Chus Lampreave


María Jesús Lampreave Pérez, 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.
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

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
1959El pisitoAdelina, secretary Don ManuelMarco FerreriUncredited
1960El cochecitoYolandaMarco Ferreri
1963La becerradaChusJosé María Forqué
1963Not on Your LifeA visitorLuis García Berlanga
1966Les CombinardsJean-Claude Roy
1970La Lola, dicen que no vive solaJustaJaime de Armiñán
1972My Dearest SenoritaNiece ChusJaime de Armiñán
1974The Love of Captain BrandoAlcaldesaJaime de Armiñán
1976Colorín coloradoAustinJosé Luis García Sánchez
1977El bengador Gusticiero y su pastelera madreRosalindaAntonio Fraguas 'Forges'
1977Al fin solos, pero...ChusAntonio Giménez Rico
1977La guerra de papáLorenAntonio Mercero
1977Nunca es tardeManoliJaime de Armiñán
1978El monosabioClaraRay Rivas
1978La escopeta nacionalVitiLuis García Berlanga
1980El erótico enmascaradoDoña GertrudisMariano Ozores
1981National HeritageVitiLuis García Berlanga
1981Cuentos para una escapada
1982Nacional IIIVitiLuis García Berlanga
1983Dark HabitsSor RataPedro Almodóvar
1984EpílogoFlo-FloGonzalo Suárez
1984Bajo en nicotinaPuriRaúl Artigot
1984What Have I Done to Deserve This?GrandmotherPedro Almodóvar
1984El jardín secretoMaríaCarlos Suárez
1985El rollo de septiembreDoña AureliaMariano Ozores
1985El elegidoFloritaFernando Huertas
1985Sé infiel y no mires con quiénAdela MoraFernando Trueba
1986Lulú de nochePharmacy workerEmilio Martínez-Lázaro
1986MatadorPilarPedro Almodóvar
1986Year of EnlightmentDoña TránsitoFernando Trueba
1987La vida alegreVecina IIFernando Colomo
1987El pecador impecableBeniAugusto Martínez Torres
1987Moros y cristianosAntoniaLuis García Berlanga
1988Espérame en el cieloEmiliaAntonio Mercero
1988Women on the Verge of a Nervous BreakdownA concierge who is a Jehova's WitnessPedro Almodóvar
1988Miss CaribeDoña PetraFernando Colomo
1989Amanece, que no es pocoMother of ÁlvarezJosé Luis Cuerda
1989Bajarse al moroDoña AntoniaFernando Colomo
1992Belle ÉpoqueDoña AsunFernando Trueba
1993SupernovaAvelinaJuan Miñón
1993Everyone Off to JailChusLuis García Berlanga
1994Casque bleuAlicia's motherGérard Jugnot
1994Siete mil días juntosSofíaFernando Fernán Gómez
1995The Flower of My SecretMother of LeoPedro Almodóvar
1995Así en el cielo como en la tierraDoña AsunciónJosé Luis Cuerda
1998Mátame muchoJosefaJosé Ángel Bohollo
1998Torrente, el brazo tonto de la leyRemeSantiago Segura
1998Una pareja perfectaDoña CucaFrancesc Betriu
2001Torrente 2: Misión en MarbellaRemeSantiago Segura
2002Talk to HerPorteraPedro Almodóvar
2002El florido pensilDoña PepaJuan José Porto
2003Atraco a las 3... y mediaDoña VicentaRaúl Marchand Sánchez
2004Di que síMother of VíctorJuan Calvo
2006VolverAunt PaulaPedro Almodóvar
2008Chef's SpecialCeliaNacho G. Velilla
2009Broken EmbracesA conciergePedro Almodóvar
2010Mami Blue
2012The Artist and the ModelMaríaFernando Trueba
2014Torrente 5: Operación EurovegasRemeSantiago Segura

Television

Lo+Plus
  • ''Hermanas''

Awards

List of awards and nominations

;Cannes Film Festival
YearCategoryMovieResult
2006Best ActressVolverWon

;Goya Awards
YearCategoryMovieResult
2012Best Supporting ActressEl artista y la modeloNomitated
1995Best Supporting ActressThe Flower of My SecretNomitated
1992Best Supporting ActressBelle ÉpoqueWon
1989Best Supporting ActressBajarse al moroNomitated
1988Best Supporting ActressEspérame en el cieloNomitated
1986Best Supporting ActressEl año de las lucesNomitated

;Fotogramas de Plata
;Spanish Actors Union Awards
YearCategoryMovieResult
2012Best Supporting ActressEl artista y la modeloNomitated
2008Best Supporting ActressFuera de cartaNomitated
2006Best Supporting ActressVolverWon
1995Best Supporting ActressThe Flower of My SecretNomitated

;Awards by the Ministry of Culture