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 trained at the La Platea school in Madrid and later with Ana Rodríguez Costa in Barcelona. She landed her first starring role in the television series SMS: Sin Miedo a Soñar. Following this, she appeared in various television projects, including Cuenta atrás, Maitena: Estados alterados, and the sketch comedy series La tira, as well as the TV movie Una bala para el rey. Her early film credits include roles in the comedies Fuga de cerebros and Cuerpo de élite. León became best known for her role in the 2011 film The Sleeping Voice, for which she won Silver Shell for Best Actress at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and the Goya Award for Best New Actress. She has played the main role of Carmen in Allí abajo since 2015, which includes appearances from her mother, . 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 2009Fuga de cerebros (Brain Drain) Feature film debut 2011La voz dormida (The Sleeping Voice)PepitaGoya Award for Best New Actress 2012Carmina o revienta (Carmina or Blow Up)María 2014Carmina y amén (Carmina and Amen) María Marsella (Marseille) Sara 2015Rey gitano (Gipsy King)Dolores Los miércoles no existen (Wednesdays Don't Exist) Patricia 2016 (Heroes Wanted)Lola 2017El autor (The Motive)Amanda 2018Sin fin (Not the End)María Escapada Lucía 2019 (The Japon)Encarni 2020 (Wishlist)Eva 2021Donde caben dos (More the Merrier)Alba 2022 El universo de Óliver (Oliver's Universe) Carmela La piedad (Piety) 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 2006–2007SMS: Sin Miedo a SoñarlaSextaLeti992007Cuenta atrásCuatroTati12007Hospital CentralTelecincoMabel12008Estados alteradoslaSextaMaría12009Una bala para el ReyAntena 3Ada22010La tiralaSextaChari822010-2011AídaTelecinco"La Jose"32011Los QuiénAntena 3Arancha12012-2014Con el culo al aireAntena 3Sandra Rojo422015-2019Allí abajoAntena 3Carmen Almonte692019-2020The House of FlowersNetflixPurificación Riquelme10 2021Blowing Kisses Star Nines2 2022Drag Race España ATRESplayer PremiumHerself - 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 Silver Shell for Best Actress The Sleeping Voice 2012 Best New Actor or Actress Best New Actress Best Film Actress in a Leading Role 2013 Best Supporting Actress Carmina or Blow Up Best Supporting Actress Neox Fan Awards Best Actress Con el culo al aire 2015 Best Supporting Actress Carmina and Amen Best Actress Marseille Best Supporting Actress Carmina and Amen Best Actress Marseille 2020 Best Actress in an International Production The House of Flowers 2023 Best Supporting Actress Oliver's Universe Best Supporting Actress Close Your Eyes Best Supporting Actress in a Series The Asunta Case
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