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Carmen Maura

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Carmen Maura
Born
Carmen García Maura
AwardsBest Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)
2006 Volver

Carmen García Maura (born September 15, 1945, in Madrid) is a Spanish actress. In a career that has spanned several decades, Maura is best known for her collaborations with noted Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar.

Early life

Maura's immediate family are conservative lawyers but they are part of the influential and aristocratic Maura dynasty, whose members frequently combine theatre and political high office. Her great-uncle was Antonio Maura (prime minister of Spain on five occasions and noted oratorian), and three of her great uncles were Spanish cabinet ministers. Other relatives such as the Duke of Maura, Duchess of Medinasidonia or Fernandina, a film director, and several writers like Jorge Semprun.

Maura studied philosophy and literature at the École de Beaux-Arts in Paris. From 1964 to 1970, she was married to a lawyer, Francisco Forteza, with whom she has two children, Carmen and Pablo.

Career

Maura began her career as a cabaret singer. Maura's film career was launched in 1970 with an appearance in the film The Man in Hiding. This was followed by a major role in the 1977 film Tigres de papel. Although Maura has played dramatic roles, she is often noted for her comedic roles in films like Sal gorda (1984), Sé infiel y no mires con quién (1985) or Tata mía (1986).

Maura appeared in the first film by Pedro Almodóvar, Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón, in 1980. They went on to collaborate on five additional films in the 1980s, the last of which was Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), for which she was awarded the European Film Award "Felix" for best actress.

Maura and Almodóvar appear to have had a falling out after Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. [1] They did not work together for over a decade, but joined forces again in 2006 for Volver. 'Volver' means 'Return' in Spanish, and one of the many returns the title alludes to is Maura's return to Almodovar's movies. The female cast of "Volver" won a collective prize for Best Actress at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Maura also appeared in 800 Bullets where she played the Mother of the boy who is the main character of the story.

Maura is cited as a gay icon for the role of a transsexual she played in Almodóvar's La ley del deseo,[1] strengthening her image as a strong woman who is never afraid to break through boundaries.

Maura is the actress who has more "Goya Awards" (The Spanish equivalent to the American Oscar) in the category of Best Leading Actress.

She has won recently the "Locarno Excellence Award" for all her cinematographic career.

Filmography

Awards

Cannes Film Festival

Locarno International Film Festival

  • 2007-Won: Locarno Excellence Award

Goya Awards

  • 2007-Won: Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Volver (2006)
  • 2001-Won: Best Actress in a Leading Role for La comunidad (2000)
  • 2000-Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role for Lisboa (1999)
  • 1994-Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role for Sombras en una batalla (1993)
  • 1991-Won: Best Actress in a Leading Role for ¡Ay Carmela! (1990)
  • 1989-Won: Best Actress in a Leading Role for Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988).

Fotogramas de Plata

  • 2001-Won: Best Movie Actress for La comunidad (2000).
  • 1999-Won: Best TV Actress for A las once en casa (1998).
  • 1994-Nominated: Best Movie Actress for Sombras en una batalla (1993)
  • 1993-Nominated: Best Movie Actress for "La reina anónima" and also Entre el cielo y la tierra (1992)
  • 1991-Won: Best Movie Actress for ¡Ay Carmela! (1990)
  • 1991-Nominated: Best TV Actress for La mujer de tu vida (1990)
  • 1989-Won: Best Movie Actress for Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988)
  • 1988-Nominated: Best Movie Actress for La ley del deseo (1987)
  • 1987-Nominated: Best Movie Actress for Tata mía (1986) and also Matador (1986)
  • 1986-Nominated: Best Movie Actress for Sé infiel y no mires con quién (1985) and Extramuros (1985)
  • 1985-Won: Best Movie Actress for ¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto? (1984)
  • 1982-Won: Best Performance in a Television series for Esta noche (1991)
  1. ^ The Guardian (August 13, 2006). 'Sex was my way of coping with death' (interview with Pedro Almodóvar). Retrieved on 2008-06-14.
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