Marisa Paredes obit

Marisa Paredes, Actress in Pedro Almodóvar Films, Dies at 78

She starred for her Spanish countryman in ‘High Heels,’ ‘The Flower of My Secret,’ ‘The Skin I Live In’ and more.

 She was not on the list.

Marisa Paredes, the admired Spanish actress who collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar in such films as The Flower of My Secret, All About My Mother and The Skin I Live In, has died. She was 78.

Her death was announced Tuesday by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, which called her one of the country’s “most iconic actors … her body of work was defined by women who were strong, ambivalent, broken, passionate, enigmatic, but who were, above all, very human.”

Almodóvar told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE that “it is as if I woke up from a bad dream … I am struggling to come to terms with Marisa’s death.” In their country, she was known as “an Almodóvar girl.”

Paredes also portrayed Roberto Benigni’s socialite mother-in-law in Life Is Beautiful (1997) and the head of the orphanage in Guillermo del Toro’s horror film The Devil’s Backbone (2001), set during the Spanish Civil War.

She and Almodóvar first worked together in Dark Habits (1983), where she played the murdering LSD-using Sister Manure, and they reunited for High Heels (1991), in which she starred as the torch singer Becky.

Paredes earned a Goya Award nomination for her turn as a woman resistant to writing romance novels in The Flower of My Secret (1995). Also for Almodóvar, she played an actress in All About My Mother (1999), a party guest in Talk to Her (2002) and the servant and mother of Antonio Banderas’ mad scientist in The Skin I Live In (2011).

“Heartbroken by the passing of Marisa Paredes, a great lady of acting,” Banderas wrote on social media. “Dear friend, you have left us too soon.”

Born in Madrid on April 3, 1946, Paredes was raised near the renowned Teatro Español in the city and appeared in her first films when she was 14. After years on the stage and on television, she had a breakthrough thanks to her turn in Fernando Trueba’s directorial debut, the comedy Ópera Prima (1980).

She was nominated for her first Goya for Cara de acelga (1987).

Paredes served as president of Spain’s film academy from 2000-03 and received an honorary Goya in 2018.

 

Actress

Emergency Exit

Post-production

2025

 

Avetimología (2024)

Avetimología

Short

(voice)

2024

 

Vestidas de azul (2023)

Vestidas de azul

7.4

TV Mini Series

República

2024

2 episodes

 

Las cartas perdidas (2021)

Las cartas perdidas

7.0

2021

 

Rodolfo Sancho and Carolina Crescentini in De sable et de feu (2019)

De sable et de feu

5.6

Lady Williams

2019

 

Blanca Suárez, Amaia Salamanca, Belén Cuesta, and Macarena García in Despite Everything (2019)

Despite Everything

5.4

Carmen

2019

 

Marisa Paredes, Alex Brendemühl, Bárbara Lennie, and Joan Botey in Petra (2018)

Petra

6.7

Marisa

2018

 

Latin Lover (2015)

Latin Lover

6.1

Ramona

2015

 

Silencios (2014)

Silencios

3.8

Short

Anciana

2014

 

Luna Lozic in Dreamland (2013)

Dreamland

6.7

Maria

2013

 

Photo (2012)

Photo

5.2

Pilar

2012

 

Lines of Wellington (2012)

Lines of Wellington

7.1

TV Mini Series

D. Filipa Sanches

2012

3 episodes

 

John Malkovich in Lines of Wellington (2012)

Lines of Wellington

6.0

D. Filipa Sanches

2012

 

Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya in The Skin I Live In (2011)

The Skin I Live In

7.6

Marilia

2011

 

Catherine Deneuve, Marisa Paredes, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Marina Foïs, Géraldine Pailhas, and Jean-Baptiste Lafarge in His Mother's Eyes (2011)

His Mother's Eyes

6.0

Judit Canalès

2011

 

Fernando Gil and Amaia Salamanca in Felipe y Letizia (2010)

Felipe y Letizia

4.5

TV Mini Series

Sofía de Grecia

2010

2 episodes

 

Gigola (2010)

Gigola

5.1

Odette

2010

 

The God of Wood (2010)

The God of Wood

5.7

María Luisa

2010

 

Amores locos (2009)

Amores locos

5.8

Ana

2009

 

1ª Vez 16 mm (2008)

1ª Vez 16 mm

5.2

Valeria Kapa

2008

 

Monica Bellucci, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Kseniya Rappoport in The Man Who Loves (2008)

The Man Who Loves

5.6

Dottoressa Campo

2008

 

After the Rain (2007)

After the Rain

6.8

TV Movie

Directora executiva

2007

 

El camino de Ana (2007)

El camino de Ana

6.6

Short

Ana

2007

 

Four Last Songs (2007)

Four Last Songs

5.9

Veronica

2007

 

Magic Mirror (2005)

Magic Mirror

6.7

Monja

2005

 

Queens (2005)

Queens

6.5

Reyes

2005

 

Cold Winter Sun (2004)

Cold Winter Sun

6.4

Raquel

2004

 

Dans le rouge du couchant (2003)

Dans le rouge du couchant

5.4

Clara

2003

 

Una preciosa puesta de sol (2003)

Una preciosa puesta de sol

6.0

Rosario

2003

 

Talk to Her (2002)

Talk to Her

7.9

Invitada Fiesta (uncredited)

2002

 

Imanol Arias and Marisa Paredes in Savages (2001)

Savages

6.4

Berta

2001

 

Fernando Tielve in The Devil's Backbone (2001)

The Devil's Backbone

7.4

Carmen

2001

 

Leo (2000)

Leo

5.9

Mujer en el metro (uncredited)

2000

 

Jonah and Lila, Till Tomorrow (1999)

Jonah and Lila, Till Tomorrow

6.1

María

1999

 

Salma Hayek, Marisa Paredes, and Fernando Luján in No One Writes to the Colonel (1999)

No One Writes to the Colonel

6.6

Lola

1999

 

All About My Mother (1999)

All About My Mother

7.8

Huma Rojo

1999

 

Señores de Gardenia (1998)

Señores de Gardenia

5.1

Short

Susana

1998

 

Talk of Angels (1998)

Talk of Angels

5.8

Doña Consuelo

1998

 

Le serpent a mangé la grenouille (1998)

Le serpent a mangé la grenouille

5.5

Madame Moreau

1998

 

Préférence (1998)

Préférence

5.9

La mère

1998

 

Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, and Giorgio Cantarini in Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Life Is Beautiful

8.6

Madre di Dora

1997

 

Doctor Chance (1997)

Doctor Chance

5.5

Elise von Sekt

1997

 

Deep Crimson (1996)

Deep Crimson

7.2

Irene Gallardo

1996

 

Marcello Mastroianni in Three Lives and Only One Death (1996)

Three Lives and Only One Death

6.8

María

1996

 

The Flower of My Secret (1995)

The Flower of My Secret

7.0

Leo

1995

 

La nave de los locos (1995)

La nave de los locos

6.7

Julia Márquez

1995

 

Cronaca di un amore violato (1995)

Cronaca di un amore violato

5.4

Madre de Luca

1995

 

Tombés du ciel (1993)

Tombés du ciel

6.2

Suzana, la femme d'Arturo

1993

 

Imanol Arias, Marisa Paredes, and Gabino Diego in Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas (1993)

Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas

5.6

Olga

1993

 

La reina anónima (1992)

La reina anónima

5.1

Desconocida

1992

 

Arielle Dombasle and Andréa Ferréol in Off Season (1992)

Off Season

6.4

Sarah Bernhardt

1992

 

La última respuesta

6.6

Short

Ella

1992

 

Las chicas de hoy en día (1991)

Las chicas de hoy en día

6.5

TV Series

Manuela Quiñones

1991–1992

5 episodes

 

Golem, l'esprit de l'exil (1992)

Golem, l'esprit de l'exil

5.6

Le Maîtresse de Cérémonie

1992

 

High Heels (1991)

High Heels

7.0

Becky del Páramo

1991

 

Continental (1989)

Continental

6.0

Xulia

1989

 

Delirios de amor (1989)

Delirios de amor

6.4

TV Series

Carmen

1989

1 episode

 

El olivar de Atocha (1989)

El olivar de Atocha

7.8

TV Series

Vicenta

1989

26 episodes

 

La última cena... del 88 (1988)

La última cena... del 88

6.3

TV Movie

María Luisa

1988

 

Gatos en el tejado (1988)

Gatos en el tejado

7.3

TV Series

Julia Torres

1988

1 episode

 

Tu novia está loca (1988)

Tu novia está loca

4.7

Adela

1988

 

Mientras haya luz (1987)

Mientras haya luz

5.9

Marisa

1987

 

Marisa Paredes, Amparo Baró, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, Miguel Rellán, and Amparo Soler Leal in Cara de acelga (1987)

Cara de acelga

6.0

Olga

1987

 

Tata mía (1986)

Tata mía

6.2

Paloma

1986

 

Delirios de amor (1986)

Delirios de amor

5.5

Invitada Fiesta (segment "Delirio 3") (uncredited)

1986

 

In a Glass Cage (1986)

In a Glass Cage

6.7

Griselda

1986

 

El baile

TV Series

Adela

1985

6 episodes

 

Enric Majó in Goya (1985)

Goya

7.3

TV Mini Series

Duquesa de Osuna

1985

6 episodes

 

Escrito para TV

TV Mini Series

Carmen

1984

1 episode

 

Bicycles Are for the Summer (1984)

Bicycles Are for the Summer

7.3

Doña María Luisa

1984

 

Dark Habits (1983)

Dark Habits

6.5

Sor Estiercol

1983

 

Estudio 1 (1965)

Estudio 1

7.9

TV Series

Mrs. Cheveley

Peregrina

Ángela ...

1967–1982

25 episodes

 

La máscara negra (1982)

La máscara negra

7.3

TV Series

1982

1 episode

 

Cervantes (1981)

Cervantes

7.8

TV Series

Ana Franca

1981

9 episodes

 

Patricia Adriani in Sus años dorados (1980)

Sus años dorados

6.0

Carmen

1980

 

Opera Prima (1980)

Opera Prima

6.3

Zoila Gómez

1980

 

Novela (1963)

Novela

5.5

TV Series

Anna

Doña Xima

Noemi ...

1966–1978

41 episodes

 

Ramón Corroto, Alberto Fernández, Joan Llaneras, and Emiliano Redondo in Teatro estudio (1976)

Teatro estudio

TV Series

Lavinia

1977–1978

3 episodes

 

A Dog Called... Vengeance (1977)

A Dog Called... Vengeance

5.9

Guerrillera

1977

 

Cuentos y leyendas (1968)

Cuentos y leyendas

7.5

TV Series

Eulalia

Clara

1975

2 episodes

 

Larga noche de julio (1974)

Larga noche de julio

5.9

Carmen

1974

 

Noche de teatro (1974)

Noche de teatro

TV Series

Luisa

1974

1 episode

 

Im Auftrag von Madame (1972)

Im Auftrag von Madame

4.8

TV Series

Anne

1974

1 episode

 

Los pintores del Prado (1974)

Los pintores del Prado

TV Series

Irene

1974

1 episode

 

Ficciones

TV Series

Carmilla

1971–1974

7 episodes

 

Los camioneros (1973)

Los camioneros

6.7

TV Series

Teresa

1974

1 episode

 

Abismo

Short

1972

 

Historias de Juan Español (1972)

Historias de Juan Español

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

Pequeño estudio (1968)

Pequeño estudio

TV Series

Viveca

1968–1972

2 episodes

 

Tarde para todos

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

Hora once (1968)

Hora once

TV Series

1970–1972

5 episodes

 

El espíritu del animal

3.3

Short

1971

 

Marisa Paredes, Charo López, and Eusebio Poncela in Pastel de sangre (1971)

Pastel de sangre

4.8

Elizabeth (segment "Victor Frankenstein")

1971

 

Las doce caras de Eva (1971)

Las doce caras de Eva

TV Series

Amparo

1971

1 episode

 

Teatro breve

TV Series

Criada

1966–1971

2 episodes

 

Teatro de siempre (1966)

Teatro de siempre

TV Series

1967–1971

6 episodes

 

Goya, historia de una soledad (1971)

Goya, historia de una soledad

6.6

La Maja

1971

 

Fray Dólar (1970)

Fray Dólar

4.8

1970

 

Teatro lírico español

TV Series

Luisa Fernanda

Soledad

1970

2 episodes

 

Teatro de misterio

TV Series

Brenda

1970

1 episode

 

Fábulas (1968)

Fábulas

TV Series

Irene

Fernanda

Elisa

1968–1970

3 episodes

 

El señorito y las seductoras (1969)

El señorito y las seductoras

4.0

Elvira Rey García

1969

 

Marisol in Carola de día, Carola de noche (1969)

Carola de día, Carola de noche

5.3

Secretaria del Conde Anatolio

1969

 

No disponible (1969)

No disponible

3.7

1969

 

Con acento

TV Series

Dulcinea

1968

1 episode

 

La amante estelar

4.9

Short

1968

 

Tinto con amor (1968)

Tinto con amor

1968

 

Requiem for a Gringo (1968)

Requiem for a Gringo

6.2

Nina

1968

 

Las 12 caras de Juan

TV Series

Cuqui

1967

2 episodes

 

Historias para no dormir (1966)

Historias para no dormir

7.9

TV Series

Sheila

1967

1 episode

 

Mike Kennedy, Pablo Sanllehi, Miguel Vicens, Tony Martínez, Los Bravos, and Manolo Fernández in Los chicos con las chicas (1967)

Los chicos con las chicas

4.9

Madre de Mike (uncredited)

1967

 

La tía de Carlos en minifalda (1967)

La tía de Carlos en minifalda

3.4

Carmen

1967

 

Un mundo sin luz

TV Movie

Azafata

1967

 

Tiempo y hora

TV Series

1966–1967

3 episodes

 

Las salvajes en Puente San Gil (1966)

Las salvajes en Puente San Gil

6.0

Filomena

1966

 

El mundo sigue (1965)

El mundo sigue

7.7

Floren

1965

 

Llegar a más (1963)

Llegar a más

6.9

Criada

1963

 

The Awful Dr. Orlof (1962)

The Awful Dr. Orlof

6.1

1962

 

Canción de cuna (1961)

Canción de cuna

6.4

1961

 

Los económicamente débiles (1960)

Los económicamente débiles

5.6

1960

 

091 Policía al habla (1960)

091 Policía al habla

6.0

(uncredited)

1960

 

Additional Crew

Dolores (1981)

Dolores

7.5

funding

1981