# María León (actress)

María León Barrios (born 30 July 1984) is a Spanish actress from Seville, Andalusia. She is best known for her performances as Leti in SMS and Carmen in Allí abajo.

## Career

León became best known for her role in the 2011 film The Sleeping Voice, for which she won a Goya for Best New Actress. She has played the main role of Carmen in Allí abajo since 2015, which includes appearances from her mother, Carmina Barrios [es]. She has also acted alongside her brother, Paco León, in his show Aída and on The House of Flowers (playing siblings in the latter), and performed as a character based on herself in the Carmina films Paco directed, which star their mother.
León expanded her work in 2019, starring in the final season of Allí abajo, as well as The House of Flowers and the films Escapada and Los Japón. She also filmed La lista, a dramatic comedy about breast cancer, with Victoria Abril, and performed in a version of Lorca's Yerma in the theatre in Granada, Valencia, and Seville.

## Selected filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Fuga de cerebros (Brain Drain) | | Feature film debut |
| 2011 | La voz dormida (The Sleeping Voice) | Pepita | Goya Award for Best New Actress |
| 2012 | Carmina o revienta (Carmina or Blow Up) | María | |
| 2014 | Carmina y amén (Carmina and Amen) | María | |
| 2014 | Marsella (Marseille) | Sara | |
| 2015 | Rey gitano (Gipsy King) | Dolores | |
| 2015 | Los miércoles no existen (Wednesdays Don't Exist) | Patricia | |
| 2016 | Cuerpo de élite [es] (Heroes Wanted) | Lola | |
| 2017 | El autor (The Motive) | Amanda | |
| 2018 | Sin fin (Not the End) | María | |
| 2018 | Escapada | Lucía | |
| 2019 | Los Japón [es] (The Japon) | Encarni | |
| 2020 | La lista de los deseos [es] (Wishlist) | Eva | |
| 2021 | Donde caben dos (More the Merrier) | Alba | |
| 2022 | El universo de Óliver (Oliver's Universe) | Carmela | |
| 2022 | La piedad (Piety) | | |
| 2022 | Historias para no contar (Stories Not to Be Told) | Ana | |
| 2023 | Cerrar los ojos (Close Your Eyes) | Belén Granados | |
TV :
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Episodes |
| 2006-2007 | SMS: Sin Miedo a Soñar | laSexta | Leti | 99 |
| 2007 | Cuenta atrás | Cuatro | Tati | 1 |
| 2007 | Hospital Central | Telecinco | Mabel | 1 |
| 2008 | Estados alterados | laSexta | María | 1 |
| 2009 | Una bala para el Rey | Antena 3 | Ada | 2 |
| 2010 | La tira | laSexta | Chari | 82 |
| 2010-2011 | Aída | Telecinco | "La Jose" | 3 |
| 2011 | Los Quién | Antena 3 | Arancha | 1 |
| 2012-2014 | Con el culo al aire | Antena 3 | Sandra Rojo | 42 |
| 2015-2019 | Allí abajo | Antena 3 | Carmen Almonte | 69 |
| 2019-2020 | The House of Flowers | Netflix | Purificación Riquelme | 10 |
| 2021 | Blowing Kisses | Star | Nines | 2 |
| 2022 | Drag Race España | ATRESplayer Premium | Herself - Guest judge | 1 |
| 2022 | Heridas | ATRESplayer Premium | Yolanda Romero | 13 |
| 2024 | El caso Asunta (The Asunta Case) | | Cristina Cruces | |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2011 | 59th San Sebastián International Film Festival | Silver Shell for Best Actress | The Sleeping Voice | Won |
| 2012 | 67th CEC Medals | Best New Actor or Actress | The Sleeping Voice | Won |
| 2012 | 26th Goya Awards | Best New Actress | The Sleeping Voice | Won |
| 2012 | 21st Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | The Sleeping Voice | Won |
| 2013 | 27th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Carmina or Blow Up | Nominated |
| 2013 | Neox Fan Awards | Best Actress | Con el culo al aire | Won |
| 2015 | 2nd Feroz Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Carmina and Amen | Nominated |
| 2015 | 29th Goya Awards | Best Actress | Marseille | Nominated |
| 2020 | 29th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Actress in an International Production | The House of Flowers | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2nd Carmen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Oliver's Universe | Nominated |
| 2024 | 3rd Carmen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Close Your Eyes | Nominated |
| 2025 | 12th Feroz Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series | The Asunta Case | Pending |