Irene Escolar

Irene Escolar (full name Irene Escolar Navarro) is a prominent Spanish actress whose career spans cinema, theatre, and television. Born on 19 October 1988 in Madrid, she emerged from a distinguished artistic lineage that includes her great‑aunt Julia Gutiérrez Caba and great‑uncle Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, tracing back to the 19th‑century actor Pascual Alba. Her parents, screenwriter Lourdes Navarro and producer José Luis Escolar, nurtured her early fascination with performance, allowing her to enter professional acting in 2003. Over the next two decades, Escolar built an impressive résumé of 17 films and 25 stage productions, earning critical acclaim for her versatility and emotional depth. In 2016 she captured the Goya Award for Best New Actress for her role in An Autumn Without Berlin, a performance that also secured her the Irizar Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. In addition to her on‑screen work, she ventured into television leadership, headlining Movistar +’s first international series Dime Quién Soy in 2020, and co‑creating the HBO Europe project Escenario 0 alongside Bárbara Lennie, where she also serves as executive producer. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Escolar brings a multilingual sensibility to her roles, often portraying characters that navigate cultural intersections. Her theatre contributions remain a cornerstone of her artistic identity, with numerous acclaimed stage appearances that demonstrate a commitment to the craft beyond Hollywood‑style fame. As of 2025, she continues to expand her repertoire, balancing acting, producing, and advocacy for Spanish cinema, solidifying her status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary European entertainment.