María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta (born 27 May 1951), known professionally as Ana Belén, is a Spanish actress and singer. She and her husband are considered symbols of the Spanish Transition, and her songs and albums often feature boldly-titled works with social and political content.
Contents
Life and career
Born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid, María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta is the eldest of three siblings. Her father was a cook in Hotel Palace, and her mother worked as doorwoman at an estate. Cuesta made her feature film debut in Zampo y yo (1966) starring as a girl named Ana Belén alongside Fernando Rey; Cuesta took the character's name of Ana Belén as her stage name from then on.
After working in the film Morbo by Gonzalo Suárez with Víctor Manuel, Ana Belén married the latter on 13 June 1972 in Gibraltar. At this time she also started her career as a singer, releasing several successful albums. She appeared in various films: La petición by Pilar Miró; Emilia parada y fonda by Angelino Fons; El buscón by Luciano Berriatúa; La oscura historia de la prima Montse by Jordi Cadena; La criatura by Eloy de la Iglesia, and Sonámbulos by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón.
In 1986, Ana Belén, alongside songwriter Víctor Manuel, performed the song "La Puerta de Alcalá". The single remained at the top position in Spain for seven weeks in summer 1986. In 1991, she recorded Como una novia, her first album that did not include any songs composed or adapted by Víctor Manuel. In 1997, she released a new album, Mírame, of her own songs and duets and which went on to become the best-selling album of her solo career. In autumn of 1996, she – along with Joan Manuel Serrat, Miguel Ríos, and Víctor Manuel – set ticket sales records throughout Spain with their "El gusto es nuestro" tour. In 1998, Belen commemorated Federico García Lorca's centenary by releasing two albums under the title of Lorquiana, a collection of poems and popular songs by Lorca. The following year another album was released Ana Belén y Miguel Ríos cantan a Kurt Weill, and she had a role in the Tele 5 series, Petra Delicado.
In 2024, for his comeback to cinema after an appearance in The Queen of Spain (2016) and her first film leading role since Things That Make Living Worthwhile (2004), Ana Belén joined the shooting of Islands.
Discography
1965
Zampo y yo
Qué difícil es tener 18 años
1973
Al diablo con amor (BSO)
Tierra
1975
Calle del Oso
1976
La paloma del vuelo popular
1977
De paso
1979
Ana
Lo mejor de Ana Belén
1980
Con las manos llenas
1982
Ana en Río
1983
Victor y Ana en vivo
1984
Géminis
1985
BSO La corte de faraón
1986
Para la ternura siempre hay tiempo (with Víctor Manuel)
Grandes éxitos
1987
BSO Divinas palabras
Filmography
Stage
Romeo y Julieta despiertan… (2023/2024)
Antonio y Cleopatra (2021)
Eva contra Eva (2021/2022)
Medea (2015/2016).
Kathie y el hipopótamo (2013/2015)
Electra (2012)
Fedra (2007, 2009/2010)
Diatriba de amor contra un hombre sentado (2004/2005)
Defensa de dama (2002)
La bella Helena (1995/1996)
La gallarda (1992)
El mercader de Venecia (1991/1992)
Hamlet (1989)
La casa de Bernarda Alba (1984)
La hija del aire (1982)
Tío Vania (1979)
Antígona (1975)
Ravos (1972)
Sabor a miel (1971)
Los niños (1970)
Te espero ayer (1969)
Don Juan Tenorio (1969)
Medida por medida (1968)
Las mujeres sabias (1968)
El sí de las niñas (1967)
Awards
1971 Best TV actress for Retablo de las mocedades del Cid Fotogramas Award
1972 Special mention for Morbo San Sebastián International Film Festival
1980 Best TV actress for Fortunata y Jacinta Fotogramas de Plata
1980 Best actress for Fortunata y Jacinta TP de Oro
1980 Best actress for La Corte del Faraón Bronce
1980 Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
1987 Best actress for La Casa de Bernarda Alba and Divinas palabras Fotogramas de Plata
1988 Nominated for Best actress for Miss Caribe Goya Awards
1989 Nominated for Best actress for El vuelo de la Paloma Goya Awards
1991 Nominated for Best director for Como ser mujer y no morir en el intento Premios Ondas
1991 Nominated for Best director debut for Como ser mujer y no morir en el intento Goya Awards
1994 Best song for Contaminame Premios Ondas
1994 Nominated for Best actress for La Pasión Turca Goya Awards
1994 Best Actress for La Pasión Turca Goya Awards
1995 Gold Medal from the Spanish Cinema Academy
1995 Best theatre actress for La bella Helena Fotogramas de Plata