanas (1998), and Más que amigos (1997).
Since 2002, she has been a constant presence in the cinema, after appearing in El otro lado de la cama. In No sé decir adiós (2017), her career began to shine again when she won the Goya Award for Best Female Performance.
Later, she became involved in the adaptation project of La catedral del mar (2018) and Titán (2018), a Spanish Netflix original series. Then, she acted in Mientras dure la guerra, for which she got her next Goya Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In addition, she acted in Invisibles, La boda de Rosa, and La Unidad. In all, Nathalie has filmed more than 50 projects.
8. Jone Laspiur
Goya Award 2021: Best new actress (Mejor actriz revelación)
Movie: Ane
Jone Laspiur is a Spanish artist and actress who was born in 1995, in San Sebastián, Spain. As a child, she became involved in the arts by learning to play the piano and sing.
Eventually, she was drawn to acting and studied fine arts and theater. Jone made her film debut with the feature film Akelarre (2020), followed by the well-received film Ane (2020), for which she earned a Goya Award nomination in the Best New Actress category. Recently, the actress has been in the series Alardea (2020).
Although she’s been in just three films so far however, this rising star has already won a Goya Award!
9. Amaia Aberasturi
Goya Nomination 2021: Best leading actress (mejor actriz protagonista)
Movie: Akelarre
Amaia Aberasturi was born in 1997 in Vizcaya, Basque Country. She studied early childhood education and acting. She began her professional career by giving life to Leire in Los castigadores (2010).
Since then, Amaia has appeared in several short films and television series including Victoria, 3 de marzo (2018) and 45 Revoluciones (2019).
Her performance in Akelarre (2020) earned her great recognition. In the film, she plays Ana, a young woman accused of witchcraft. For her performance in this film, Amaia was nominated for her first Goya in 2021 in the category of Best Leading Actress.
10. Kiti Mánver
Goya Nomination 2021: Best leading actress (mejor actriz protagonista)
Movie: One Careful Owner (El inconveniente)
María Isabel Ana Mantecón Vernalte, better known as Kiti Mánver, is a Spanish cinema legend in the world of acting. Born in 1953 in Málaga, Spain, Kiti was instructed in the arts by her parents, who were admirers of theater and literature.
In love with theater and acting, Kiti studied at William Layton’s school and later trained with the actor and teacher Juan Carlos Corazza.
A respected actress whose career includes 117 film projects, Mánver has worked for directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Gerardo Vera, Álvaro Fernández, and Álex de la Iglesia.
She won the Goya award for best actress for her work on the film Todo por la pasta (1991). Her outstanding film career highlights include Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988), La flor de mi secreto (1995), Te doy mis ojos (2003), Los abrazos rotos (2009). Kiti has appeared in the series Gran Hotel (2011), Velvet (2014-2015), Las chicas del cable (2017), and La Casa de Papel (2017-2019), among others.
Who’s Your Favorite Spanish Actor?
Are you impressed by these super talented Spanish actors and actresses? Which ones were you familiar with and which do you want to watch perform after reading this article? Feel free to leave a comment and tell us who’s your favorite one—while practicing your Spanish skills!
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