Itsaso Arana

Itsaso Arana Baztan (born 20 August 1985 in Tafalla, Navarre, Spain) is a multifaceted Spanish actress, screenwriter, and emerging director whose career has been marked by a blend of theatrical innovation and compelling screen performances. After completing a degree in Interpretación textual at the prestigious Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático (RESAD) in Madrid, she co‑founded the avant‑garde theatre company La Tristura together with two fellow alumni, a venture that quickly earned a reputation for its poetic realism and daring narrative structures. Through La Tristura, Arana honed her craft both on stage and behind the scenes, writing and performing in original productions that explored themes of identity, memory, and social exile. Transitioning to screen work, Arana debuted in cinema with supporting roles in independent films such as The Cliff and Seventeen, where her nuanced portrayals attracted critical attention for their emotional depth. She subsequently secured recurring parts in widely watched television series, including the period drama 14 de abril. La República, the dark comedy Vergüenza, the high‑seas adventure series High Seas, as well as the historical miniseries Dime Quién Soy: Mistress of War and the thriller Reyes de la noche. In each project she consistently demonstrates a capacity for both dramatic intensity and subtle humor, often infusing her characters with a lived‑in authenticity that resonates with diverse audiences. In 2022 Arana expanded her artistic repertoire by directing her first feature film, The Girls Are Alright, a story that interweaves personal resilience with contemporary feminist discourse; she also appears on‑screen, melding her directing vision with her acting expertise. The film’s production marked a pivotal moment in her career, underscoring her evolution from performer to auteur. Today, Itsaso Arana continues to explore new narrative territories, balancing her roles as actress, writer, and director while contributing to Spain’s vibrant cultural landscape.