Quick Facts
Biography
María Belén Rueda García-Porrero (born 16 March 1965) is a Spanish actress. She is best known for her roles as Lucía in the TV series Los Serrano, as Julia in The Sea Inside, for which she won a Goya Award and as Laura in The Orphanage for which she received another Goya Award nomination. Most recently she played the lead role in the movie Julia's Eyes.
Early life
Rueda was born in Madrid. Her father was a civil engineer and her mother was a ballet instructor. She is the second of three children; her siblings are named María Jesús (Chus) and Alfonso. She and her family moved to San Juan, Alicante when she was a child. When Rueda was 18 years old she moved to Madrid to study architecture, but she left the university when she met an Italian man whom she later married.
Career
Rueda returned to Madrid and worked as a salesperson and a model until she finally became a TV presenter. After that she worked as an actress on television, including the show Los Serrano, and eventually acted in films. She won a Goya Award in 2004 for her role as Julia in The Sea Inside. She received another Goya nomination for her role in the 2007 film, The Orphanage. Rueda played the lead role of the Spanish thriller Julia's Eyes, which is produced by Guillermo Del Toro. She also starred in Oriol Paulo's thriller The Body.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Médico de familia | 1997 | Clara Nadal | (TV Series) A Doctor in the Family |
| Journalists | 1998 | Clara Nadal | (TV Series; 1998–2002) Periodistas |
| 7 vidas | 2001 | Ana Hacha | (TV Series; 1 episode) 7 Lives |
| Rebound | 2001 | Elsa | (Short) Retruc |
| Los Serrano | 2003 | Lucía Gómez | (TV Series; 2003–08) Nominated—Fotogramas de Plata for Best Television Actress Nominated—Spanish Actors Union Award for Best Female Leading Performance Nominated—TP de Oro Award for Best Actress |
| The Sea Inside | 2004 | Julia | Mar adentro Cinema Writers Circle Award for Best New Artist Goya Award for Best New Actress Spanish Actors Union Award for Best Female Newcomer Nominated—ACE Award for Best Actress Nominated—Fotogramas de Plata for Best Film Actress |
| Savage Grace | 2007 | Pilar Durán | |
| The Orphanage | 2007 | Laura | El orfanato ACE Award for Best Actress Barcelona Film Award for Best Actress Fantasporto Award for Best Actress Fotogramas de Plata for Best Film Actress Nominated—Cinema Writers Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated—European Film Award for Best Actress Nominated—Goya Award for Best Actress Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress Nominated—Spanish Actors Union Award for Best Female Leading Performance |
| 8 Dates | 2008 | Elena | 8 citas |
| Spanish Movie | 2009 | Laura | |
| For the Good of Others | 2010 | Isabel | El mal ajeno |
| Julia's Eyes | 2010 | Julia | Los ojos de Julia Nominated—Fotogramas de Plata for Best Film Actress Nominated—Goya Award for Best Actress |
| The Princess of Eboli | 2010 | Ana of Eboli | (Mini Series) La princesa de Éboli |
| Don't Be Afraid | 2011 | Silvia's Mother | No tengas miedo |
| El Barco | 2011 | Leonor | (TV Series; 3 episodes) The Boat |
| The Body | 2012 | Mayka Villaverde | El Cuerpo |
| 7th Floor | 2013 | Delia | Séptimo |
| Ismael | 2013 | ||
| The Night My Mother Killed My Father | 2016 | Isabel Paris |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACE Awards | 2005 | Best Actress | The Sea Inside | Nominated |
| 2008 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Won | |
| Barcelona Film Awards | 2007 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Won |
| Cinema Writers Circle Awards | 2005 | Best New Artist | The Sea Inside | Won |
| 2008 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Nominated | |
| European Film Awards | 2008 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Nominated |
| Fantasporto Awards | 2008 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Won |
| Fotogramas de Plata | 2004 | Best Television Actress | Los Serrano | Nominated |
| 2005 | Best Film Actress | The Sea Inside | Won | |
| 2008 | The Orphanage | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Julia's Eyes | Nominated | ||
| Goya Awards | 2004 | Best New Actress | The Sea Inside | Won |
| 2007 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Julia's Eyes | Nominated | ||
| Saturn Awards | 2007 | Best Actress | The Orphanage | Nominated |
| Spanish Actors Union Awards | 2005 | Best Female Newcomer | The Sea Inside | Won |
| 2006 | Best Leadng Female Performance | The Serranos | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Best Female Leading Performance | The Orphanage | Nominated | |
| TP de Oro | 1994 | Best Female Presenter | Ta tocao | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Actress | The Seranos | Nominated |