---
name: "Leonor Watling"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/leonor-watling"
fi1m_id: "leonor-watling"
imdb_id: "nm0914455"
tmdb_id: 101
wikidata_id: "Q235384"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "28 July 1975"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T22:46:46.749155+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Leonor Watling

## Identity

Leonor Watling

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/leonor-watling
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** leonor-watling
- **IMDb ID:** nm0914455
- **TMDB ID:** 101
- **Wikidata ID:** Q235384
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonor_Watling, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235384, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914455/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/101

Actor. Born 28 July 1975 in Madrid, Spain.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 28 July 1975, Madrid, Spain
- **Also known as:** Леонор Елізабет Себальос Вотлінг, Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonor_Watling, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235384, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914455/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/101

## Fi1m on Leonor Watling

> We value Leonor Watling’s ability to remain central when a film gives her little room to answer back. Her Alicia in *Talk to Her* matters deeply, even when the men’s feelings threaten to occupy the whole story.

In the physiotherapy scenes of *Talk to Her* (2002), Leonor Watling’s Alicia cannot answer the people caring for her. Pedro Almodóvar makes the practical attention to her body moving, while leaving us uneasy about the men speaking on her behalf. We were moved more than we expected by those exercises, because the practical work makes dependence so plain. Alongside Rosario Flores’s Lydia, Alicia keeps the consequences of that dependence in view while the men have room to discuss their feelings.

It is a restrictive role through which to meet an actor whose work crosses comedy and drama. Watling had already played Carmen in *La hora de los valientes* (1998) and taken the lead as Martina in Bigas Luna’s *Son de mar* (2001). Her profile rose further with *Talk to Her* and the leading role of Elvira in *My Mother Likes Women* (2002). She later played Lorna in the English-language *The Oxford Murders* (2008), alongside Elijah Wood and John Hurt.

What we value in Alicia is how difficult she makes it to settle comfortably into the men’s story. Almodóvar allows their devotion to seem appealing, and Watling’s place in the care scenes keeps its unequal terms visible. The reservation is substantial: neither she nor Flores can make up for how little opportunity the women have to object. When the polished images encourage us simply to enjoy the sadness, the film risks making their helplessness convenient. We want to hear from these women, however persuasive the men may be.

Watling has also returned to work with Isabel Coixet and Cesc Gay, making two films with each. Those collaborations are a reason to look beyond the role that brought her international attention, rather than treating its enforced silence as her defining method. Begin with *Talk to Her*, but remember that Almodóvar has decided how much of Alicia we are allowed to know.

## Biography

Leonor Watling is a Spanish actress and singer. Born Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling in Madrid on 28 July 1975, she began studying classical ballet as a child but turned to acting after a knee injury. She made her film debut in *Jardines colgantes* (1993) and trained at the Actors Centre in London.

Watling received Goya Award nominations for her performances in *La hora de los valientes* (1998) and *A mi madre le gustan las mujeres* (2002). She is known for her role as Alicia in Pedro Almodóvar’s *Talk to Her* (2002), as well as appearances in *My Life Without Me* (2003), *Bad Education* (2004) and *The Oxford Murders* (2008). She is also the lead vocalist of the band Marlango.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Talk to Her* (2002), Fi1m 84, as Alicia — [page](https://film.one/film/talk-to-her.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *La maleta* (2026), Actor
- *Salvador* (2026), series, as Carla
- *Entrepreneurs* (2025), series, as Cata
- *The Short Life* (2025), series, as Isabel de Farnesio
- *Anatema* (2024), as Juana
- *En Fin* (2024), series, Actor
- *Chinas* (2023), as Sol
- *Cites Barcelona* (2023), series, as Joana
- *I Don’t Like Driving* (2022), series, as Iria
- *Staring at Strangers* (2022), as Lucía
- *Jorge, a journey by Coque Malla* (2022), as Leonor Watling
- *Besos al aire* (2021), series, as Silvia Cabanas
- *The Vineyard* (2021), series, as Soledad Montalvo
- *Nasdrovia* (2020), series, as Edurne
- *My Brother Juan* (2019), as Psychologist
- *Asesinato en la Universidad* (2018), as Lara
- *Unauthorized Living* (2018), series, as Berta Moliner
- *Muse* (2017), as Lidia Garetti
- *Pounding Instincts* (2017), series, as Blanca Jiménez
- *The Food Guide to Love* (2013), as Bibiana
- *Another Me* (2013), as Mrs. Williams
- *If I Were You* (2013), as Lucy
- *A Gun in Each Hand* (2012), as María
- *Dark Impulse* (2012), as Eva
- *Lope: The Outlaw* (2010), as Isabel
- *Magic Journey to Africa* (2010), as Fairy
- *Lecture 21* (2008), as Marta
- *The Oxford Murders* (2008), as Lorna
- *Theresa: The Body of Christ* (2007), as Doña Guiomar de Ulloa
- *The Baby's Room* (2006), as Sonia
- *Paris Je T'aime* (2006), as La maîtresse (Bastille)
- *Salvador (Puig Antich)* (2006), as Cuca
- *The Maidens' Conspiracy* (2006), as Pleasure-of-my-life
- *The Secret Life of Words* (2005), as Wife of Josef's Friend
- *Hard Times* (2005), as Laura
- *Unconscious* (2004), as Alma
- *Crónicas* (2004), as Marisa Iturralde
- *Bad Education* (2004), as Mónica (uncredited)
- *In the City* (2003), as Cristina
- *Mean Spirit* (2003), as Leonor
- *El elefante del rey* (2003), as María, Songs
- *My Life Without Me* (2003), as Neighbor Ann
- *Desire* (2002), as Elvira
- *Talk to Her* (2002), as Alicia — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/talk-to-her.md)
- *My Mother Likes Women* (2002), as Elvira
- *Behind God's Back* (2001), Actor
- *Sound of the Sea* (2001), as Martina
- *Raquel busca su sitio* (2000), series, as Raquel
- *No respires, el amor está en el aire* (1999), as Muriel
- *Outlaw Justice* (1999), as Claire
- *A Time for Defiance* (1998), as Carmen
- *Everybody hurts* (1998), Actor
- *La primera noche de mi vida* (1998), as Paloma
- *Grandes ocasiones* (1998), Actor
- *Querido maestro* (1997), series, Actor
- *Like brothers* (1994), series, as Cris
- *Cabeza alta*, series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Leonor Watling](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-5ee686df333b.jpg) Leonor Watling — Pedro J Pacheco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Goyas_2025_-_Leonor_Watling_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Goyas_2025_-_Leonor_Watling_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Madrid ya cuenta con dos nuevos Hijos Adoptivos de la ciudad. El cineasta Pedro Almodóvar, y el cantante Rafael Martos, conocido artísticamente como Raphael, ha (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-ac85cbd2e1ce.jpg) Madrid ya cuenta con dos nuevos Hijos Adoptivos de la ciudad. El cineasta Pedro Almodóvar, y el cantante Rafael Martos, conocido artísticamente como Raphael, ha (2018) — Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Almod%C3%B3var_y_Raphael_ya_son_Hijos_Adoptivos_de_Madrid_06.jpg/1280px-Almod%C3%B3var_y_Raphael_ya_son_Hijos_Adoptivos_de_Madrid_06.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Madrid ya cuenta con dos nuevos Hijos Adoptivos de la ciudad. El cineasta Pedro Almodóvar, y el cantante Rafael Martos, conocido artísticamente como Raphael, ha (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-ead261bcc43d.jpg) Madrid ya cuenta con dos nuevos Hijos Adoptivos de la ciudad. El cineasta Pedro Almodóvar, y el cantante Rafael Martos, conocido artísticamente como Raphael, ha (2018) — Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Almod%C3%B3var_y_Raphael_ya_son_Hijos_Adoptivos_de_Madrid_12.jpg/1280px-Almod%C3%B3var_y_Raphael_ya_son_Hijos_Adoptivos_de_Madrid_12.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star in Walk of Fame in Cans (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-ab5bfe1d64d0.jpg) Star in Walk of Fame in Cans (2024) — Edvac, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Estrela_Cans._Leonor_Watling%2C_actriz._2019.jpg/1280px-Estrela_Cans._Leonor_Watling%2C_actriz._2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Leonor Watling](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-805e57dc9740.jpg) Leonor Watling — Image via TMDB
- ![Leonor Watling](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-8620829f96f8.jpg) Leonor Watling — Image via TMDB
- ![Leonor Watling](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-3ff1ba1acd68.jpg) Leonor Watling — Image via TMDB
- ![Leonor Watling en la alfombra roja de los Premios Goya 2024 celebrados en Valladolid](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-770b16de585c.jpg) Leonor Watling en la alfombra roja de los Premios Goya 2024 celebrados en Valladolid — Pedro J Pacheco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Goyas_2024_-_Leonor_Watling.jpg/1280px-Goyas_2024_-_Leonor_Watling.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![en la alfombra roja de los Premios Goya celebrados en Granada en 2025](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-9e83e7c9e726.jpg) en la alfombra roja de los Premios Goya celebrados en Granada en 2025 — Pedro J Pacheco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Goyas_2025_-_Leonor_Watling.jpg/1280px-Goyas_2025_-_Leonor_Watling.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Leonor Watling](https://film.one/media/person/97685/gallery-a93e35eb51ee.jpg) Leonor Watling — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/leonor-watling