Najwa Nimri
Najwa Nimri Urrutikoetxea is a Spanish actress and singer.
In 1996, Nimri formed the musical duo Najwajean along with producer Carlos Jean, launching No Blood, an early instance of a trip-hop album in Spain. She first appeared in a film with a leading role in Jump into the Void, eventually becoming one of the big names of 1990s and 2000s Spanish cinema. Film roles that came after her debut include performances in Passages, Open Your Eyes, Blinded, Lovers of the Arctic Circle, Asfalto, Sex and Lucia, and Fausto 5.0.
After spending some time on the back burner as an actress, her popularity greatly increased in the streaming era for her television work in villain roles in crime drama series Locked Up and Money Heist.
Early life
Nimri's mother is from Pamplona and her father, Karam Nimri, is Jordanian. She has a brother, a half-brother and two half-sisters. Najwa also has a cousin who is a singer named Alexander Nimier. When she was a child she moved to Bilbao with her family and was raised in Santutxu. She now lives in Madrid.Career
Her first major film role was in Salto al vacío, the first movie by film director Daniel Calparsoro. Her career as a singer started with small groups. In 1996, she formed the band with Carlos Jean. She has also released three solo albums. From 1995 to 2000, she was married to Daniel Calparsoro.Several of her film roles won her praise: as Ana in Lovers of the Arctic Circle, and as Elena in Sex and Lucia. Both films were directed by Julio Medem. She starred next to Eduardo Noriega in Abre los ojos, and El método.
She was nominated to the Goya Award for Best Actress for her performance as amnesiac diva Lila Cassen in Quién te cantará.
In 2020, she returned as Zulema in the spin off Vis a vis: El Oasis, starring with Maggie Civantos. She played Alicia Sierra, a policewoman inspector in La casa de papel. She voiced Kate Laswell in the 2019 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
She joined season 2 of religious horror series 30 Coins to portray paranormal hunter and video podcaster Haruka. In 2024, she featured in the hospital-set drama series Breathless, portraying a right-wing President of the Valencian Community set on dismantling the public healthcare system. She also portrayed Aurora Rodríguez in The Red Virgin.
Discography
With Carlos Jean as Najwajean
No Blood – No. 80Asfalto – No. 175Guerreros – No. 88Najwajean Selection – No. 108Till It Breaks – No. 20- ''Bonzo''
Najwajean singles
I'm gonna be Garota de Ipanema Crime Waiting Bonzo- ''Drive me''
Solo albums
Carefully – No. 76Mayday – No. 48Walkabout – No. 10 Donde rugen los volcanes Rat Race Viene de Largo- ''AMA ''
Solo singles
That Cyclone from Carefully – No. 37Following Dolphins from Carefully – No. 68Go Cain from Mayday – No. 20Hey Boys, Girls from Mayday – No. 26Capable from Walkabout – No. 3Push It from WalkaboutLe Tien, Le Mien from WalkaboutEl último primate from El Ultimo primateComo un animal from El ultimo primate.Donde rugen los volcanes from Donde rugen los volcanesSomos su nuevo invitado from Donde rugen los volcanesFeed Us from Rat RaceRat race from Rat RacePijama from Rat RaceLento from Viene de largo Panpan Mira Como Van Santa Claus llego a la cuidad Contra Quien Luchaba Aperol Esquiando Big Bang- Chia ·
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
| 1995 | Salto al vacío | Alex | ||
| 1996 | Pasajes | Gabi | ||
| 1997 | Abre los ojos | Nuria | ||
| 1997 | A ciegas | Marrubi | ||
| 1998 | Los amantes del círculo polar | Ana | Character also performed by Kristel Díaz and Sara Valiente | |
| 1998 | 9'8 m/s² | Ella | ||
| 2000 | Asfalto | Lucía | ||
| 2001 | Fausto 5.0 | Julia | ||
| 2001 | Before Night Falls | Fina Correa | ||
| 2001 | Lucía y el sexo | Elena | ||
| 2002 | Piedras | Leire | ||
| 2003 | Utopía | Ángela | ||
| 2004 | A+ (Amas) | Dam | ||
| 2004 | Agents secrets | Maria Menendez | ||
| 2005 | El método | Nieves | ||
| 2005 | 20 centímetros | La Conejo | ||
| 2006 | Trastorno | Natalia | ||
| 2006 | Las vidas de Celia | Celia | ||
| 2007 | Mataharis | Eva | ||
| 2007 | Oviedo Express | Bárbara | ||
| 2010 | Todo lo que tú quieras | Marta | ||
| 2010 | Route Irish | Marisol | ||
| 2010 | Habitación en Roma | Edurne | ||
| 2011 | Verbo | Inés | ||
| 2012 | The Wine of Summer | Ana | ||
| 2013 | 10.000 noches en ninguna parte | Claudia | ||
| 2018 | Quién te cantará | Lila Cassen | ||
| 2018 | El árbol de la sangre | Macarena | ||
| 2024 | La virgen roja | Aurora Rodríguez | ||
| 2026 |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | |
| 1998 | 45th Ondas Awards | Best Actress | Lovers of the Arctic Circle & Open Your Eyes | Won | |
| 1999 | 13th Goya Awards | Best Actress | Lovers of the Arctic Circle | Nomitated | |
| 2002 | 16th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sex and Lucia | Nomitated | |
| 2017 | 4th Feroz Awards | Best Main Actress in a Series | Locked Up | Nomitated | |
| 2019 | 6th Feroz Awards | Best Main Actress in a Series | Locked Up | Nomitated | |
| 2019 | 33rd Goya Awards | Best Actress | Quién te cantará | Nomitated | |
| 2019 | 69th Fotogramas de Plata | Best Film Actress | Quién te cantará | Nomitated | |
| 2019 | 69th Fotogramas de Plata | Best TV Actress | Locked Up | Won | |
| 2019 | 6th Platino Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series | Locked Up | Nomitated | |
| 2021 | 8th Platino Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series | Money Heist | Nomitated | |
| 2022 | 72nd Fotogramas de Plata | Best TV Actress | Money Heist | Won | |
| 2022 | 9th Platino Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series | Money Heist | Won | |
| 2024 | 30th Forqué Awards | Best Actress in a Film | The Red Virgin | Nomitated | |
| 2025 | Best Actress | The Red Virgin | Nomitated | ||
| 2025 | Best Main Actress in a Film | The Red Virgin | Nomitated | ||
| 2025 | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | The Red Virgin | Nomitated |