Núria Espert

Spanish actress and director Núria Espert has been selected by the judging panel to receive our Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition that not only celebrates her incredible talent in the performing arts, but also her commitment to social causes. Throughout her career, Espert has demonstrated a profound sensitivity to issues like social justice, equality and human rights, standing out not only for what she has achieved on stage, but also for her constant support of the most vulnerable.

Biography of Núria Espert

Born in 1935, in Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Núria Espert began her theatrical career at the age of 16, in the Teatro Romea company. Just three years later, in 1954, her interpretation of Medea at the Teatre Grec in Barcelona put her on the Spanish theater map. But that was just the beginning: in 1959, at the age of 24, she founded her own theater company, courageously and determinedly taking the reins of her artistic destiny.

Throughout her extensive career, Espert has sparkled on stages all over the world, performing works by such great writers as Calderón de la Barca, Shakespeare, García Lorca, Brecht and Sartre. In the 1970s, her fame skyrocketed internationally, leading her to perform in the most important theaters around the world. In 1979, she was appointed director of the Centro Dramático Nacional, and during the 1980s she broadened her horizons by directing operas in cities such as London and Tokyo.

Her tremendous artistic ability has enabled Núria Espert to move fluidly between theater, opera, music and film, demonstrating great versatility. Her legacy in the world of culture and her commitment to social causes make her one of the most respected figures on our cultural scene.

Núria Espert’s theatrical career

In her long career she has stood out for her performances in plays by the greatest playwrights. In the 1970s, Núria Espert achieved worldwide fame and performed on the most important stages of the international theater scene. During the 1980’s she expanded her career to stage direction and opera, directing successful productions in London, Tokyo, and other cities. Yerma, Fedra, The Maids, Divinas palabras, Doña Rosita la soltera, Salomé, Don Juan Tenorio… the list of plays starring Núria Espert is endless.

And in 1987, she made her operatic debut in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at London’s Covent Garden. This opera was followed by Rigoletto and La Traviata by Verdi, and Carmen (1991) by Bizet. Later, the actress would go on to lead the chorus of numerous theaters including the Teatro Real in Madrid, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Los Angeles Opera, the Frankfurt Opera, and the Liceu in Barcelona.

In the 1990s, she successfully returned to the theater and appeared in leading roles in plays such as Chekhov’s The Seagull and Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. In the 2000s, she returned to opera and starred in productions including La Celestina and The Little Foxes.

In 2023, after performing La isla del aire by Mario Gas, she announced her retirement from the stage.

Núria Espert and her impact on Spanish Theatre

Throughout her career, Espert has shown great passion for classical theater and, in particular, for  Spanish playwrights. The actress has played characters by Calderón de la Barca, García Lorca, Lope de Vega, Cervantes, Valle-Inclán, and Zorrilla, among other renowned writers. Her performance in Yerma, by Lorca, which premiered at the Teatro de la Comedia in Madrid on November 30, 1971, was acclaimed by critics and audiences, and ran for more than 2000 shows.

In addition, the actress has been directed by such greats as Miguel Narros, Mario Gas and Lluís Pasqual. In 1986, as a stage director, she achieved great success in London, directing The House of Bernarda Alba. For this work she received the Best Director Award from the London Critics Circle.

Her love of poetry and her artistry in delivery led her to lend her voice to poems by Spanish poets like Rafael Alberti, Jorge Manrique, Francisco de Quevedo, Lope de Vega, Antonio Machado, Miguel Hernández, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, and her favorite poet, Federico García Lorca, whose verses, such as Romancero Gitano, she recited on many occasions.

Awards and recognitions for Núria Espert

With more than 60 years of experience in the art world, Núria Espert has received numerous awards that highlight her incredible talent and dedication to the field. Among the most important awards are the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts and the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, distinctions that reflect not only her impeccable career, but also her contribution to a freer, fairer and more humane society. Over the years, Espert has been a staunch defender of freedom of expression and culture, using her influence to support causes that transcend the stage.

In addition to these honors, Núria Espert has received the Honorary Max Award, the National Theater Award, the Butaca Award for Best Actress and the Fotogramas de Plata for Best Actress, among many others. Her legacy is immense, both artistically and in terms of her commitment to society.

Great works starring Núria Espert

Throughout her artistic career, Núria Espert has played countless female and male characters that have been etched in the collective memory. The most iconic include:

• Yerma, by Federico García Lorca: the role of Yerma was one of Núria Espert’s most famous portrayals.
• The House of Bernarda Alba, by Federico García Lorca: Núria Espert played Bernarda Alba in several productions throughout her career and even directed her own version.
• Doña Rosita la Soltera, by Federico García Lorca: as Doña Rosita, the actress dazzled audiences, highlighting her ability to play complex female characters.
• Medea, by Euripides: her portrayal of Medea is considered one of the most powerful of her career, noted for its dramatic strength.
• Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare: in her early years, the actress played Juliet in several productions of this classic Shakespearean play.
• The Little Foxes, by Lillian Hellman: Núria Espert’s interpretation was praised for the complexity she brought to the character of Regina Giddens in this story of power and ambition.
• Electra, by Sophocles: in this Greek tragedy, Espert explored Electra’s deep feelings of revenge and justice.
• Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov: in this Russian play, Núria Espert showed her talent in her portrayal of Yelena.
• La Celestina, by Fernando de Rojas: the actress, in her role as Celestina, demonstrated her great ability to depict iconic female characters from Spanish literature.
• Hamlet, by William Shakespeare: in a groundbreaking version of Shakespeare’s classic, Núria Espert took on the leading role of Hamlet, an iconic male character in world literature. This production proved that a great actress can embody both male and female roles, bringing the same level of intensity, gravitas and mastery.

Núria Espert, humanity and commitment

Both on stage and behind the curtain, throughout her career Núria Espert has demonstrated her commitment to working each day, both personally and professionally, to achieve a better world.

In the field of performing arts she has fought for women’s rights, using her voice to defend the role of women in society, especially in the world of art and culture.

A champion of ethics and humanity, Núria Espert is and has been an example for future generations, a woman who has helped consolidate the values of solidarity, generosity and dignity.

Núria Espert has also actively collaborated with social awareness campaigns and has participated in humanitarian projects, like her donation for the victims of the Cumbre Vieja de La Palma volcano in 2022. Her leadership and ability to inspire younger generations have been instrumental in her legacy, serving as a guide and mentor for young people.

Aware that culture is an essential human right, the actress has supported projects that promote access to culture, especially for the most vulnerable groups.