Verónica Fernández Echegaray (born 16 June 1983), known professionally as Verónica Echegui, is a Spanish actress. Since making her feature film debut as the title character of the 2006 drama My Name Is Juani she has featured in films such as My Prison Yard (2008), Kathmandu Lullaby (2012), Family United (2013), Unknown Origins (2020), My Heart Goes Boom! (2020), and The Offering (2020).

Verónica Echegui
Echegui in 2016
Born
Verónica Fernández Echegaray

(1983-06-16) 16 June 1983 (age 40)
Madrid, Spain
Occupations
  • Actress
  • film director

She has also featured in television series such as Apaches (2017), Intimacy (2022) and The Patients of Dr. García (2023).

In 2020, her short film and directorial debut Tótem loba was released.

Early life edit

Verónica Fernández Echegaray[1] was born in Madrid on 16 June 1983.[2] Her father is a lawyer and her mother a civil servant.[3] In a 2015 interview she said she wanted to be an actress since she was eight but her parents wanted her "to study a career. My great-auntie was dying and told me I had to do what I wanted, although I must not tell my mother".[3] Moving to London, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts,[4] while working as a waitress and as a dog-walker.[3]

Career edit

 
Echegui together with fellow cast members of &Me Mark Waschke and Teun Luijkx

Echegui was discovered by Spanish director Bigas Luna, who cast her in the 2006 film My Name Is Juani, for which she was nominated Goya Award for Best New Actress; she portrayed the title character, a 18-year-old woman who moves to Madrid to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress.[5][3] The European Film Promotion Jury selected Echegui as one of ten up-and-coming European actors to be honoured with the 2009 Shooting Stars Award.[6]

In 2009, she made herself known to British audiences in the Mighty Boosh film spin-off Bunny and the Bull. Starring alongside Boosh mainstays Noel Fielding, Simon Farnaby and Julian Barratt, she played a foul-mouthed waitress caught up in a bizarre, hallucinogenic road trip involving a kidnapped stuffed bear, jars of urine, deranged tramps and dogs.

In 2012, Craig Mathieson wrote in the Australian entertainment paper The Age "In Roberto Perez Toledo's romantic drama Six Points about Emma she plays a wilful and sexually confident blind woman, while for Manuel Martín Cuenca's sparsely atmospheric Half of Oscar she is a silent, recessive sibling circling her estranged brother, and in Icíar Bollaín's Kathmandu Lullaby she displays a forthright passion as a teacher trying to help abandoned children in Nepal."[7] In 2018, she made her American television debut appearing in the FX series Trust, playing one of J. Paul Getty's girlfriends, Luciana.[citation needed]

 
Echegui presenting her debut short film Tótem loba at the 2021 Gijón International Film Festival.

In 2020, she portrayed hard-boiled cop and cosplay-loving Norma in Unknown Origins.[8][9]

In 2021, she debuted as a director with the short film Tótem loba [es], which won the Goya Award for Best Fictional Short Film.[10]

Personal life edit

Echegui is fluent in Spanish, Italian and English.[11]

As of 2015, she was living with her then boyfriend of 4 years, Spanish actor Álex García in Brixton, London.[3]

Filmography edit

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Yo soy la Juani (My Name Is Juani) Juani [12]
2007 El menor de los males (The Lesser Evil) Vanesa [13]
Tocar el cielo (Touch the Sky) Elena [14]
2008 8 citas (8 Dates) Vane [15]
El patio de mi cárcel (My Prison Yard) Isa [16]
La casa de mi padre [es] Sara [17]
2009 Bunny and the Bull Eloisa [18]
2010 La mitad de Óscar (Half of Oscar) María [19]
2011 Verbo Medussa [20]
Seis puntos sobre Emma (Six Points About Emma) Emma [21]
2012 Katmandú, un espejo en el cielo (Kathmandu Lullaby) Laia [22]
The Cold Light of Day Lucia [23]
2013 &ME Edurne [24]
La gran familia española (Family United) Cris [25]
2014 Kamikaze Nancy [26]
2016 Me estás matando, Susana (You're Killing Me Susana) Susana [27]
No culpes al karma de lo que te pasa por gilipollas (Don't Blame the Karma for Being an Idiot) Sara [28]
2017 La niebla y la doncella (The Mist and the Maiden) Ruth Anglada [29]
Lasciati andare [it] (Let Yourself Go) Claudia [30]
The Hunter's Prayer Dani
2019 Orígenes secretos (Unknown Origins) Norma [31]
2020 L'ofrena (The Offering) Rita [32]
Explota explota (My Heart Goes Boom!) Amparo Character features a Murcian Spanish accent [33]
2021 Donde caben dos (More the Merrier) Ana [34]
2022 Book of Love Maria Rodríguez [35]
Historias para no contar (Stories Not to Be Told) Sofía [36]
Objetos (Lost & Found) Helena [37]
2024
Yo no soy esa Susana
Justicia artificial Carmen Costa [39]

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2003 Una nueva vida Ana 3 episodes
2003 Paco y Veva Isa 18 episodes
2007 Un difunto, seis mujeres y un taller Marta TV movie
2014 Cuéntame cómo pasó Cristina 1 episode
2015–17 Fortitude Elena Ledesma 19 episodes
2017 Apaches Carol [40]
2018 Trust Luciana Miniseries
2020 3 Caminos[41][42] Raquel 6 episodes
2022 Intimidad (Intimacy) Ane 8 episodes [43]
2023 Los pacientes del doctor García (The Patients of Dr. García) Amparo Priego [44]

Accolades edit

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2007 62nd CEC Medals Best Newcomer My Name Is Juani Nominated [45]
21st Goya Awards Best New Actress Nominated [46]
51st Sant Jordi Awards Best Spanish Actress Won [47]
16th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best New Actress Nominated [48][49]
10th Málaga Film Festival Best Supporting Actress The Lesser Evil Won [50]
2009 64th CEC Medals Best Actress My Prison Yard Nominated [51]
23rd Goya Awards Best Actress Nominated [52]
2012 4th Gaudí Awards Best Actress Kathmandu Lullaby Won [53][54]
26th Goya Awards Best Actress Nominated [55]
2014 1st Feroz Awards Best Supporting Actress Family United Nominated [56]
23rd Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role Nominated [57][58]
2021 8th Feroz Awards Best Supporting Actress My Heart Goes Boom! Won [59]
35th Goya Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated [60]
13th Gaudí Awards Best Supporting Actress The Offering Won [61]
2023
10th Platino Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series Intimacy Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Sisí, Alberto (22 January 2018). "Diez datos que no conocías de Verónica Echegui". Los 40.
  2. ^ Vicent, Manuel (25 September 2017). "Cómo ser actriz sin darse cuenta". El País.
  3. ^ a b c d e Susannah Butter The ice breaker: Verónica Echegui on her role in new TV show Fortitude and living in London The Evening standard, 30 January 2015
  4. ^ "Verónica Echegui". Shooting Stars Awards. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Verónica Echegui y Dani Martín, protagonistas de 'Yo Soy la Juani' en La 1". Europa Press. 11 July 2009.
  6. ^ Roxborough, Scott (9 December 2008). "EFP jury chooses 2009 Shooting Stars". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ Craig Mathieson Spanish actress does nice line as action woman The Age, 15 November 2012, retrieved 7 June 2017
  8. ^ Crespo, Borja (28 August 2020). "'Orígenes secretos': con f de friki". El Correo.
  9. ^ García, Marisa (28 August 2020). "'Orígenes secretos': la divertida película de estreno de Javier Rey en Netflix". Diez Minutos.
  10. ^ "'Tótem loba', el significado del corto que Verónica Echegui quiere que vea Pedro Sánchez". rtve.es. 23 May 2022.
  11. ^ Wilde, Jon (26 April 2011). "Veronica E & Me". Sabotage Times. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  12. ^ "'Versión española' se suma en la Seminci al homenaje a Bigas Luna con 'Yo soy la Juani'". rtve.es. 21 October 2022.
  13. ^ López, María Dolores (9 May 2008). ""El menor de los males", en cartelera en once localidades". La Voz de Galicia.
  14. ^ Holland, Jonathan (27 September 2007). "Touch the Sky". Variety.
  15. ^ "XXIX Semana del Cine Español en Carabanchel" (PDF). Ayuntamiento de Madrid. 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  16. ^ "'Versión Española' estrena 'El patio de mi cárcel', una historia de mujeres protagonizada por Verónica Echegui". rtve.es. 12 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Versión Española estrena 'La casa de mi padre', de Gorka Merchán". rtve.es. 6 June 2017.
  18. ^ Fleet, Adam (11 October 2022). "Bunny and the Bull: an underrated comedy from the minds behind the Mighty Boosh and Paddington". The Guardian.
  19. ^ "Verónica Echegui, Rodrigo Saénz de Heredia y Antonio de la Torre en 'La mitad de Óscar'". Europa Press. 15 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Cine de acción y ciencia ficción con 'Verbo'". Noticias de Navarra. 3 November 2011.
  21. ^ Ledesma, Eduardo (2018). "Seis puntos sobre Emma (Six Points About Emma) (2011)". In Jimenez Murguía, Salvador; Pinar, Alex (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 340. ISBN 9781442271326.
  22. ^ "Katmandú, un espejo en el cielo". El Cultural. 30 January 2012 – via El Español.
  23. ^ Holden, Stephen (7 September 2012). "For Spy's Family, a Bad Trip". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "&ME – Norbert ter Hall". NU.nl. 13 March 2013.
  25. ^ Soler Molina, Esther. "La gran familia española (Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, 2023)". Filmhistoria Online. 23 (2). Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. ISSN 2014-668X.
  26. ^ Vall, Pere (27 March 2014). "Un canto a la vida pasado por nieve". Fotogramas.
  27. ^ "Verónica Echegui protagoniza una relación tóxica, "típica de la sociedad heteropatriarcal" en 'Me estás matando Susana'". Europa Press. 19 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Verónica Echegui da vida a una 'Bridget Jones' de Malasaña en 'No culpes al karma de lo que te pasa por gilipollas'". Europa Press. 30 March 2017.
  29. ^ "Mord auf La Gomera". ZDF. 12 September 2022.
  30. ^ Weissberg, Jay (1 March 2018). "Film Review: 'Let Yourself Go". Variety.
  31. ^ Martínez, Beatriz (27 August 2020). "'Orígenes secretos': superhéroes de aquí". El Periódico de Catalunya.
  32. ^ "Ventura Durall estrena L'Ofrena, un thriller psicológico que ahonda en la culpa y el perdón". 20minutos.es. 17 September 2020.
  33. ^ Palo Murcia, Alberto (2 October 2020). "La razón de que Verónica Echegui hable con acento murciano en 'Explota Explota'". Los 40.
  34. ^ Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (27 July 2021). "Los estrenos del 30 de julio. 'Donde caben dos'. Viviendo la noche loca". Aisge.
  35. ^ Laffly, Tomris (4 February 2022). "'Book of Love' Review: An Imperfect Yet Lovable Rom-Com of Modest Pleasures". Variety.
  36. ^ "Historias para no contar". Filmax. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  37. ^ García, Concha (29 September 2022). "Verónica Echegui: "La cosificación entre humanos es terrorífica, pero real"". La Razón.
  38. ^ Portabales, Julio J. (8 March 2024). "Verónica Echegui y su debut en el cine en el Festival de Málaga: «Fue como un sueño»". Diario Sur. Grupo Vocento.
  39. ^ "Comienza el rodaje de 'Justicia artificial', participada por RTVE". rtve.es. 18 November 2022.
  40. ^ Andrés, M.J.; Mingo, A. (15 January 2018). "'Apaches' en femenino: Ingrid García Jonsson y Verónica Echegui pisan fuerte en la serie de Antena 3". Diez Minutos.
  41. ^ "'3Caminos': Así es la nueva serie de Amazon Prime Video con Álex González y Verónica Echegui". 29 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Cecilia Suárez se une a la serie de Amazon '3Caminos'". 25 May 2020.
  43. ^ Bermejo, Andrea G. (10 June 2022). "'Intimidad', la serie de Netflix que busca culpables en el porno de venganza". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  44. ^ Silvestre, Juan (23 February 2022). "Entrevista a Verónica Echegui por 'Los pacientes del doctor García'". Fotogramas.
  45. ^ "Medallas del CEC a la producción española de 2006". Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Yo soy la Juani". premiosgoya. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  47. ^ "'El Laberinto del Fauno' y 'Buenas noches, buena suerte', premios Sant Jordi de cine". La Vanguardia. 21 March 2007.
  48. ^ "'Volver' y 'Así es (si así os parece)', las favoritas a los premios Unión de Actores". El Mundo. 5 January 2007.
  49. ^ "La Unión de Actores premia `Volver´, `El método Grönholm´ y `Mujeres´". La Opinión de La Coruña. 13 February 2007.
  50. ^ "'Bajo las estrellas', ganadora del X Festival de Cine Español de Málaga". Diario Sur. Grupo Vocento. 17 March 2007.
  51. ^ "Medallas del CEC a la producción española de 2006". Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  52. ^ "El patio de mi cárcel". premiosgoya. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  53. ^ "Nominades - IV Premis Gaudí". Acadèmia del Cinema Català. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  54. ^ "'Mientras duermes', 'Eva', 'Chico & Rita' y 'Katmandú', participadas por TVE, conquistan 14 Premios Gaudí". RTVE. 7 February 2012.
  55. ^ "Katmandú. Un espejo en el cielo". premiosgoya. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  56. ^ Agudo, Jesús (28 January 2014). "Lista de ganadores de los Premios Feroz 2014". Ecartelera.
  57. ^ "'El tiempo entre costuras' e 'Isabel' dominan en las nominaciones de la Unión de Actores". Vertele!. eldiario.es. 10 February 2014.
  58. ^ "Antonio de la Torre y Susi Sánchez triunfan en los premios de la Unión de Actores". Fotogramas. 11 March 2014.
  59. ^ "Estos son los ganadores de los Premios Feroz de 2021: la lista completa, por categorías". El Confidencial. 2 March 2021.
  60. ^ "Explota explota". premiosgoya. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  61. ^ Silvestre, Juan (22 March 2021). "Premios Gaudí 2021: todos los ganadores". Fotogramas.
  62. ^ "Premios Platino 2023: palmarés con todos los ganadores". Cinemanía. 22 April 2023 – via 20minutos.es.

External links edit