Ana Belén

María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta (born 27 May 1951), known professionally as Ana Belén, is a Spanish actress and singer. She and her husband are considered symbols of the Spanish Transition, and her songs and albums often feature boldly-titled works with social and political content.

Life and career Born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid, María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta is the eldest of three siblings. Cuesta made her feature film debut in Zampo y yo (1966) starring as a girl named Ana Belén alongside Fernando Rey; At this time she also started her career as a singer, releasing several successful albums. She appeared in various films: La petición by Pilar Miró; Emilia parada y fonda by Angelino Fons; El buscón by Luciano Berriatúa; La oscura historia de la prima Montse by Jordi Cadena; La criatura by Eloy de la Iglesia, and Sonámbulos by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón.

In 1986, Ana Belén, alongside songwriter Víctor Manuel, performed the song "La Puerta de Alcalá". The single remained at the top position in Spain for seven weeks in summer 1986. In 1991, she recorded Como una novia, her first album that did not include any songs composed or adapted by Víctor Manuel. In 1997, she released a new album, Mírame, of her own songs and duets and which went on to become the best-selling album of her solo career. In autumn of 1996, she – along with Joan Manuel Serrat, Miguel Ríos, and Víctor Manuel – set ticket sales records throughout Spain with their "El gusto es nuestro" tour. In 1998, Belen commemorated Federico García Lorca's centenary by releasing two albums under the title of Lorquiana, a collection of poems and popular songs by Lorca. The following year another album was released Ana Belén y Miguel Ríos cantan a Kurt Weill, and she had a role in the Tele 5 series, Petra Delicado.

In 2024, for his comeback to cinema after an appearance in The Queen of Spain (2016) and her first film leading role since Things That Make Living Worthwhile (2004), Ana Belén joined the shooting of Islands.

Discography 1965 Zampo y yo Qué difícil es tener 18 años 1973 Al diablo con amor (BSO) Tierra 1975 Calle del Oso 1976 La paloma del vuelo popular 1977 De paso 1979 Ana Lo mejor de Ana Belén 1980 Con las manos llenas 1982 Ana en Río 1983 Victor y Ana en vivo 1984 Géminis 1985 BSO La corte de faraón 1986 Para la ternura siempre hay tiempo (with Víctor Manuel) Grandes éxitos 1987 BSO Divinas palabras 1988 A la sombra de un león 1989 26 grandes canciones y una nube blanca Rosa de amor y fuego 1991 Como una novia 1993 Veneno para el corazón 1994 Mucho más que dos 1996 20 exitos El gusto es nuestro 1997 Mírame 1998 Lorquiana. Popular songs of Federico García Lorca Lorquiana. Poems by Federico García Lorca 1999 Cantan a Kurt Weill (with Miguel Ríos) 2001 Peces de ciudad Dos en la carretera 2003 Viva L`Italia 2006 Una canción me trajo aquí 2007 Anatomía 2008 Los grandes éxitos... y mucho más 2011 A los hombres que amé 2015 Canciones regaladas (with Víctor Manuel) 2018 Vida 2021 Ana Belén 70 2025 Vengo con los ojos nuevos

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Zampo y yo Ana Belén Feature film debut Españolas en París (Spaniards in Paris) Isabel Separación matrimonial Tormento (Torment) Amparo El amor del capitán Brando (The Love of Captain Brando) Aurora Pilar La petición (The Request) Teresa Emilia... parada y fonda Emilia El buscón La bailarina La criatura Cristina Sonámbulos (Sleepwalkers) Ana Cuentos eróticos La colmena (The Beehive) Victorita Demonios en el jardín (Demons in the Garden) Ana La corte de Faraón (The Court of the Pharaoh) Lota / Mari Pili Sé infiel y no mires con quién (Be Wanton and Tread No Shame) Rosa Beatriz Arteche La casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba) Adela Divinas palabras (Divine Words) Mari Gaila Alejandra El vuelo de la paloma (The Flight of the Dove) Paloma Director Ángeles Gutiérrez Rosa Rosae Rosa El marido perfecto Tirano Banderas (Banderas, the Tyrant) Lupita La pasión turca (The Turkish Passion) Desideria Libertarias Pilar El amor perjudica seriamente la salud (Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health) Diana Antigua vida mía (Antigua, My Life) Josefa Ferrer Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena (Things That Make Living Worthwhile) Hortensia La reina de España (The Queen of Spain) Islas (Islands) Amparo Lamar

Television

Year Series/Program Episode Notes 1970 Teatro de siempre La comedia nueva 1970 Teatro de siempre Hamlet en los suburbios 1970 Teatro de siempre Los caprichos de Mariana 1970 Pequeño estudio La trampa 1970 Hora once El extraño secreto de Shalken, el pintor 1971 Hora once Eleonora 1971 Juegos para mayores La finca 1971 Estudio 1 Retablo de las mocedades del Cid 1972 Estudio 1 Romeo y Julieta 1980 Fortunata y Jacinta 1999 Petra delicado 2017 Traición 2023 Un cuento perfecto

Stage Romeo y Julieta despiertan… (2023/2024) Antonio y Cleopatra (2021) Eva contra Eva (2021/2022) Medea (2015/2016). Kathie y el hipopótamo (2013/2015) Electra (2012) Fedra (2007, 2009/2010) Diatriba de amor contra un hombre sentado (2004/2005) Defensa de dama (2002) La bella Helena (1995/1996) La gallarda (1992) El mercader de Venecia (1991/1992) Hamlet (1989) La casa de Bernarda Alba (1984) La hija del aire (1982) Tío Vania (1979) Antígona (1975) Ravos (1972) Sabor a miel (1971) Los niños (1970) Te espero ayer (1969) Don Juan Tenorio (1969) Medida por medida (1968) Las mujeres sabias (1968) El sí de las niñas (1967) El rufián castrucho (1967) El rey Lear (1966) Numancia (1965)

Awards

1971 Best TV actress for Retablo de las mocedades del Cid Fotogramas Award 1972 Special mention for Morbo San Sebastián International Film Festival 1980 Best TV actress for Fortunata y Jacinta Fotogramas de Plata 1980 Best actress for Fortunata y Jacinta TP de Oro 1980 Best actress for La Corte del Faraón Bronce 1980 Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres 1987 Best actress for La Casa de Bernarda Alba and Divinas palabras Fotogramas de Plata 1988 Nominated for Best actress for Miss Caribe Goya Awards 1989 Nominated for Best actress for El vuelo de la Paloma Goya Awards 1991 Nominated for Best director for Como ser mujer y no morir en el intento Premios Ondas 1991 Nominated for Best director debut for Como ser mujer y no morir en el intento Goya Awards 1994 Best song for Contaminame Premios Ondas 1994 Nominated for Best actress for La Pasión Turca Goya Awards 1994 Best Actress for La Pasión Turca Goya Awards 1995 Gold Medal from the Spanish Cinema Academy 1995 Best theatre actress for La bella Helena Fotogramas de Plata 1996 Cadena Dial Award 1997 Best Female soloist. Carlos Gardel Awards 1997 Best actress El amor perjudica seriamente la salud Festival de Peñíscola 1997 Silver Lighthouse Award. Festival de Alfás del Pí 1997 Best Tour El gusto es nuestro Spanish Music Awards 1998 Nominated for Best Spanish female soloist for Lorquiana Premios Amigo 2000 William Layton Award 2001 Woman of the Year. Premios Elle 2001 Nominated Best Spanish female soloist for Peces de ciudad Premios Amigo 2002 Nominated Best female soloist for Peces de ciudad Latin Grammy Awards 2002 Runner up Defensa de dama Premios Mayte of Theatre 2003 Homage by the Instituto Cervantes of Toulouse 2004 Nominated for Best actress Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena Goya Awards 2004 Nominated for Best actress Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena Fotogramas de Plata 2004 Nominated for Best actress Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena Spanish Actors' Union 2004 Best actress Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena Premios Turia 2006 Málaga Award. Film Festival of Málaga 2007 Fine Arts Golden Medal presented by the Spanish royal family at Toledo Cathedral 2015 Latin Grammy Awards for Musical Excellence. 2017 Honorary Goya Award.