Belén Rueda

Belén Rueda, born in Madrid, Spain, hails from a family with diverse talents; her father was a civil engineer and her mother a ballet instructor. She grew up in a household of three siblings, with Chus and Violeta (Ms. Rodal) as her companions. Due to her younger sister's asthma, the family relocated to San Juan, Alicante during her childhood. Rueda's personal life includes her marriage to Daniel Écija, with whom she had three daughters: Beliá (b. 1994), María (b. 1996), and Lucía (b. 1998). Tragically, they experienced the loss of their second child to a heart condition. Currently, Rueda is a divorcée.

At the age of 18, she moved back to Madrid to pursue architecture but left her studies to marry an Italian man. Subsequently, she began her professional journey as a salesperson and model before transitioning into television. Rueda gained national fame as a TV presenter and later showcased her acting prowess in series like *Los Serrano*. Her film career took off with a notable performance in Alejandro Amenábar's *Mar Adentro* (2004), earning her a Goya Award for Best Actress. She was also nominated for another Goya for her role in the acclaimed 2007 horror film *The Orphanage*. Rueda starred in the Spanish thriller *Los ojos de Julia*, produced by the renowned Guillermo Del Toro, further solidifying her status as an accomplished actress in the Spanish film industry.