MIAMI, United States. – The renowned actress Marisa Paredes, an emblematic figure of Spanish cinema, died suddenly this Tuesday due to cardiorespiratory arrest, according to media from the European country reported. The popular “Almodóvar girl”, 78 years old, leaves behind a prolific career with more than 75 performances on the big screen.
Trained at the Madrid School of Dramatic Art, Paredes made her film debut very young, at just 14 years old, in the films Not tonight either by José Osuna, and 091 Police speaking, by José María Forqué. During the 1960s and 1970s he played numerous supporting roles, achieving greater visibility in the transition to the 80s with First film (1980), by Fernando Trueba.
His name, however, remained inextricably linked to that of the director Pedro Almodovar. Since its first appearance in between darkness (1983), Paredes embodied unforgettable characters: she was the diva Becky del Páramo in Far Heelsand the writer Amanda Gris in The flower of my secreta role that earned him a Goya nomination.
Later he would also participate in All about my mother, talk to her and The skin I live in. These collaborations boosted her international projection, leading her to participate in productions such as life is beautifulby Roberto Benigni, Deep Crimsonby Arturo Ripstein, and The devil’s backboneby Guillermo del Toro.
The strength of his artistic presence extended beyond Spanish cinema. Marisa Paredes worked under the direction of international authors such as Amos Gitai, Daniel Schmid, Philippe Lioret, Raoul Ruiz, Alain Tanner, Maria Sole Tognazzi, Cristina Comencini and Manoel de Oliveira.
Between 2000 and 2003 she served as president of the Spanish Film Academy, an institution that in 2018 awarded him the Goya of Honor. “This job is about taking it with absolute rigor and seriousness,” the actress expressed when receiving the award. His career was also recognized by the National Cinematography Award, the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts and various awards at international festivals.
In recent months, Paredes participated in the Collective Memory of Spanish Cinema project, promoted by the Academy itself. During an extensive interview, he stressed the value of freedom, education and culture as a fundamental legacy for societies. “Art is what remains,” he reflected on that occasion.
The president of the Academy, Fernando Méndez-Leite, regretted the death of Paredes and described her as one of the “most charismatic” Spanish actresses. He also praised his versatility in film, theater and television. “She has undoubtedly been one of the greatest actresses in Spanish cinema, a person loved and known by everyone,” emphasized Méndez-Leite.
At the time of his death, Paredes had the film’s premiere pending Emergency Exitby director Lluís Miñarro.
