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Elena Anaya (born July 17, 1975) is a Spanish actress whose career dates back to 1995. For many of those who realize their calling in life at an early age, the world is wide open with success and opportunity at every turn. When Spanish actress Elena Anaya felt that her talents gravitated toward a life on the stage and screen, the aspiring young actress spared precious little time in getting herself prepared for life in the limelight -- a fact that no doubt played a part in her being named one of European Films' Shooting Stars during the 2004 European Film Promotion campaign. A relatively new face to stateside audiences at the time of her international debut in 2004's Van Helsing, Anaya was soon climbing the latter to international success with subsequent roles opposite such screen heavies as Gary Oldman (Dead Fish) and Viggo Mortensen (Alatriste). Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain. She first received international attention in 2001 for her role in the sexually explicit drama Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucía) and also appeared in Pedro Almodóvar's Hable con ella (Talk to Her). A native of Palencia, Spain, whose early childhood was spent practicing karate at the Okinawa Gymnasium and climbing mountains, Anaya opted out of Cadiz School in 1996 -- choosing instead to join the Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Madrid and study under actor Manuel Morón. Following her feature debut in the 1996 drama África, Anaya continued to impress with supporting roles in such features as Black Tears and Wiped-Out Footprints. Beautiful and very talented Spanish actress Elena Anaya become one of the most outstanding actresses of her generation. After impressing the critic and the public with appearing in "Lucia y el sexo" (2001), the actress has shown her talent and beauty after interpreting one of Dracula brides in horror adventure "Van Helsing" (2004). Elena Anaya was born on 17 July 1975 in Palencia, Spain. Minor of three brothers, her childhood was marked by the separation of her parents. During her youth she had many hobbies, such as practicing karate at the Okinawa Gymnasium, submarinism, climbing the mountains or to attend the concerts of Mecano, one of Elena's favorite groups. The actress never showed much interest of the studies, reason why after working cooking and cleaning in the pension for students, she decides to leave Cadiz school in 1996 to test the access to the Real Superior School of Dramatic Art of Madrid (RESAD), making a course of interpretation with actor Manuel Moron. When her representative, Katrina Bayonas, looked for a young girl for the film of Alfonso Ungria, "Africa" (1996), Elena went to Madrid for a casting, and to determine her role. Installed in the capital, she shared a floor with two unknown French girls while alternating her studies and work as an actress. She passed the tests of entrance in the RESAD, but was expelled after director Fernando Leon de Aranoa called her to participate in the comedy "Familia" (1996). It was a unique opportunity, although Elena spent many months without stepping into the classrooms. Conscious, as an important thing to be a good actress, she continued her learning at the school of interpretation of actor Juan Carlos Corazza. At the time, she appeared in a few drama movies such as "Lagrimas negras" (1998) "Finisterre" (1998) and "Huellas borradas, Las" (1999). A turn opposite handsome Spanish leading man Eduardo Noriega in the 2000 romantic drama El Invierno de las Anajanas showed great promise for the burgeoning actress, with a role in the erotic arthouse drama Sex and Lucia earning her a Goya nomination for Best Supporting Actress. As her profile continued to increase thanks to roles in such features as The Blue Room and Pedro Almadóvar's Talk to Her, it seemed only a matter of time before Anaya's popularity went international. In 2000, director Julio Medem cast her for the role of young seducer Belen in the erotic drama "Lucia y el sexo" (2001). Her explosive mixture of innocence and provocation attracted the attention of the spectators and the film obtained nine nominations of Goya awards, earning her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Later she received the prize in the same category in awards of Spanish Actors Union. In the same year she played opposite Penelope Cruz and Victoria Abril in comedy "Sin noticias de Dios" (2001), film that obtained 11 nominations of Goya awards. In 2002 one of her dreams, came true. She was cast for a small role in Pedro Almodovar "Hable con Ella" (2002). Later Anaya continued to impress with supporting roles as in Miguel Albaladejo "Rencor" (2002), and in romance drama "Habitacion Azul, La" (2002), directed by Walter Doehner. Next year her profile continued to increase thanks to her role in comedy "Dos Tipos duros" (2003), opening her way to the UK-Germany co- production "Dead Fish" (2004), a thriller with Gary Oldman. Though her role as Dracula's most possessive bride in 2004's Van Helsing may have offered her little chance to shine amongst the massive CG-overload, audiences could rest assured that they would be seeing plenty more of the Spanish beauty when it was announced that she would be appearing in both the 2004 action comedy Dead Fish and the 2005 period adventure Alatriste. Her best-known mainstream film role was as a vampire in 2004's Van Helsing, playing Dracula's bride, Aleera. She is also featured in Justin Timberlake's music video for his 2006 single, SexyBack. Although acting in Hollywood was not a priority in her career, Elena was enchanted to have acted with actors of the stature of Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Due to the spectacular special effects, Elena had to act for during several months on a blue screen, and to be continuously hung to be able to fly like a vampire. Between her last projects is "Alatriste" (2006), the cinematographic adaptation of novels of Arturo Perez Reverte, under the direction of Agustin Diaz Yanes and Eduardo Carrillo "Stage Kiss" (2006). One of her maximum aspirations is to continuing working in the cinema, and enjoying the small things of life. |
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