Fátima Baeza Medina

Fátima Baeza Medina (born 22 May 1973) is a Spanish actress. A graduate of the Royal School of Dramatic Art (RESAD) in Madrid with a long background in the theatre, she became known to a wide audience for playing the nurse Esther García on the Telecinco medical drama Hospital Central, a role she held from the series' premiere in 2000 until 2011. Her character's relationship with the doctor Maca Fernández, played by Patricia Vico, became a milestone in Spanish television fiction and turned the two women into references for the LGBT community.

Early life and career

Baeza studied at the Royal School of Dramatic Art in Madrid and developed an extensive career on stage before working in television. She made early guest appearances on Spanish series such as Farmacia de guardia, as Sister Mariví, Hermanas and El comisario before joining the cast of Hospital Central.

Hospital Central

Baeza was part of the cast of Hospital Central from its 2000 premiere as the nurse Esther García. According to the actress, her role was originally minor and she was nearly written out of the series until a love story with the character Maca Fernández, played by the newly arrived Patricia Vico, gave her character continuity; the storyline became a hit and the two became icons for the LGBT community. After leaving the regular cast, she returned for a 2011 season finale that reunited several of the show's historic actors.

Later work

After Hospital Central, Baeza continued working steadily in television, with roles in series such as Desaparecidos, HIT and Madres. In the Antena 3 drama Heridas (2022) she played the teacher Carmen, a role she has described as a reflection of contemporary society, while also working on the production as an acting coach. Alongside her acting, Baeza has worked as an acting coach, including coaching child performers. She also appeared in the short film Tótem Loba, directed by Verónica Echegui, which won the Goya Award for Best Short Fiction Film in 2022.

In May 2019 she initiated and starred in the stage show Miss Mara. Quien se reserva no es artista, a production of the Teatro Circo Price in Madrid based on her own research about the Spanish trapeze artist Miss Mara, directed by the company Teatro en Vilo and performed alongside trapeze artists. In 2025 she returned to the stage opposite her partner, the actor Guillermo Ortega, in Frankie y Johnny en el claro de luna, the Terrence McNally play directed by Pilar Massa at the Teatro Lara in Madrid. The production was staged in the theatre's Sala Lola Membrives.

Personal life

Baeza has had a long-term relationship with the actor Guillermo Ortega, known for the series La que se avecina, with whom she has two children; the couple have also worked together on stage. Their daughter, Alma, who turned 18 in November 2025, has also begun a career in acting.

Filmography

The following filmography is based on her professional film database profile.

Television

Year Title Role Network 1991–1996 Farmacia de guardia Sister Mariví Antena 3 1998 Hermanas Telecinco 1999 El comisario Telecinco 2000–2011 Hospital Central Esther García Ruiz Telecinco 2011 Cheers Luisa Telecinco 2012 Toledo, cruce de destinos Mother Zoe Antena 3 2016 El secreto de Puente Viejo Yolanda Antena 3 2016 La sonata del silencio La 1 2017 La zona Carmen Movistar+ 2019 Hospital Valle Norte La 1 2020 Desaparecidos Telecinco 2020 Servir y proteger Carmen Gómez La 1 2020 Madres. Amor y vida Charo Telecinco 2020 30 monedas Vergara's mother HBO 2021 Vida perfecta Movistar+ 2021 HIT Sonsoles La 1 2022 Heridas Carmen Antena 3 2023 Mía es la venganza Elena del Pino Telecinco 2023–2024 Invisible Disney+

Film

Year Title Director 2001 Las flores de Bach Juan Flahn 2008 El amor se mueve Mercedes Afonso 2011 Maktub Paco Arango 2024 Padre no hay más que uno 4: Campanas de boda Santiago Segura

Short films

Year Title Director 2004 Campos de luz María Casal 2005 Lo que tú quieras oír Guillermo Zapata 2005 Queridos reyes magos Tirso Calero 2020 Tótem Loba Verónica Echegui 2023 El primer beso Miguel Lafuente