Maura, Carmen (1945–)

Spanish actress. Born Carmen García Maura, Sept 15, 1945, in Madrid, Spain; great-niece of politician Antonio Maura; m. Francisco Forteza (lawyer), 1964 (div. 1970); children: 2.

International star, gained initial fame on tv, working as presenter for popular "Esta Noche" (Tonight) and "Encantada de Conocerte" (Delighted to Meet You, 1970s); made 1st film appearance in successful Tigres de Papel (1977); came to prominence in comic roles in such films as Sal Gorda (Rock Salt, 1984), Sé Infiel y No Mires con Quién (Be Unfaithful and Don't Look with Whom, 1985) and Tata Mía (My Daddy, 1986); worked on 7 films with Pedro Almodóvar, including Pepi, Luci Bom y otras Chicas del Montón (Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls from the Heap, 1980) and Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, 1988), for which she won European Film Award for Best Actress; appeared in Carlos Saura's ¡Ay Carmela! (1990), Techiné's Alice y Martín (1998) and Iglesia's La Comunidad (Common Wealth, 2000); won Goya Award (1988, 1990, 2000) and European Film Festival's Best Actress Award for ¡Ay Carmela! (1990); on tv, appeared in "Cervantes" (mini-series, 1980), "A las Once en Casa" (At Home at 11, series, 1998), and "Famosos y Familia" (series, 1999); other films include El Espíritu (The Spirit, 1969), Don Juan (1974), ¿Qué He Hecho Yo para MercerEsto? (What Have I Done to Deserve This?, 1984), Matador (1986), Sur la Terre Comme au Ciel (Between Heaven and Earth, 1992), Cómo Ser Mujer y No Morir en el Intento (How to Be a Woman and Not Die Trying, 1991), El Palomo Cojo (The Lame Pigeon, 1995), El Cometa (The Comet, 1999), Carretera y Manta (To The End of the Road, 2000), Arroz y Tartana (Rice and Tartana, 2003) and Reinas (Queens, 2005).