Sergi López (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sergi López
López in 2020
Born	Sergi López i Ayats (1965-12-22) 22 December 1965 (age 59) Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalonia, Spain
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990s–present

Sergi López i Ayats (born December 22, 1965) is a famous Spanish actor. He is best known for his roles in movies like Dirty Pretty Things, Mine Alone, and the fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth.

López has had a successful career in both Spanish and French movies. He has won many awards for his acting, including a César Award for Best Actor, which is a major French film award.

Early Life and Acting School

Sergi López grew up in Vilanova i la Geltrú, a city in Catalonia, Spain. He first got into acting by taking part in local plays about the nativity story, called Els Pastorets. He then moved to Barcelona to study theater more seriously.

Later, he went to a famous acting school in Paris, France, called École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. There, he learned physical theatre, which uses body movement and expression to tell a story. This training helped him develop his unique acting style. Because he can speak Catalan, French, and Spanish, he has been able to work on movies and plays all over Europe.

A Career in Movies and on Stage

Starting in French Films

In 1991, López's movie career began when he met the French director Manuel Poirier. His first film was Poirier's La Petite amie d'Antonio (1992). He worked with Poirier on many other films, including Western (1997).

Western was a big international success. It won a major prize at the famous 1997 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar. For his role, López was nominated for a César Award. In 2000, he won the César Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien.

Becoming an International Star

In 1997, López also starred in the Catalan film Caresses. He became well-known to audiences around the world for his roles in movies like Dirty Pretty Things and Pan's Labyrinth.

In Pan's Labyrinth (2006), directed by Guillermo del Toro, he played the scary Captain Vidal. This role made him famous worldwide. He also worked with other well-known directors, like François Ozon in the films Ricky (2009) and Potiche (2010).

López at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2007.

Recent Work

López has continued to act in many different kinds of movies. He appeared in A Perfect Day (2015) with other famous actors. He also had roles in Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018) and Woody Allen's Rifkin's Festival (2020).

His work in 2024 and 2025 included films like Maldoror and La terra negra. His ability to speak multiple languages and his strong acting skills have made him a respected actor in both Spain and France.

Supporting His Community

Sergi López is also known for speaking up about social and political issues he cares about. He has been a strong supporter of the Catalan language and the idea of Catalan independence.

He has taken part in movements against racism and has shown support for refugees. López believes in a left-wing, or progressive, vision for an independent Catalonia. He has often joined others in signing public statements to support these causes. For example, in 2023, he signed a document asking for the Catalan language to become an official language of the European Union.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of Sergi López's most well-known films:

Work in the Theater

Even with a busy film career, Sergi López has always returned to the stage. In 2005, he wrote, directed, and starred in a one-man show called Non Solum.

He has also acted in famous plays by the writer Samuel Beckett, such as Endgame and Waiting for Godot. He has worked with important theater groups like the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. In 2010, he won Spain's Premio Max award for Best Actor for his work in the theater.

See also

In Spanish: Sergi López para niños