Spain has given fashion some of its most memorable faces, from 90s catwalk stars to actresses who front global beauty campaigns. Here are 10 famous Spanish models and actresses, and what they’re known for.
1. Inés Sastre
SaveInés Sastre, born in 1973 in Valladolid, started out in a TV commercial as a child and became one of Spain’s first international supermodels. She has appeared on the covers of magazines including Vogue and Elle, was a longtime face of Lancôme, and has acted in films such as Beyond the Clouds. She is also a UNICEF ambassador.
2. Judit Mascó
SaveJudit Mascó, born on October 12, 1969, in Barcelona, was one of the most in-demand Spanish models of the late 1980s and 1990s, working with designers including Armani and Valentino and appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She later became a TV presenter and author.
3. Penélope Cruz
SavePenélope Cruz, born on April 28, 1974, in Madrid, is Spain’s most famous actress and a long-standing face of luxury beauty and fashion, including Chanel and Lancôme. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) and is known for her many collaborations with director Pedro Almodóvar, including Volver and All About My Mother.
4. Elsa Pataky
SaveElsa Pataky, born in Madrid in 1976, began her career on Spanish TV and modeled for major brands before moving into international films, including Fast Five and Furious 7. She is married to Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.
5. Ana de Armas
SaveAna de Armas was born on April 30, 1988, in Cuba and moved to Spain at 18, where she became famous in the series El Internado. She went on to Hollywood roles in Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out and No Time to Die, and earned an Oscar nomination for playing Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. She holds Spanish citizenship and has been a face of Estée Lauder and Louis Vuitton.
6. María Valverde
SaveMaría Valverde, born on March 24, 1987, in Madrid, won the Goya Award for Best New Actress for La flaqueza del bolchevique. Her credits include Cracks, Broken Horses and Galveston. She is married to conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
7. Amaia Salamanca
SaveAmaia Salamanca rose to fame in the hit series Sin tetas no hay paraíso and went on to star in the period dramas Gran Hotel and Velvet. She has been the face of several Spanish brand campaigns, including Codorníu.
8. Ivana Baquero
SaveIvana Baquero, born on June 11, 1994, in Barcelona, won the Goya Award for Best New Actress at 12 for playing Ofelia in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth. She later starred in Netflix’s High Seas (Alta mar) and the fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles.
9. Andrea Duro
SaveAndrea Duro, born on October 14, 1991, in Madrid, became famous as Yolanda in the teen drama Física o química. She has since built a career as an actress and a popular face in Spanish fashion and beauty campaigns.
10. Claudia Moro
SaveClaudia Moro was crowned Miss Spain in 2008 and represented Spain at Miss Universe 2008. She has since worked as a model and TV presenter.
Final Thoughts
From supermodels like Inés Sastre and Judit Mascó to Oscar winner Penélope Cruz, Spanish women have left a lasting mark on fashion and film. For more, see our list of famous European models.
