Beauty Break: Maribel Verdú, Goya Darling and Birthday Girl

This post has been updated from its original form, years ago...

Those Goyas must be heavy!

Happy 50th birthday, today, to Spanish beauty Maribel Verdú of Y Tu Mama Tambien and Pan's Labyrinth fame. How many women can claim to have terrorized Snow White and been tag teamed by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, and knifed a dictator's officer right in the face? How many women have been nominated for a Goya eleven times and won twice*. Just Maribel, that's who... 

Maribel first broke through in the early 90s when she co-starred with Victoria Abril in the steamy romantic triangle Lovers: A True Story (1991) and the Academy Award winning Belle Epoque (1992) with Penélope Cruz but she's best known today for two international hits from the Aughts Y Tu Mama Tambien (2000)  and Pan's Labyrinth (2006). I'm always frustrated that her Goya winning turn in the silent Snow White film Blancanieves didn't win more international attention because that movie was delicious.

*Okay I haven't actually studied the Goya's (Spain's Oscars) and their statistics closely but Maribel was at one point the all time nominee champ (though Penelope Cruz has now surpassed her). Here's the list I could come up with. For fun I've included how many Almodóvar pictures these actresses have been in since he's the King of Actressexuals in Spain. It's pretty impressive that Verdú racked up all those nods without ever stepping foot in one of Pedro's pictures!  

GOYA's FAVORITE ACTRESSES
The Goyas started in 1986. The nominations normally arrive in December but who knows this season given the COVID-19 pandemic. 🔺 = upward movement in past four years.

1. 🔺 Penelope Cruz, 12 nominations / 3 wins    *most nominations* (6 Almodóvars)
2. Maribel Verdú, 11 nominations / 2 wins   (N/A)
3. Victoria Abril, 9 nominations / 1 win    (3 Almodóvars - all leading roles)
4. 🔺 Candela Peña, 7 nominations / 3 wins    (1 Almodóvar) 
5. Carmen Maura, 6 nominations / 4 wins  *tied for most wins* (8 Almodóvars)
6. 🔺Emma Suarez, 6 nominations / 3 wins   (1 Almodóvar)  
7. Chus Lampreave, 6 nominations / 1 win  *deceased*  (8 Almodóvars)
   Ariadna Gil, 6 nominations / 1 win    (N/A)
   Adriana Ozores, 6 nominations / 1 win    (N/A) 
8. Verónica Forqué, 5 nominations / 4 wins *tied for most wins*   (3 Almodóvars)
9. Maria Barranco, 5 nominations / 2 wins    (2 Almodóvars)
   🔺Lola Dueñas, 5 nominations / 2 wins    (5 Almodóvars)
10. Pilar López de Ayala, 5 nominations / 1 win    (N/A)
    Ana Belén, 5 nominations / 1 honorary    (N/A) 
    Terele Pávez, 5 nominations / 1 win    (N/A)
    🔺Nathalie Poza, 5 nominations / 1 win (1 Almodóvar)
11. Angela Molina, 5 nominations / 0 wins  (2 Almodóvars)
12. 🔺 Natalie de Molina, 4 nominations / 2 wins     (N/A)
13. Elena Anaya, 4 nominations / 1 win    (2 Almodóvars)
    Marta Etura, 4 nominations / 1 win    (N/A) 
    Elvira Mínguez, 4 nominations / 1 win    (N/A) 
    🔺Bárbara Lennie, 4 nominations / 1 win     (1 Almodóvar) 
14. Laia Marull, 3 nominations / 3 wins     (N/A)
15. Rosa Maria Sarda, 3 nominations / 2 wins    (1 Almodóvar) 
16. Belén Rueda, 3 nominations / 1 win    (N/A)
    🔺Belen Cuesta, 3 nominations / 1 win  (N/A)
    🔺Anna Castillo, 3 nominations / 1 win (N/A) 
    Ana Wagener, 3 nominations / 1 win    (N/A) 
    Rosana Pastor, 3 nominations / 1 win    (N/A) 
    Nora Navas, 3 nominations / 1 win     (N/A) 
    María León, 3 nominations / 1 win      (N/A) 
    Mercedes Sampietro, 3 nominations / 1 win    (N/A)
    🔺 Julieta Serrano, 3 nominations / 1 win    (6 Almodóvars) 
17. Loles Leon, 3 nominations / 0 wins    (3 Almodóvars)
    Blanca Portillo, 3 nominations / 0 wins    (2 Almodóvars)
    Verónica Sánchez, 3 nominations / 0 wins    (N/A)
    Inma Cuesta, 3 nominations / 0 wins    (1 Almodóvar)  
    Goya Toledo, 3 nominations / 0 wins     (N/A)
    Veronica Echegui, 3 nominations / 0 wins    (N/A) 
    Silvia Abascal, 3 nominations / 0 wins     (N/A)
    🔺Najwa Nimri, 3 nominations / 0 wins *also nominated for music categories (N/A) 
18. Cecilia Roth, 2 nominations / 2 wins      (7 Almodóvars) 
19. 🔺 Susi Sánchez, 2 nominations / 1 win  (4 Almodóvars)
    Geraldine Chaplin, 2 nominations / 1 win      (1 Almodóvar)
    Marian Alvarez, 2 nominations / 1 wins    (N/A)
    Concha Velasco, 2 nominations / 1 honorary    (N/A) 
    Amparo Rivelles, 2 nominations / 1 win *deceased*  (N/A) 
20. Rossy de Palma, 2 nominations / 0 wins (7 Almodóvars)
    Marisa Paredes, 2 nominations / 0 wins (5 Almodóvars) 
    Tina Sáinz, 2 nominations / 0 wins (N/A) 
    Aura Garrido, 2 nominations / 0 wins (N/A) 
    Vicky Peña, 2 nominations / 0 wins    (N/A) 
    Leonor Watling, 2 nominations / 0 wins  (1 Almodóvar)
21. Rafaela Aparacio, 1 nomination / 1 win / 1 honorary *deceased*    (N/A)

Comments

[Mike in Canada]

Love this woman! Gaël and Diego get all the attention in Y Tu (for obvious reasons) but the movie wouldn't work without her performance.

[Steven]

Truly one of the finest actresses in cinema.

[AR]

I really hope she does an Almodovar, she's wonderful.

[BVR]

Actually, Elena Anaya was in 2 Almodóvar movies. She played Dario Grandinetti's former lover in HABLE CON ELLA.

[Carlos]

Off the top of my head Candela Peña (from All about my mother) has been nolinated 6 times and won 3. Angela Molina (also in Blancanieves) has also been nominated 3 or 4 times I think (1 for Aldomovar's Live Flesh), though has never won.

[Peggy Sue]

Add one Almodóvar to Emma Suárez (Julieta)

[RJ]

I second AR's comment - I'd die to see her in an Almodóvar film.

In the interest of filling out your list... The great Candela Peña has been nominated 6 times and won 3 Goya awards - 2 wins in supporting and 1 for her only nod in lead. You'll remember her as the drug-addicted younger actress Nina in Todo sobre mi madre.

Also, Inma Cuesta has 3 nominations without a win. She has a small part in this year's Julieta, her first Almodóvar collaboration. She plays Ava, the sculptor. (For those that follow Spanish cinema, it was a huge deal when she lost the Best Actress Goya earlier this year.)

[NATHANIEL R]

thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've added about seven new women after further research.

[Peggy Sue]

RJ -- I totally predicted Natalia de Molina.

Ana Wagener's voice can be heard during a phone call in Los amantes pasajeros. She's the wife of one of the pilots.

There are two Almodóvar greats in the group of the two-time nominees: Marisa Paredes and Julieta Serrano.

[Bushwick]

Totally agree with you, Mike. With a lesser actress, the film wouldn’t work at all.

[ScottC]

Blancanieves, and her performance in it - so so so good.

[CCA]

Carmen Maura won four times (three lead and one supporting), so she ties with Verónica Forqué for most wins

[Feline Justice]

Why did she never work with Almodóvar? Does anybody know? Yesterday I was thinking that Sophia Loren never made a film with Fellini, which is also strange.

[Mirko]

Julieta Serrano is now a Goya winner thanks to Pain & Glory

[César Gaytán]

I was gonna say I love her bit part in La Zona (The Zone) by Rodrigo Plá, but each cast member of that movie works in a perfect synchrony with the others. The whole ensemble is remarkable.

[harmodio]

_Carmen Maura has won 4 Goya out of 6 nominations:
Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Won)
Ay Carmela! (Won)
Sombras en una batalla
Lisboa
La Comunidad (Won)
Volver (Won in Supporting)

_Candela Peña has been nominated 7 times, of which she has won 3.
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Dias Contados
Best New Actress: Dias Contados
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Todo Sobre mi Madre
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Te doy mis Ojos (Won)
Best Actress in Leading Role: Princesas (Won)
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Una pistola en cada mano (Won)
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Kiki, el amor se hace

_Natalia de Molina has been nominated four times already, winning twice:
Best New Actress: Vivir es facil con los ojos cerrados (Won)
Best Actress in Leading Role: Techo y Comida (Won)
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Quien te Cantara
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Adios

_Julieta Serrano has been nominated three times, winning this year precisely:
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Cuando vuelvas a mi lado
Best Actress in Supporting Role:Dolor y Gloria (Won)

[harmodio]

Trivia:

_Actress with the most nominations (the Goya's Meryl Streep)
Penelope Cruz (with 12 nominations, she won 3)

_Actress with the most Goya wins (the Goya's Katharine Hepburn)
Veronica Forque (4 wins of 5 nominations)
Carmen Maura (4 wins of 6 nominations)

_Actress with the most Goya nominations without winning (the Goya's Glenn Close)
Angela Molina (5 nominations)

_Actress who won two Goyas the same year:
Veronica Forque in 1988
La Vida Alegre (Leading)
Moros y Cristianos (Supporting)

Emma Suarez in 2018
Julieta (Leading)
La Proxima Piel (Supporting)

_Actresses nominated twice the same year for the same movie:
Ruth Gabriel
Best Actress in Leading Role: Dias Contados
Best New Actress: Dias Contados (Won)

Candela Peña
Best Actress in Supporting Role: Dias Contados
Best New Actress: Dias Contados

Note: After what happened with the actresses of Dias Contados, it was prohibited from the following year that actors and actresses could be nominated twice for the same performance in the same movie.

One of the most controversial rules is that to be nominated for acting you must be 16 years of age or older. This happened after 14-year-old Marina Comas won the Goya for Best New Actress for Pa Negre.
To give you an idea of the impact of that rule, let's see that Ivana Baquero, who won the Goya for Best New Actress for Pan's Labyrinth at 12 years of age, could not compete today.

[NATHANIEL R]

thank you. i fixed the stats that i had wrong (like carmen maura)

[Jesus Alonso]

Let's talk about how great this actress is... there are 4 times in which I considered her she gave the best female performance of the year, from what I saw, worldwide (that's it, she would have my Oscar):

1991: Best Supporting Actress, Amantes (Lovers), by Vicente Aranda
1997: Best Lead Actress: La Buena Estrella (Lucky Star), by Ricardo Franco
2002: Best Lead Actress (arguably you could consider her supporting in cathegory fraud): Y tu mamá también, by Alfonso Cuarón
2006: Best Supporting Actress (even thought she is a co-lead, in my opinion): El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth), by Guillermo del Toro

Aside from that, she could have been easily nominated for some other performances, specially for Blancanieves, by Pablo Berger, which is Spain's "The Artist" or Los Girasoles Ciegos (Blind Sunflowers) by José Luis Cuerda (one of the internationally unsung spanish masters and who wrote the original screenplay that should have won last year for Original Screenplay, Some Time Later - Tiempo Después).. Maribel Verdú is an international treasure, and a magnetic presence on screen... I wonder what could have happened if she had been taken to Hollywood earlier (her only Hollywood film, being "Tetro" by Francis Ford Coppola).

Woody Allen... why didn't you cast her in one of your films?