Paco León

Francisco León Barrios, known as Paco León is a Spanish actor, producer, director, screenwriter and activist.

Born in Seville, León began his career in television comedy roles in Andalusian regional productions. Following appearances in sketch show , he became popular in Spain for his performance from 2005 to 2014 in sitcom Aída, portraying Luisma, a good-natured rehabilitated drug addict. In addition to his acting career, he has also pursued an activity as a filmmaker and show creator, starting with his debut feature Carmina or Blow Up (2012), for which he was nominated to the Goya Award for Best New Director. He has since featured in series such as The House of Flowers and Arde Madrid (also show creator) and films such as Kiki, Love to Love (also director).

He is also a prominent campaigner for HIV/AIDS causes.

Career León's first roles were in comedy television, on Mariquilla Ríe Perlas and Castillos en el aire in 1999. These played on Canal Sur, the channel of Andalusia. León has had success in theatre throughout his career, first appearing on stage in 2001. He moved to Madrid in 2003 to continue his career, where his first big job was impersonating personalities on Homo Zapping, where he was noticed for popular imitations of women like Anne Igartiburu and Raquel Revuelta. He is best known for playing Luisma, a recovering drug addict, on Aída, a role he played for nine years and which garnered him many Best Actor awards. His third directorial feature was Kiki, Love to Love, in which he stars and was similarly multi-nominated. Fernández also notes how both León and Almodóvar are influenced by the women in their lives, that they both often work with a sibling, and celebrate their mothers in their films. Penned alongside Javier Gullón, it consists of a loose adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In 2024, it was reported that Paco León was set to direct and co-write a film titled Aída y vuelta involving the return of the beloved Aída characters, due to begin filming in the first trimester of 2025.

Personal life León's mother is . He has one sister, María León, who is also an actress. Both his mother and sister starred as characters based on themselves in the films Carmina or Blow Up (2012) and Carmina and Amen (2014), which Paco wrote and directed. María and Paco also play siblings in The House of Flowers. The couple have been together since 2006 and wrote the screenplay for Arde Madrid together. They have a daughter (born 2010), and Costa's son Eloi (born c. 1994) is León's stepson. and actively campaigns for HIV/AIDS causes. He has several friends living with the disease and has worked with organisations including Fundación Triángulo, Apoyo Positivo, StopSIDA, and the Fight Against AIDS Foundation since at least 2009, which largely offer support to the LGBT+ community in Spain, as well as fundraising for the work of eminent HIV researcher Bonaventura Clotet. he posted a video running naked across a golf course to celebrate a million followers on Instagram in 2019, following this up with more nudes. He is a relatively private person and does not often give press interviews.

Short films La grieta by Enrique López de Haro Días rojos (2004) Con lengua (2006) by Anna R. Costa Espagueti western (2007) (Voice)

Television Castillos en el aire (1999) on Canal Sur Jet Lag (2000) Moncloa, digame on Telecinco, FDF Homo Zapping on Antena 3 TV (2003–2005) 7 vidas on Telecinco (2004, 2005) Aída on Telecinco (2005-2014) Planeta Finito on La Sexta (2007) Ácaros on Cuatro (2007) La peste on Movistar+ (2017) The House of Flowers on Netflix (2018) Arde Madrid (Madrid on Fire), Movistar (2018) Blowing Kisses, on Star (2021) Drag Race España, on ATRESplayer Premium (2023)

Voice acting

Film Year Title Role Publisher Madagascar Alex Spain's Spanish dub Valiant Valiant Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Alex Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Sing Miss Crawly

As director Film

Short film Year Title Director Writer Notes 2013 La Vuelta a la TortillaContent branded short film 2014 Vaca Paloma 2020VecinoooContent branded short film Also cinematographer, art director, sound, lighting, camera operator and props

Television Year Title Creator Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Notes 2006Ácaros TV Series; 26 episodes 2018Arde Madrid TV miniseries; 8 episodesAlso casting director

Music video Year Title Artist 2020 Lo que te falta Soleá MorenteOjos de serpiente Dora Postigo

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result 2006 15th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Television Actor in a Leading Role Aída 2013 27th Goya Awards Best New Director Carmina or Blow Up 2017 31st Goya Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Kiki, Love to Love 2019 28th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Actor in an International Production The House of Flowers 2020 29th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Actor in an International Production 2023 2nd Carmen Awards Best Actor Staring at Strangers Best Adapted Screenplay Rainbow 4th Carmen Awards Best Actor Babies Don't Come with Instructions