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Elena Anaya
Goyas 2024 - Elena Anaya.jpg
Anaya in 2024
Born
Elena Anaya Gutiérrez

(1975-07-17) 17 July 1975 (age 49)
Palencia, Spain
Occupation Actress
Years active 1995–present
Partner(s) Tina Afugu Cordero
Children 1

Elena Anaya Gutiérrez (born 17 July 1975) is a Spanish actress.

She starred in The Skin I Live In (2011), for which she won the Goya Award for Best Actress. She is also known for her roles as one of Dracula's brides in Van Helsing (2004), the Spanish tourist in Room in Rome (2010) and Doctor Poison in Wonder Woman (2017).

Early life

Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain. She is the youngest of three children. Her mother, Elena (Nena), is a housewife who later owned a boarding house in Palencia. Her father, Juan José Anaya Gómez (1934–2011), was an industrial engineer.

Career

Anaya moved to Cádiz to train as an actress, after which she landed roles in África and Familia.

In 2001, she had a small part in Almodóvar's Talk to Her.

Her best-known Hollywood film role was as Aleera, one of Dracula's brides in 2004's Van Helsing. That same year, Anaya was named as one of European films' Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion.

Elena Anaya
Anaya at the 2010 Malaga Film Festival

After some "quiet" years playing supporting roles in international films such as Savage Grace (2007) and Cairo Time (2009), Anaya roared back into prominence with a starring role in 2010's Room in Rome, and then a return to Almodóvar in 2011's The Skin I Live In.

In 2017, Anaya appeared as Doctor Poison in the superhero blockbuster film, Wonder Woman.

Personal life

Anaya and director Beatriz Sanchís [es] were reportedly in a relationship from 2008 to 2013.

In November 2016, it was announced that Anaya was expecting her first child with her partner, Tina Afugu Cordero, a costume designer. In February 2017, Anaya gave birth to their son.

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1996 África África
1997 Familia Luna
1998 Grandes ocasiones Susy
Lágrimas negras (Black Tears) Alicia
Finisterre, donde termina el mundo Laura
1999 Las huellas borradas (Fading Memories) Rosa
2000 El árbol del penitente Sonsoles
El invierno de las anjanas (The Winter of the Fairies) Adelaida
2001 Sin noticias de Dios (Don't Tempt Me) Pili
2002 La habitación azul (The Blue Room) Ana
Hable con ella (Talk to Her) Ángela
Rencor (Rencor) Esther
2003 Dos tipos duros (Two Tough Guys) Tatiana
2004 Van Helsing Aleera
Ana y Manuel Ana
2005 Fragile Helen Perez
Dead Fish Mimi
2006 Alatriste Angélica de Alquézar
Stage Kiss Natalia
2007 Savage Grace Blanca
Miguel & William Leonor
In the Land of Women Sofia Buñuel
2008 Sólo quiero caminar Ana
Mesrine: L'Instinct De Mort Sofia
2009 Hierro María
Cairo Time Kathryn
2010 Habitación en Roma (Room in Rome) Alba
Point Blank Nadia Pierret
2011 La piel que habito (The Skin I Live In) Vera Cruz
2012 Hijos de las nubes, la última colonia (Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony) Narrator
2013 Pensé que iba a haber fiesta Ana
2014 Todos están muertos (They Are All Dead) Lupe
2015 Lejos del mar Marina
La memoria del agua (The Memory of Water) Amanda
Swung Alice
2016 The Infiltrator Gloria Alcaino
Zipi y Zape y la isla del capitán (Zip & Zap and the Captain's Island) Miss Pam
2017 La cordillera (The Summit) Claudia Klein
Wonder Woman Isabel Maru / Doctor Poison
2020 Rifkin's Festival Jo Rojas
2022 Jaula (The Chalk Line) Paula
2023 Fatum Comisaria Costa
TBA Rosebush Pruning Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2024 Las largas sombras (Past Lies) Rita

Selected awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009
Sitges Film Festival Best Actress Hierro Won
2011
25th Goya Awards Best Actress Room in Rome Nominated
20th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role Nominated
2012
26th Goya Awards Best Actress The Skin I Live In Won
21st Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role Nominated
2014
17th Málaga Film Festival Silver Biznaga for Best Actress They Are All Dead Won
2015
2nd Feroz Awards Best Main Actress in a Film Nominated
29th Goya Awards Best Actress Nominated
24th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role Won
2016
3rd Platino Awards Best Actress The Memory of Water Nominated
2025
26th Iris Awards Best Actress Past Lies Nominated
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