Leonor Watling


Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling is a Spanish film actress and singer.

Early life

Leonor Watling was born on 28 July 1975 in Madrid, to a Spanish father from Cádiz and an English mother, the youngest of four siblings. Her first vocation was that of dancer, but a knee injury made this impossible.

Career

Watling began her acting career in theatre. She earned her feature film debut with a performance in Pablo Llorca's Jardines colgantes. After that she participated in several TV series, such as Hermanos de leche, Farmacia de guardia or Querido maestro, but her most successful role was in the series Raquel busca su sitio with Cayetana Guillén Cuervo. In 1998, she was nominated for a Goya award for her role in La hora de los valientes, and was named as one of European film's 'Shooting Stars' by European Film Promotion in 1999. In 2002, she was nominated again for a Goya for her role in My Mother Likes Women.
Watling dubbed Anne Hathaway as the voice of "Red Pucket" in Hoodwinked. She also took part in The Oxford Murders, alongside Elijah Wood and John Hurt.
In 2006, Watling starred in the Paris, Je T'aime segment "Bastille" as Marie Christine. The anthology film was directed by many famous directors who each had to produce a five-minute film set in Paris, the city of love. Spanish writer-director Isabel Coixet wrote and directed the segment "Bastille", and Watling starred alongside Sergio Castellitto and Miranda Richardson as Sergio's younger lover, with whom he plans to run away after ending his relationship with his wife Miranda.
She combines film performances with her work with the band Marlango, in which she is the vocalist and sings mostly in English.
She appeared in the TV series Pulsaciones.

Personal life

Watling is in a relationship with the Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler, with whom she has a son, Luca, born in January 2009, and a daughter, Lea, born in July 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997–98'Silvia
2000Raquel busca su sitioRaquelLeading role
2006' SoniaTV movie
2017PulsacionesBlanca Jiménez
2018Asesinato en la UniversidadLara CabanesTV movie
2018–20Vivir sin permiso Berta Moliner
2020–NasdroviaEdurneLeading role
2021La templanza Soledad MontalvoLeading role. Younger version of the character performed by Carla Campra
2021Besos al aire Doctora CabanasLeading role. Two-part television miniseries
2022No me gusta conducir Iria
2024Citas BarcelonaJoana
2025La vida breveIsabel de Farnesio
2026Carla

;Other
  • "Somos Anormales", music video by Residente

    Discography

With Marlango

  • Marlango
  • Automatic Imperfection
  • The Electrical Morning
  • Life in the Treehouse
  • Un Día Extraordinario
  • El Porvenir
  • ''Technicolor''

    Collaborations

  • Miguel Bosé – Duet in "Este mundo va" from the album Papito
  • Jorge Drexler – Backing vocals in "El otro engranaje" from the album 12 segundos de oscuridad
  • – Backing vocals in "La vida mata" from the album Los abismos cotidianos
  • Fito Páez – Duet in "Pétalo de sal" and "Creo" from the album No sé si es Baires o Madrid
  • Jorge Drexler – Duet in "Toque de queda" from the album ''Amar la trama''

    Accolades

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
199913th Goya AwardsBest Leading ActressA Time for DefianceNomitated
200317th Goya AwardsBest Leading ActressMy Mother Likes WomenNomitated
200353rd Fotogramas de PlataBest Actress My Mother Likes WomenWon
200312th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Film Actress in a Leading RoleMy Mother Likes WomenNomitated
200459th CEC MedalsBest Supporting ActressMy Life Without MeWon
200413th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Actress in a Minor Role My Life Without MeWon
202024th Actors and Actresses Union AwardsBest Television Actress in a Minor RoleUnauthorized LivingNomitated
2023Best Supporting Actress in a TV SeriesI Don't Like DrivingNomitated
2026Best Supporting Actress in a SeriesLa vida breve