Victoria Mérida Rojas (born 4 July 1959), better known as Victoria Abril, is a Spanish film actress and singer based in France. She is possibly best known to international audiences for her performance in the film Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! by director Pedro Almodóvar.
Life and career Born in Málaga, Abril became widely known in Spain in 1976 when she appeared in the show Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez for two years. In addition to working in Spain, she has made films in France, Italy, and Iceland. She has been nominated eight times for Goya Awards in the Lead Actress category and has won once. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 41st Berlin International Film Festival for her role in Amantes. Two years later, she was awarded with the Berlinale Camera at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Abril is also a singer. In 2005, she made her debut with a bossanova-jazz album called PutchEros do Brasil. She also tried to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 with "Bang-Bang-Bang", but Betty Missiego was chosen instead.
Personal life On 28 July 1977, Abril married Gustavo Laube, former footballer of the Chile national football team. The couple separated in early 1982.
Abril has two sons with the French director Gérard de Battista. She lives in France, where she has resided since 1982.
Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes1974 Los libros Ramón Gómez Redondo TV series (1 Episode)1976 Robin and Marian Queen Isabella Richard Lester Storia di arcieri, pugni e occhi neri Anne Birdsley Tonino Ricci 1977 Change of Sex José María Vicente Aranda Foul Play Lolita Juan Antonio Bardem Esposa y amante Marisa Angelino Fons Doña Perfecta Rosario César Fernández Ardavín Caperucita y Roja Caperucita Aitor Goirocelaya & Luis Revenga Obsesión Angelines Francisco Lara Polop 1978 El hombre que supo amar Amelia Miguel Picazo1979 La barraca Roseta León Klimovsky TV series (9 Episodes)1980 Girl with the Golden Panties Mariana Vicente Aranda (2) Mieux vaut être riche et bien portant que fauché et mal foutu Mercedes Max Pécas Mater amatísima Clara José Antonio Salgot Le cœur à l'envers The hostess Franck Apprederis 1981 Comin' at Ya! Abilene Ferdinando Baldi La batalla del porro Violeta Joan Minguell 1982 Murder in the Central Committee Carmela Vicente Aranda (3) La colmena Julita Mario Camus La guérilléra Bárbara Périsson Pierre Kast La casa del paraíso Victoria Santiago San Miguel Entre paréntesis Abilene Simó Fàbregas & Gustavo Montiel Pagés Estudio 1 Elena Miguel Lluch TV series (1 Episode)1983 Moon in the Gutter Bella Jean-Jacques Beineix Nominated – César Award for Best Supporting Actress No Trace of Sin María da Luz / Lucilia José Fonseca e Costa J'ai épousé une ombre Fifo Robin Davis Le bâtard Betty Bertrand Van Effenterre 1984 Bicycles Are for the Summer Manolita Jaime Chávarri La noche más hermosa Elena Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón Sant Jordi Awards – Best Spanish Actress On the Line Engracia José Luis Borau L'addition Patty Denis Amar Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie ActressNominated – César Award for Best Supporting Actress Le voyage Véronique Michel Andrieu Sous le signe du poisson Antoinette Pierre Zucca TV movie1985 Padre nuestro Cardenala Francisco Regueiro ADIRCAE Award – Best Performer The Witching Hour Saga Jaime de Armiñán After Darkness Pascale Dominique Othenin-Girard& Sergio Guerraz Rouge-gorge Marguerite Pierre Zucca (2) Los pazos de Ulloa Nucha / Manolita Gonzalo Suárez TV Mini-SeriesNominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best TV Performer La huella del crimenMaría Luisa Noguerol Vicente Aranda (4) TV series (1 Episode: "Captain Sánchez's Crime")1986 Tiempo de Silencio Dorita Vicente Aranda (5) Nominated – Goya Award for Best ActressNominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress Maria Nagisa Oshima Nuit d'ivresse Jugnot's wife Bernard Nauer 1987 El Lute: Run for Your Life Chelo Vicente Aranda (6) San Sebastián International Film Festival – Best ActressTP de Oro – Best ActressADIRCAE Award – Best PerformanceNominated – Goya Award for Best Actress Law of Desire Girl with Juan Pedro Almodóvar Ternosecco Brigida Giancarlo Giannini Uptown Verónica José Luis García Berlanga Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress1988 Without Fear or Blame Jeanne Gérard Jugnot El juego más divertido Ada / Sara Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Nominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress Baton Rouge Ana Alonso Rafael Monleón Nominated – Goya Award for Best Actress El placer de matar The Merche Félix Rotaeta Ada dans la jungle Carmen Gérard Zingg 1989 If They Tell You I Fell Ramona Vicente Aranda (7) Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie ActressCinematografia de la Generalitat de Catalunya – Best ActressNominated – Goya Award for Best Actress Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! Marina Osorio Pedro Almodóvar (2) Nominated – Goya Award for Best ActressNominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress1990 Blanca Arauz Miguel Littín Nominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress A solas contigo Gloria Eduardo Campoy Riders of the Dawn Marian Vicente Aranda (8) TV Mini-SeriesFestival de Programmes Audiovisuels – Golden FIPANominated – TP de Oro – Best Actress La mujer de tu vida Bel Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2) TV series (1 Episode)1991 Lovers Luisa Vicente Aranda (9) Berlin Film Festival Award for Best ActressADIRCAE Award – Best ActressTuria Award – Best ActressNominated – Goya Award for Best Actress High Heels Rebeca Giner Pedro Almodóvar (3) Nominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress Une époque formidable... Juliette Gérard Jugnot (2) 1992 Demasiado corazón (Too Much Heart) Ana & Clara Duque Eduardo Campoy (2) 1993 Kika Andrea Caracortada Pedro Almodóvar (4) Association of Latin Entertainment Critics – Best Actress Intruder Luisa Vicente Aranda (10) Nominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress1994 Jimmy Hollywood Lorraine de la Peña Barry Levinson Casque bleu Alicia Gérard Jugnot (3) 1995 Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead Gloria Duque Agustín Díaz Yanes Goya Award for Best ActressOndas Award for Best ActressSan Sebastián International Film Festival – Best ActressSpanish Actors Union – Film : Lead PerformanceNominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie Actress French Twist Loli Josiane Balasko 1996 Libertarias Floren Vicente Aranda (11) 1997 La femme du cosmonaute Anna Jacques Monnet 1999 Between Your Legs Miranda Manuel Gómez Pereira Mon père, ma mère, mes frères et mes sœurs Anne Charlotte de Turckheim 2000 101 Reykjavík Lola Milagros Baltasar Kormákur Nominated – Edda Award for Best Leading Actor or Actress2001 Don't Tempt Me Lola Nevado Agustín Díaz Yanes (2) Nominated – European Film Award for Best European ActressNominated – Goya Award for Best ActressNominated – Fotogramas de Plata – Best Movie ActressNominated – Spanish Actors Union – Film : Lead Performance Our Tropical Island Sabina Marcello Cesena 2002 Et après? Laura Mohamed Ismail 2003 Kaena: The Prophecy The Queen Chris Delaporte & Pascal Pinon 2004 The 7th Day Luciana Carlos Saura Nominated – Goya Award for Best Supporting ActressSpanish Actors Union – Performance in a Minor Role, Female Cause toujours ! Jacinthe Jeanne Labrune Incautos Pilar Miguel Bardem Fantasporto – Best Actress Escuela de seducción Sandra Vega Javier Balaguer 2005 Les gens honnêtes vivent en France Aurore Langlois Bob Decout Carne de neón Pura Paco Cabezas Short2006 Tirant lo Blanc Ines Vicente Aranda (12) Les Aristos Pilar de Malaga Charlotte de Turckheim (2) Summer Rain The teacher Antonio Banderas 2008 48 heures par jour Anna Catherine Castel Just Walking Gloria Duque Agustín Díaz Yanes (3) A Day at the Museum Clara Jean-Michel Ribes Leur morale... et la nôtre Muriel Florence Quentin Óscar. Una pasión surrealista Ana Lucas Fernández Mejor que nunca Isabel Romero Dolores Payás 2009 X Femmes Her Blanca Li TV series (1 Episode) Myster Mocky présente Jean-Pierre Mocky TV series (1 Episode)2010 Le grand restaurant Client Gérard Pullicino TV movie2010–18 Clem Caroline "Caro" Boissier Joyce Buñuel, Eric Le Roux& Arnauld Mercadier TV series (season 1 to 8) 2011 Hospital Central La Polaca José Luis García Berlanga (2) TV series (1 Episode)Spanish Actors Union – Supporting Performance, Female La chanson du dimanche Francesca Alexandre Castagnetti TV series (1 Episode) Les beaux mecs Olga Gilles Bannier TV series (4 Episodes)2012 Mince alors! Sophie Charlotte de Turckheim (3) The Woman Who Brushed Off Her Tears Helena Teona Strugar Mitevska 2014–15 Sin identidad Fernanda Duque Joan Noguera, Kiko Ruiz & Jorge Torregrossa TV series (10 Episodes)Spanish Actors Union – Supporting Performance, FemaleNominated – Atv Awards – Best Actress2016 Joséphine s'arrondit Gilles's mother Marilou Berry Nacida para ganar Victoria Vicente Villanueva Madres Libres Candela Auriane Lacince & Viktoria Videnina Short Capitaine Marleau Mother Louise Josée Dayan TV series (1 Episode)
References
External links
Official Website of Victoria Abril Victoria Abril at Allmovie