---
name: "Marisa Paredes"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/marisa-paredes"
fi1m_id: "marisa-paredes"
imdb_id: "nm0004650"
tmdb_id: 954
wikidata_id: "Q235398"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 April 1946"
died: "17 December 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-01T21:45:42.118575+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."
---

# Marisa Paredes

## Identity

Marisa Paredes

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/marisa-paredes
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** marisa-paredes
- **IMDb ID:** nm0004650
- **TMDB ID:** 954
- **Wikidata ID:** Q235398
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marisa_Paredes, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235398, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004650/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/954

Actor. Born 3 April 1946 in Madrid, Spain. Died 17 December 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 April 1946, Madrid, Spain
- **Died:** 17 December 2024
- **Active:** 1996–2011
- **Also known as:** María Luisa Paredes Bartolomé
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Pedro Almodóvar](https://film.one/person/pedro-almodovar.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 77 (3), 2000s 84 (1), 2010s 80 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 70 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Mystery 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $332m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marisa_Paredes, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235398, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004650/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/954

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*The Skin I Live In*](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md) (80)
- **Apple TV:** [*Life Is Beautiful*](https://film.one/film/life-is-beautiful.md) (65)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Marisa Paredes

> Marisa Paredes brought a smoky voice and theatrical precision to women whose elegance did not keep them out of trouble. We rate her most highly with Pedro Almodóvar, who understood how much hurt and mischief she could put beneath the poise.

Marisa Paredes can make precise diction and a smoky voice suggest someone determined to keep her composure. Her artists, mothers and authority figures often have an elegance that makes their defiance more striking. We value the hurt and mischief she allows into that poise. The glamour would be less interesting without them.

*Dark Habits* (1983) began her collaboration with Pedro Almodóvar; *High Heels* (1991) gave her a major starring role as Becky del Páramo. He made good use of her theatrical precision in his heightened melodramas. Her defining parts followed: the troubled novelist Leo Macías in *The Flower of My Secret* (1995) and the stage actress Huma Rojo in *All About My Mother* (1999).

Her international work offers a less direct introduction. In Raúl Ruiz’s *Three Lives and Only One Death* (1996), she plays Maria, while Marcello Mastroianni takes four roles in a comedy of shifting identities. We recommend its playful lead and inviting puzzle, with a warning that the complications are allowed to run on too long. It is a worthwhile detour through her work, though the attraction is the company rather than a defining Paredes role. Begin here and Mastroianni is likely to be the actor we talk about afterwards.

*Life Is Beautiful* (1997) needs a stronger caveat: Paredes plays Dora’s mother, but Roberto Benigni’s romance and anxious father dominate our response. We were moved by that father’s anxiety, which makes his need to reassure feel urgent. The film softens its Holocaust setting too much, however, and the comfort it offers is harder to accept than the performance. Watching her international supporting parts in isolation would give a misleading picture of an actor whose strongest opportunities came as complicated women at the centre of Almodóvar’s films.

Guillermo del Toro drew on her sterner authority as Carmen in *The Devil’s Backbone* (2001). Almodóvar found something more unsettling in Marilia’s loyalty in *The Skin I Live In* (2011). Start with *The Flower of My Secret*, where the woman in crisis gets the leading role.

## Biography

Marisa Paredes, born María Luisa Paredes Bartolomé, was a Spanish actress. She made her film debut in 1960 in *091: Policía al habla* and appeared in more than 75 films, 80 television productions and 15 stage plays over a career spanning 1960 to 2024.

She was frequently cast by Pedro Almodóvar, appearing in *Dark Habits* (1983), *High Heels* (1991), *The Flower of My Secret* (1995), *All About My Mother* (1999) and *The Skin I Live In* (2011). Other notable roles include Dora's mother in *Life Is Beautiful* (1997), Carmen in *The Devil's Backbone* (2001) and Marilia in *The Skin I Live In* (2011). She served as president of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2000 to 2003.

Paredes was married to director and producer Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi and had a daughter, actress María Isasi.

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

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *The Skin I Live In* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Marilia — [page](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md)
- *All About My Mother* (1999), Fi1m 88, as Huma Rojo — [page](https://film.one/film/all-about-my-mother.md)
- *Life Is Beautiful* (1997), Fi1m 65, as Dora's Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-beautiful.md)
- *Three Lives and Only One Death* (1996), Fi1m 77, as Maria — [page](https://film.one/film/three-lives-and-only-one-death.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

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

## Complete filmography (94)

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

- *Emergency Exit* (2025), Actor
- *The Life of Mirrors* (2025), Actor
- *A Free Man* (2025), as In Memory Of
- *Break a Leg* (2025), as (self)
- *Dressed in Blue* (2023), series, as República
- *Las cartas perdidas* (2022), Actor
- *Despite Everything* (2019), as Carmen
- *Petra* (2018), as Marisa
- *Latin Lover* (2015), as Ramona
- *Silencios* (2014), as Madre
- *Dreamland* (2013), as Maria
- *Lines of Wellington* (2012), as D. Filipa Sanches
- *Photo* (2012), as Pilar
- *The Skin I Live In* (2011), as Marilia — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md)
- *His Mother's Eyes* (2011), as Judit Canalès
- *Felipe y Letizia* (2010), series, as Sofía de Grecia
- *The God of Wood* (2010), as María Luisa
- *Gigola* (2010), as Odette
- *The Limits of Control* (2009), Thanks
- *Amores locos* (2009), as Ana
- *The Man Who Loves* (2008), as Dottoressa Campo
- *Les pel·lícules del meu pare* (2007), Actor
- *Després de la pluja* (2007), as Executive Director
- *El camino de Ana* (2007), as Ana
- *Four Last Songs* (2007), as Veronica
- *Magic Mirror* (2006), as Monja
- *Queens* (2005), as Reyes
- *Cold Winter Sun* (2004), Actor
- *Red Sunset* (2004), as Clara
- *Una preciosa puesta de sol* (2003), as Rosario
- *Talk to Her* (2002), as Espectadora (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/talk-to-her.md)
- *Savages* (2001), Actor
- *The Devil's Backbone: Behind the Scenes* (2001), Actor
- *The Devil's Backbone* (2001), as Carmen
- *Leo* (2000), as Woman on metro (uncredited)
- *Jonas and Lila, Til Tomorrow* (1999), as María
- *No One Writes to the Colonel* (1999), as Lola
- *All About My Mother* (1999), as Huma Rojo — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/all-about-my-mother.md)
- *Talk of Angels* (1998), as Doña Consuelo
- *Le serpent a mangé la grenouille* (1998), as Madame Moreau
- *Doctor Chance* (1998), as Elise von Sekt, Milady
- *Señores de Gardenia* (1998), as Susana
- *Life Is Beautiful* (1997), as Dora's Mother — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-beautiful.md)
- *Deep Crimson* (1996), as Irene Gallardo
- *Three Lives and Only One Death* (1996), as Maria — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/three-lives-and-only-one-death.md)
- *The Flower of My Secret* (1995), as Leo Macías
- *Ship of Fools* (1995), as Julia Márquez
- *Diary of a Rapist* (1995), as Madre di Luca
- *La Barraca. Lorca por los caminos de España* (1994), Actor
- *Lost in Transit* (1993), as Suzana
- *Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas* (1993), as Olga
- *La reina anónima* (1992), as Mujer desconocida
- *Golem, the Spirit of Exile* (1992), as Le Maîtresse de Cérémonie
- *Off Season* (1992), as Sarah Bernhardt
- *High Heels* (1991), as Becky del Páramo
- *Continental* (1989), as Xulia
- *Párpados* (1989), Actor
- *La última cena... del 88* (1988), as María Luisa
- *Tu novia está loca* (1988), as Adela
- *Mientras haya luz* (1987), as Marisa
- *Silver-beet Face* (1987), as Olga
- *Love Ravings* (1986), as Invitada de la fiesta (segment "Delirio 3") (uncredited)
- *In a Glass Cage* (1986), as Griselda
- *Matador* (1986), as Heroin Addicted Model (uncredited)
- *Tata Mía* (1986), as Paloma
- *Goya* (1985), series, as Duquesa de Osuna
- *Tatuaje* (1985), Actor
- *Bicycles Are for the Summer* (1984), as María Luisa
- *Dark Habits* (1983), as Sor Estiércol
- *Cervantes* (1981), series, as Ana Franca
- *Sus años dorados* (1980), as Carmen
- *Opera Prima* (1980), as Zoila Gómez
- *A Dog Called... Vengeance* (1977), as Guerrillera
- *En provincia* (1975), as Clara
- *Larga noche de julio* (1974), as Carmen - Prima política de Toni
- *Luisa Fernanda* (1973), as Luisa Fernanda
- *Abismo* (1972), Actor
- *Goya: A Story of Solitude* (1971), as La Maja
- *Cake of Blood* (1971), as Elizabeth (segment "Victor Frankenstein")
- *El espíritu del animal* (1971), Actor
- *El señorito y las seductoras* (1970), as Elvira Rey García
- *Carola de día, Carola de noche* (1969), Actor
- *La revoltosa* (1969), as Soledad
- *Requiem for a Gringo* (1968), as Nina
- *Tinto con amor* (1968), Actor
- *El Vidente* (1967), as Sheila
- *El mercader de Venecia* (1967), as Jessica
- *Las salvajes en Puente San Gil* (1967), Actor
- *Tales to Keep You Awake* (1966), series, as Sheila
- *Life Goes On* (1965), Actor
- *The Awful Dr. Orlof* (1962), as Klemp
- *Cradle Song* (1961), Actor
- *Los económicamente débiles* (1960), Actor
- *Police Calling 091* (1960), as (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Marisa Paredes](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-0e80c0f1e50d.jpg) Marisa Paredes — Pedro J Pacheco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Goyas_2024_-_Marisa_Paredes_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Goyas_2024_-_Marisa_Paredes_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Salida del cine Princesa Renoir de Madrid tras la presentación del documental "Las cartas perdidas" (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-9a37ffa8cb60.jpg) Salida del cine Princesa Renoir de Madrid tras la presentación del documental "Las cartas perdidas" (2022) — Montserrat Boix, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Amparo_Climent_y_Marisa_Paredes.jpg/1280px-Amparo_Climent_y_Marisa_Paredes.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Autograph Marisa Paredes Spanish actress (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-0cfeea25dd61.png) Autograph Marisa Paredes Spanish actress (2024) — Birkho, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Autogramm_Marisa_Paredes_spanische_Schauspielerin.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-84a2bb230b93.jpg) La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019) — Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_01.jpg/1280px-Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Marisa Paredes](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-ad8f590e0430.jpg) Marisa Paredes — Image via TMDB
- ![La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-7022ee09526c.jpg) La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019) — Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_02.jpg/1280px-Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/87943/gallery-055216dee6dc.jpg) La actriz Marisa Paredes ha recibido esta mañana de manos de la alcaldesa de Madrid, Manuel Carmena, el premio “Puerta de Toledo” que se le otorga en el marco d (2019) — Diario de Madrid, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_03.jpg/1280px-Carmena_entrega_el_premio_%E2%80%9CPuente_de_Toledo%E2%80%9D_a_Marisa_Paredes_03.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 3 won

- Honorary Goya Award 2018: Honorary Goya Award (won)
- Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts 2007: Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (won)
- Premio Nacional de Cinematografía 1996: Premio Nacional de Cinematografía (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/marisa-paredes