Elena Anaya

Elena Anaya Gutiérrez (born 17 July 1975) is a Spanish actress. She garnered public recognition in Spain for her performance in Sex and Lucia, which also earned her a nomination to the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actress. She starred in The Skin I Live In (2011), for which she won the Goya Award for Best Actress. She is also known for her roles as one of Dracula's brides in Van Helsing (2004), the Spanish tourist in Room in Rome (2010) and Doctor Poison in Wonder Woman (2017).

Early life Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain.

Career Anaya moved to Cádiz to train as an actress, after which she landed roles in África (her film debut) and Familia.

She first received international attention in 2001 for her role in the sexually explicit drama Sex and Lucia. She also had a small part the year after in Almodóvar's Talk to Her.

Her best-known Hollywood film role was as Aleera, one of Dracula's brides in 2004's Van Helsing. That same year, Anaya was named as one of European films' Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion.

In 2006, Anaya appeared in Justin Timberlake's music video for his single, "SexyBack".

She played supporting roles in international films such as Savage Grace (2007) and Cairo Time (2009), and then starring roles in 2010's Room in Rome and Almodóvar's 2011 The Skin I Live In.

In 2017, Anaya appeared as Doctor Poison in the superhero blockbuster film, Wonder Woman.

Personal life Anaya is a lesbian. Anaya and director were reportedly in a relationship from 2008 to 2013.

In November 2016, it was announced that Anaya was expecting her first child with her partner, Tina Afugu Cordero, a costume designer. In February 2017, Anaya gave birth to their son.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Notes 1996 África África 1997 Familia Luna 1998 Grandes ocasiones Susy Lágrimas negras (Black Tears) Alicia Finisterre, donde termina el mundo Laura 1999 Las huellas borradas (Fading Memories) Rosa 2000 El árbol del penitente Sonsoles El invierno de las anjanas (The Winter of the Fairies) Adelaida 2001 Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucia) Belén Sin noticias de Dios (Don't Tempt Me) Pili 2002 La habitación azul (The Blue Room) Ana Hable con ella (Talk to Her) Ángela Rencor (Rencor) Esther 2003 Dos tipos duros (Two Tough Guys) Tatiana 2004 Van Helsing Aleera second bride Ana y Manuel Ana 2005 Fragile Helen Perez Dead Fish Mimi 2006 Alatriste Angélica de Alquézar Stage Kiss Natalia 2007 Savage Grace Blanca Miguel & William Leonor In the Land of Women Sofia Buñuel 2008 Sólo quiero caminar Ana Mesrine: L'Instinct De Mort Sofia 2009 Hierro María Cairo Time Kathryn 2010 Habitación en Roma (Room in Rome) Alba Point Blank Nadia Pierret 2011 La piel que habito (The Skin I Live In) Vera Cruz 2012 Hijos de las nubes, la última colonia (Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony) Narrator 2013 Pensé que iba a haber fiesta Ana 2014 Todos están muertos (They Are All Dead) Lupe 2015 Lejos del mar (Far from the Sea) Marina La memoria del agua (The Memory of Water) Amanda Swung Alice 2016 The Infiltrator Gloria Alcaino Zipi y Zape y la isla del capitán (Zip & Zap and the Captain's Island) Miss Pam 2017 La cordillera (The Summit) Claudia Klein Wonder Woman Isabel Maru / Doctor Poison 2020 Rifkin's Festival Jo Rojas 2022 Jaula (The Chalk Line) Paula 2023 Fatum Comisaria Costa 2026 Rosebush Pruning Emma (Sisters) Chelo

Television Year Title Role Notes 2024 Las largas sombras (Past Lies) Rita Innato (Innate) Sara

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 16th Goya Awards Best Supporting Actress Sex and Lucia 11th Actors Union Awards Best Film Performance in a Secondary Role Sitges Film Festival Best Actress Hierro 25th Goya Awards Best Actress Room in Rome 26th Goya Awards Best Actress The Skin I Live In 21st Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role 17th Málaga Film Festival Silver Biznaga for Best Actress They Are All Dead 2nd Feroz Awards Best Main Actress in a Film Best Actress 29th Goya Awards Best Actress 24th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role 3rd Platino Awards Best Actress The Memory of Water 26th Iris Awards Best Actress Past Lies