María Jesús Lampreave Pérez (11 December 1930 – 4 April 2016), known professionally as Chus Lampreave, was a Spanish character actress who starred in more than 70 films. She is known internationally for her roles in films by Pedro Almodóvar.

Career Lampreave was born in Madrid. She planned on being a painter and studied at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, after which she worked as an illustrator for the publishing firm.

It had not been her intention to become an actress, but was discovered by Jaime de Armiñán and began appearing in films in 1959.

Her first work with Pedro Almodóvar was in Entre tinieblas (1983). In total, Lampreave appeared in eight of his films. Almodóvar is known for his recurring use of certain actresses; they are referred to as the "Almodóvar girls".

While Lampreave never played a leading role, she would come to be known as Spain's most popular supporting actress. She was known for playing old ladies, usually eccentric relatives, that sported extremely thick glasses. She was recognized for the humor and humanity she contributed to her characters.

Among Lampreave's last roles was as the face of three advertising campaigns for Campofrío embutido sausages.

Personal life Lampreave married in 1960. She had a son, who is a biologist, and a daughter who died in the 1990s after an illness.

She spent the last few years of her life away from the spotlight in Almería in the south of Spain. She died in 2016 the age of 85.

Filmography

Year Title Role Director Notes 1959 El pisito Adelina, secretary Don Manuel Marco Ferreri Uncredited 1960 El cochecito Yolanda Marco Ferreri 1963 La becerrada Chus José María Forqué 1963 Not on Your Life A visitor Luis García Berlanga 1966 Les Combinards Jean-Claude Roy (scenes deleted) 1970 La Lola, dicen que no vive sola Justa Jaime de Armiñán 1972 My Dearest Senorita Niece Chus Jaime de Armiñán 1974 The Love of Captain Brando Alcaldesa Jaime de Armiñán 1976 Colorín colorado Austin José Luis García Sánchez 1977 El bengador Gusticiero y su pastelera madre Rosalinda Antonio Fraguas 'Forges' Al fin solos, pero... Chus Antonio Giménez Rico La guerra de papá Loren Antonio Mercero Nunca es tarde Manoli Jaime de Armiñán 1978 El monosabio Clara Ray Rivas La escopeta nacional Viti Luis García Berlanga 1980 El erótico enmascarado Doña Gertrudis Mariano Ozores 1981 National Heritage Viti Luis García Berlanga Cuentos para una escapada 1982 Nacional III Viti Luis García Berlanga 1983 Dark Habits Sor Rata Pedro Almodóvar 1984 Epílogo Flo-Flo Gonzalo Suárez Bajo en nicotina Puri Raúl Artigot What Have I Done to Deserve This? Grandmother Pedro Almodóvar El jardín secreto María Carlos Suárez 1985 El rollo de septiembre Doña Aurelia Mariano Ozores El elegido Florita Fernando Huertas Sé infiel y no mires con quién Adela Mora Fernando Trueba 1986 Lulú de noche Pharmacy worker Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Matador Pilar Pedro Almodóvar Year of Enlightment Doña Tránsito Fernando Trueba 1987 La vida alegre Vecina II Fernando Colomo El pecador impecable Beni Augusto Martínez Torres Moros y cristianos Antonia Luis García Berlanga 1988 Espérame en el cielo Emilia Antonio Mercero Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown A concierge who is a Jehova's Witness Pedro Almodóvar Miss Caribe Doña Petra Fernando Colomo 1989 Amanece, que no es poco Mother of Álvarez José Luis Cuerda Bajarse al moro Doña Antonia Fernando Colomo 1992 Belle Époque Doña Asun Fernando Trueba 1993 Supernova Avelina Juan Miñón Everyone Off to Jail Chus Luis García Berlanga 1994 Casque bleu Alicia's mother Gérard Jugnot Siete mil días juntos Sofía Fernando Fernán Gómez 1995 The Flower of My Secret Mother of Leo Pedro Almodóvar Así en el cielo como en la tierra Doña Asunción José Luis Cuerda 1998 Mátame mucho Josefa José Ángel Bohollo Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley Reme Santiago Segura Una pareja perfecta Doña Cuca Francesc Betriu 2001 Torrente 2: Misión en Marbella Reme Santiago Segura 2002 Talk to Her Portera Pedro Almodóvar El florido pensil Doña Pepa Juan José Porto 2003 Atraco a las 3... y media Doña Vicenta Raúl Marchand Sánchez 2004 Di que sí Mother of Víctor Juan Calvo 2006 Volver Aunt Paula Pedro Almodóvar 2008 Chef's Special Celia Nacho G. Velilla 2009 Broken Embraces A concierge Pedro Almodóvar 2010 Mami Blue 2012 The Artist and the Model María Fernando Trueba 2014 Torrente 5: Operación Eurovegas Reme Santiago Segura

Television Lo+Plus (1997) Hermanas (1998)

Awards Premio Goya (1992)Premios Goya (1992), imdb.com; accessed 23 January 2016. Fotogramas de Plata (2005) Spanish Actors Union Awards (2006)Chus Lampreave se llevó mejor actriz de reparto, lasemana.es; accessed 20 March 2016. Cannes Film Festival (2006): Best actress together with the rest of female cast of Volver

List of awards and nominations Cannes Film Festival Year Category Movie Result2006 Best ActressVolver Goya Awards Year Category Movie Result2012 Best Supporting Actress El artista y la modelo 1995 Best Supporting Actress The Flower of My Secret 1992Best Supporting Actress Belle Époque 1989 Best Supporting Actress Bajarse al moro 1988 Best Supporting Actress Espérame en el cielo 1986 Best Supporting Actress El año de las luces Fotogramas de Plata Year Category Movie Result2005Live Career 1993 Best TV Actress ¿De parte de quién? Finalist (1st round)1990 Best TV Actress Eva y Adán, agencia matrimonial 1988Best cinema actressEspérame en el cieloMiss CaribeMujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios 1986Best Cinema Actress El año de las lucesLulú de nocheMatador 1984 Best Cinema Actress ¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto? Spanish Actors Union Awards Year Category Movie Result2012 Best Supporting Actress El artista y la modelo 2008 Fuera de carta 2006 Volver 1995 The Flower of My Secret

Awards by the Ministry of Culture

Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, 2001

References

External links