Paz Vega

She played the role of Catalina Creel in the 2019 television series Cradle of Wolves (Cuna de lobos). She made her directorial debut with Rita (2024), which she also wrote.

The recorded working language is Spanish. The field of work recorded is film and modelling. Works named in the authority record are La vida inmoral de la pareja ideal and Rita. Distinctions recorded are Trophée Chopard, Goya Awards and Dearest Son of Andalusia.

• Name — Paz Vega • Birth Name — María de la Paz Campos Trigo • Born — 2 January 1976 • Birthplace — Seville, Spain • Occupation — * Actress • filmmaker • Years Active — 1997–present • Children — 3

Vega was born in Seville, Andalusia, in 1976 to a housewife mother and a father who was a former bullfighter. Vega's younger sister has performed as a flamenco dancer. Vega has described her family as "traditional" and Catholic. She took her stage surname of 'Vega' from her grandmother. Vega decided to become an actress after attending a performance of Federico García Lorca's play, Bernarda Alba's House (La casa de Bernarda Alba), when she was 16. After completing compulsory education at 16, Vega was accepted at the Andalusian Theater Center (Centro Andaluz de Teatro) stage school. She studied there for two years and took another two years studying journalism. She next moved to Madrid to seek her future.

• Illustration — Vega at the 10 Items or Less premiere in Madrid with co-star Morgan Freeman in 2007 Vega made her television debut in the Spanish TV series, My Father Is So Nice (Menudo es mi padre), which starred rumba singer El Fary. She appeared in two other series in 1997; More Than Friends (Más que amigos) and Companions (Compañeros). In 1999, she made her film debut in Zapping. The same year, she also had a minor role in the David Menkes movie I Will Survive, alongside Emma Suárez, and Juan Diego Botto. Vega found success in 1999's TV series 7 Lives (7 Vidas). The series was billed as a Spanish Friends and became one of the country's best-loved domestic sitcoms. Vega played Laura, a perky Andalusian girl who had come to stay with David, who had recently come out of a coma. The series was broadcast on Telecinco and finished on 12 April 2006, albeit without Vega. In 2001, she starred in Julio Médem's film Sex and Lucia, which brought her to the attention of a larger audience. She received prominent exposure, particularly to American audiences, when she appeared in the 2004 James L. Brooks American film Spanglish opposite Adam Sandler. In 2006, she co-starred with American actor Morgan Freeman in the independent film 10 Items or Less, directed by Brad Silberling. In 2008, she co-starred with Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson in The Spirit. In 2011, Vega had a role in Michele Placido's film Vallanzasca – The Angels of Evil. Vega also works as a model; she is signed to 1/One Management in New York City. In May 2011, Vega replaced Penélope Cruz as the face for L'Oreal Spain. In 2018, she participated in the third season of the reality cooking show MasterChef Celebrity. In 2019, Vega appeared in Televisa to portray the lead character Catalina Creel in the miniseries Cradle of Wolves (Cuna de Lobos), based on the 1986 original telenovela of the same title. The same year, she portrayed an independent Mexican reporter in Rambo: Last Blood, in which she co-starred with Sylvester Stallone. In 2023, Vega announced in Cannes the beginning of filming of her directorial and writing debut, Rita, a feature film set in 1980s Seville billed by Vega as a "costumbrista and nostalgic" story. The film premiered at 2024 Locarno Film Festival and earned her a nomination for the Goya Award for Best New Director. In 2025, another directorial effort by Vega, Ana no, based on Ana non by Agustín Gómez-Arcos, was reported to be in development.

Vega and her Venezuelan husband, Orson Salazar, had their first child, a son, in May 2004. Their second child, a daughter, was born in July 2006. Their third child, another son, was born in August 2007. They married in 2002. Paz Vega is listed amongst the major tax defaulters by the Spanish Tax Agency, owing €1.7 million in 2023 and €2.3 million in 2024.

• Year — Title — Roles — Notes • 1997 — My Father Is So Nice (Menudo es mi padre — Olga — 6 episodes • 1997–1998 — more Than Friends (Más que amigos — Olga — 28 episodes • 1998 — Companions (Compañeros) — Luz — 17 episodes • 1999 — Shelly Fisher — Seidy Bender — Television film • 1999–2006 — 7 Lives (7 vidas) — Laura Arteagabeitia — 60 episodes • 2008 — Lex — Rocío Janer — 4 episodes • 2012 — Mary of Nazareth — Mary Magdalene — Television film • One Thousand and One Nights: Aladdin and Sherazade (Le mille e una notte: Aladino e Sherazade) — Namuna — Miniseries, three parts • 2015 — Beautiful & Twisted — Narcy — Television film • Big Time in Hollywood, FL — Isabella Delgado — 4 episodes • 2016–2017 — The Brotherhood (La Hermandad) — Luisa Salinas — Main role (seasons 1–2); 25 episodes • 2016–2019 — The OA — Renata — Main role (seasons 1–2); 7 episodes • 2017 — Forgive me, sir (Perdóname, señor) — Lucía Medina — 8 episodes • 2018 — Fugitive (Fugitiva) — Magda — 9 episodes • Paquita Salas — Herself — Episode: "Starting Point" ("Punto de partida") • MasterChef Celebrity — Runner-Up (season 3); 11 episodes • The Continental (El Continental) — Belice — 5 episodes • 2019 — Cradle Of Wolves (Cuna de lobos) — Catalina Creel de Larios — Lead role • 2020 — The House of Flowers (La Casa de las Flores) — Carmelita's mother — Episode: "LAUREL, (Symb. glory)" • 2020–2021 — Mask Singer: Guess Who Sings (Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta) — Catrina — Winner (season 1); 8 episodes • Herself — Investigator (season 2); 9 episodes • 2023 — Kaleidoscope — Ava Mercer — Main role

• Illustration — Vega and Nicole Kidman at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival • Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref. Reference • 2001 — Best Actress — Sex and Lucia • 2002 — 57th CEC Medals — Best Actress — Mine Alone • Best Spanish Actress — Sex and Lucia & Mine Alone • Best Film Actress — Sex and Lucia • Best New Actress — Sex and Lucia • Best Actress — Mine Alone • Best Film Performance in a Leading Role • Best New Performance • 2003 — Best Actress — The Other Side of the Bed • 2004 — Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress — Carmen • 2005 — Imagen Awards — Best Actress — Spanglish • 2020 — 29th Actors and Actresses Union Awards — Best Actress in an International Production — The OA • 2021 — Best Actress — Wetland • 2022 — Best Actress — The House of Snails • Best Actress in an International Production — Kaleidoscope • 4th Carmen Awards — Best New Director — Rita • Best Original Screenplay • Best Supporting Actress • 39th Goya Awards — Best New Director

Paz Vega is recorded with the occupation film producer. Recorded with the occupation model. Recorded with the occupation actor. Recorded as model, actress, film director and film producer.