Carmen Maura

María del Carmen García Maura (born 15 September 1945), known as Carmen Maura, is a renowned Spanish actress. Her expansive career, which spans over six decades, is studded with versatile roles, having starred in prominent films like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, ¡Ay Carmela!, Common Wealth, and Volver. Carmen holds the record for bagging the most Goya Awards for Best Actress, with 3 wins and two other nominations. Furthermore, she clinched a Cesar Award in 2013 and a Cannes Film Festival Award in 2006, marking her firm presence in the global cinema landscape.

Born and brought up in Madrid, Carmen was the descendant of the Count of Fuente Nueva de Arenzana, who used to inhabit the Palace of Arenzana in Madrid, currently the embassy of France. Carmen kickstarted her career as a cabaret singer before making her mark as an actress. Her breakthrough performance arrived in Pedro Almodóvar's first film, Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón. Their collaboration continues and reached its pinnacle with Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Carmen is also heralded as a gay icon for her daring role of a transgender person in Almodóvar's Law of Desire. She has always been recognized as a strong woman with an unwavering courage to shatter boundaries.