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Leonor Watling
Spanish actress and singer
Spanish actress and singer
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Goyas 2024 - Leonor Watling.jpg |
| caption | Watling in 2024 |
| birth_name | Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Madrid, Spain |
| years_active | 1993–present |
| occupation | |
| module | {{Infobox musical artist |
| embed | yes |
| instrument | Vocals |
| genre | Jazz, blues, rock |
| current_member_of | Marlango |
Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling (born 28 July 1975) is a Spanish film actress and singer.
Early life
Leonor Watling was born on 28 July 1975 in Madrid, to a Spanish father from Cádiz and an English mother, the youngest of four siblings (two brothers and two sisters). Her first vocation was that of dancer, but a knee injury made this impossible.
Career

Watling began her acting career in theatre. She earned her feature film debut with a performance in Pablo Llorca's Jardines colgantes (1993). After that she participated in several TV series, such as Hermanos de leche, Farmacia de guardia or Querido maestro, but her most successful role was in the series Raquel busca su sitio with Cayetana Guillén Cuervo. In 1998, she was nominated for a Goya award for her role in La hora de los valientes, and was named as one of European film's 'Shooting Stars' by European Film Promotion in 1999. In 2002, she was nominated again for a Goya for her role in My Mother Likes Women.
Watling dubbed Anne Hathaway as the voice of "Red Pucket" (Little Red Riding Hood) in Hoodwinked (2005). She also took part in The Oxford Murders, alongside Elijah Wood and John Hurt.
In 2006, Watling starred in the Paris, Je T'aime segment "Bastille" as Marie Christine. The anthology film was directed by many famous directors who each had to produce a five-minute film set in Paris, the city of love. Spanish writer-director Isabel Coixet wrote and directed the segment "Bastille", and Watling starred alongside Sergio Castellitto and Miranda Richardson as Sergio's younger lover, with whom he plans to run away after ending his relationship with his wife Miranda.
She combines film performances with her work with the band Marlango, in which she is the vocalist and sings mostly in English.
She appeared in the TV series Pulsaciones.
Personal life

Watling is in a relationship with the Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler, with whom she has a son, Luca, born in January 2009, and a daughter, Lea, born in July 2011.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Jardines colgantes (Hanging Gardens) | ||||
| 1997 | ** | Beatriz | |||
| 1998 | Grandes ocasiones (Great Occasions) | Bárbara | |||
| 1998 | La primera noche de mi vida (The First Night of My Life) | Paloma | |||
| 1998 | La hora de los valientes (A Time for Defiance) | Carmen | |||
| 1999 | No respires (el amor está en el aire) (Do Not Breathe, Love is in the Air) | Muriel | |||
| 2000 | * (God's Back*) | ||||
| 2002 | Son de mar (Sound of the Sea) | Martina | |||
| 2002 | A mi madre le gustan las mujeres (My Mother Likes Women) | Elvira | |||
| 2002 | Hable con ella (Talk to Her) | Alicia Roncero | |||
| 2002 | Deseo (Desire) | Elvira | |||
| 2002 | My Life Without Me | The other Ann | |||
| 2003 | En la ciudad (In the City) | Cristina | |||
| 2003 | El elefante del rey (The Elephant King) | ||||
| 2003 | ** | Carmen | |||
| 2004 | La mala educación (Bad Education) | Mónica | |||
| 2004 | Crónicas (Chronicles) | ||||
| 2004 | Inconscientes (Unconscious) | Alma | |||
| 2005 | The Secret Life of Words | ||||
| 2005 | Malas temporadas (Hard Times) | Laura | |||
| 2005 | Tirante el Blanco (White Tie) | ||||
| 2006 | Paris, je t'aime | ||||
| 2006 | Salvador (Puig Antich) (Salvador) | Cuca | |||
| 2006 | * (Carnival of Sodom*) | ||||
| 2007 | Teresa, el cuerpo de Cristo (Theresa: The Body of Christ) | Doña Guiomar de Ulloa | |||
| 2008 | The Oxford Murders | Lorna | |||
| 2009 | Unmade Beds | ||||
| 2010 | * (Magic Journey to Africa*) | Hada ('fairy') | |||
| 2010 | Lope (Lope: The Outlaw) | Isabel | |||
| 2011 | Lo mejor de Eva (Dark Impulse) | Eva | |||
| 2012 | If I Were You | Lucy | |||
| 2013 | ** | ||||
| 2016 | Risen | ||||
| 2017 | Muse | ||||
| The Solar System (El sistema solar) | Inés | ||||
| 2022 | No mires a los ojos (Staring at Strangers) | Lucía | |||
| Chinas (Chinas, a Second Generation Story) | Sol | ||||
| Anatema (Anathema) | Sor Juana |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | ** | Silvia | |||
| 2000 | Raquel busca su sitio | Raquel | Leading role | ||
| 2006 | * (The Child's Room*) | Sonia | TV movie | ||
| 2017 | Pulsaciones | Blanca Jiménez | |||
| 2018 | Asesinato en la Universidad | Lara Cabanes | TV movie | ||
| 2018–20 | Vivir sin permiso (Unauthorized Living) | Berta Moliner | |||
| 2020– | Nasdrovia | Edurne | Leading role | ||
| 2021 | La templanza (The Vineyard) | Soledad Montalvo | Leading role. Younger version of the character performed by Carla Campra | ||
| 2021 | Besos al aire (Blowing Kisses) | Doctora Cabanas | Leading role. Two-part television miniseries | ||
| 2022 | No me gusta conducir (I Don't Like Driving) | Iria | |||
| 2024 | Citas Barcelona | Joana | |||
| La vida breve | Isabel de Farnesio | ||||
| Carla |
;Other
- "Somos Anormales", music video by Residente (2017)
Discography
With Marlango
- Marlango (2004)
- Automatic Imperfection (2005)
- The Electrical Morning (2007)
- Life in the Treehouse (2010)
- Un Día Extraordinario (2012)
- El Porvenir (2014)
- Technicolor (2018)
Collaborations
- Miguel Bosé – Duet in "Este mundo va" from the album Papito
- Jorge Drexler – Backing vocals in "El otro engranaje" from the album 12 segundos de oscuridad
- – Backing vocals in "La vida mata" from the album Los abismos cotidianos
- Fito Páez – Duet in "Pétalo de sal" and "Creo" from the album No sé si es Baires o Madrid
- Jorge Drexler – Duet in "Toque de queda" from the album Amar la trama
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 13th Goya Awards | Best Leading Actress | A Time for Defiance | ||
| 2003 | 17th Goya Awards | Best Leading Actress | My Mother Likes Women | ||
| 53rd Fotogramas de Plata | Best Actress (film) | ||||
| 12th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | ||||
| 2004 | 59th CEC Medals | Best Supporting Actress | My Life Without Me | ||
| 13th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Actress in a Minor Role (film) | ||||
| 2020 | 24th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Television Actress in a Minor Role | Unauthorized Living | ||
| 2023 | Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series | I Don't Like Driving | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Series | La vida breve |
References
References
- Abelenda, Ana. (4 March 2017). "A veces me veo en algunas fotos y pienso: Ya me gustaría ser así".
- Intxausti, Aurora. (8 June 2001). "Leonor Watling, el nacimiento de una estrella".
- (15 December 2020). "Una conversación de sobremesa navideña con Leonor Watling y un buen malta".
- Vicent, Manuel. (12 June 2016). "La ligereza del caballo de fuego".
- (10 June 2010). "Particularísimo de Leonor Watling".
- [http://eldoblaje.com/datos/FichaActorDoblaje.asp?id=16553] Leonor Watling's voice profile on ElDoblaje.com
- (5 October 2014). "El apoyo incondicional de una discreta pareja: Leonor Watling y Jorge Drexler".
- (8 January 2009). "Leonor Watling y Jorge Drexler han sido padres". El País.
- "Leonor Watling, feliz en su primer paseo con su hija Lea – Diez Minutos".
- Caparrós Lera, José María. (2005). "La Pantalla Popular. El cine español durante el Gobierno de la derecha (1996–2003)". [[Ediciones Akal]].
- Benavent, Francisco María. (2000). "Cine español de los 90. Diccionario de películas, directores y temático". Ediciones Mensajero.
- (15 July 2003). "Noche de cine en Antena 3 y Canal Plus".
- Herrera, Nuria. (26 June 2020). "'A mi madre le gustan las mujeres', con Rosa María Sardá, en 'Historias de nuestro cine'".
- García Herráez, Silvia. (14 March 2022). "20 años de "Hable con ella", la cinta que consolidó a Almodóvar en Hollywood".
- Holland, Jonathan. (11 November 2002). "Desire".
- Ebert, Roger. (17 October 2003). "My Life Without Me".
- (January 2004). "En la ciudad".
- (20 June 2006). "Leonor Watling cumple su sueño de rodar una comedia francesa con 'Mala leche'".
- Silvestre, Juan. (12 April 2018). "Pedro Almodóvar, orgulloso hijo adoptivo de Madrid: "La seguridad como narrador que me da esta ciudad no me la dan otros lugares"".
- (2008). "Cien médicos en el cine de ayer y de hoy". [[University of Salamanca.
- (January 2006). "Malas temporadas".
- Soto, Paco. (13 September 2006). "Manuel Huerga lleva al cine la vida del joven anarquista Puig Antich". [[Grupo Vocento]].
- Ortega Alcántara, Leonor. (2015–2016). "Visiones de Santa Teresa de Jesús: tres representaciones cinematográficas". Isla de Arriarán: Revista cultural y científica.
- Holland, Jonathan. (29 January 2008). "The Oxford Murders".
- Caviaro, Juan Luis. (7 May 2010). "Estrenos de cine {{!}} 7 de mayo {{!}} Mucha producción española, algunas estadounidenses y una vieja joya animada".
- López López, Yolanda. (2017). "El Siglo de Oro en el cine y la ficción televisiva: Dirección artística, referentes culturales y reconstrucción histórica". ACCI.
- Vidal, Nuria. (20 January 2012). "Lo mejor de Eva. Para los que buscan la actualidad en el cine".
- (14 March 2013). "If I Were You: Film Review".
- (3 October 2022). "Así es 'No mires a los ojos', el inquietante thriller protagonizado por Paco León".
- Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto. (2 October 2023). "Los estrenos del 6 de octubre. 'Chinas'. Raíces dispersas".
- Cabrera, Sara. (20 July 2023). "‘Anatema’, una peli de terror gótico con Bizkaia como uno de sus enclaves".
- Anguita, Miriam. (5 June 2025). "Madrid se convierte en escenario de acción para 'La Maleta', la nueva película de Carlos Therón". [[Prensa Ibérica]].
- Álvarez, José. (7 September 2015). "La vuelta al cole con 'Querido maestro'". [[El Español]].
- Onieva, Álvaro. (21 January 2016). "'Raquel busca su sitio': 8 razones por las que necesitamos un remake".
- BErnades, Horacio. (24 February 2007). "El regreso de tres leyendas del terror".
- Rosado, Juan Carlos. (6 March 2017). "Leonor Watling: "Cuando sabes que la serie tiene un final, te tranquilizas"".
- (3 April 2018). "Patrick Criado y su 'Asesinato en la universidad'".
- López, Lorena. (28 November 2018). "Leonor Watling: "Llegamos para trastocarlo todo"". [[ABC (Spain).
- Puig, Francesc. (6 November 2020). "'Nasdrovia': Una comedia con acento ruso".
- (14 February 2021). "'La templanza', un romance histórico en el Jerez bodeguero del siglo XIX".
- (27 January 2021). "Así será 'La templanza'". Supertele.
- (18 March 2021). ""Besos al aire", una comedia romántica que homenajea a los sanitarios".
- Palenzuela, Fernando S.. (22 November 2022). "Leonor Watling ('No me gusta conducir'): "Aprobé el teórico, pero el práctico no porque no quería conducir"". FormulaTV.
- Castillo, Ángeles. (14 February 2025). "Si te gustaron Los Bridgerton y La cocinera de Castamar, esta es la serie de época española rodada en palacios espectaculares que te va a dejar con la boca abierta". [[Grupo Vocento]].
- Soriano, Sergio. (22 December 2025). "Netflix lanza el tráiler y anuncia la fecha de estreno de 'Salvador', la nueva serie de Luis Tosar y Claudia Salas".
- (31 March 2017). "Residente estrena su primer álbum como solista y, no te preocupes, ¡no deja Calle 13!".
- (28 December 1998). ""La niña de tus ojos" y "El abuelo" acaparan la mayor parte de las nominaciones a los Premios Goya".
- "Estas son las nominaciones de los Premios Goya 1999".
- "Estas son las nominaciones de los Premios Goya 2003".
- Gastesi, Aintzane. (3 November 2020). "Leonor Watling, vodka y nervios en la alfombra roja". [[La Vanguardia]].
- (3 March 2003). "Leonor Watling y Javier Bardem, Fotogramas de Plata".
- (10 March 2003). "La crisis en Irak, tema central de la gala de los XII Premios de la Unión de Actores de esta noche".
- (11 March 2003). "El 'No a la guerra' protagoniza los premios de la Unión de Actores".
- (27 January 2004). "'Te doy mis ojos' triunfa en la entrega de los premios del Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos".
- (11 May 2004). "La Unión de Actores entrega sus premios en una gala solidaria con las víctimas del 11-M".
- Onieva, Álvaro. (10 March 2020). "Este es el repartido palmarés televisivo de los Premios Unión de Actores 2020".
- (29 January 2023). "Premios Feroz 2023 {{!".
- Sabaté, Jordi. (27 November 2025). "'Los domingos' arrasa en las nominaciones de los Premios Feroz con nueve candidaturas".
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