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Elena Anaya

Elena Anaya

Actor, also producer · Born July 17, 1975 (51) · Palencia, Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain

Berlinale award winner

Elena Anaya Gutiérrez (born July 17, 1975) is a Spanish actress whose career dates back to 1995. Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain on July 17, 1975. She is the youngest of 5 children. She first received international attention in 2001 for her role in the sexually explicit drama Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucía) and also appeared in Pedro Almodóvar's Hable con ella (Talk to Her). Her best-known Hollywood film role was as a vampire in 2004's Van Helsing, playing Dracula's bride, Aleera. She is also featured in Justin Timberlake's music video for his 2006 single, SexyBack. In 2004, she was named as one of European films' Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1975 (51)
From
Palencia, Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Elena Anaya's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Morality
24%
Self
22%
Survival
14%
Power
7%
Society
2%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 6 · Dark 16

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 10 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 6

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 13

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 15
Shapeshifter
4 of 15
Trickster
1 of 15
Herald
1 of 15
Ally
1 of 15
Mentor
1 of 15
Shadow
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
17
Dread
7
Thrilling
6
Warm
5
Other
25

How their films linger

Thought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Elena Anaya's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Elena Anaya's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Rosebush Pruning(2026)

    as Emma

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Innato(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Sara

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Past Lies(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Rita

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Mentiras pasajeras(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer · as Lucía

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Fatum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Costa

  • The Chalk Line(2022)

    as Paula

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Professionals(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Graciela Davila

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Rifkin's Festival(2020)

    as Jo Rojas

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Three Days of Christmas(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Esther, young

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Jett(2019)

    Show 9 episodes · as María

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Summit(2017)

    as Claudia Klein

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Wonder Woman(2017)

    as Dr. Maru

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Zip & Zap and the Captain's Island(2016)

    as Señorita Pam

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Infiltrator(2016)

    as Gloria Alcaino

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Far from the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Marina

  • The Memory of Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Amanda

  • Swung(2015)

    Producer · as Alice López

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • They Are All Dead(2014)

    as Lupe

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • I Thought It Was a Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Ana

  • The Skin I Live In(2011)

    as Vera Cruz / Gal

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Point Blank(2010)

    as Nadia Pierret

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Room in Rome(2010)

    as Alba

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Cairo Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Kathryn

  • Hierro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Maria

  • 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Walking Vengeance(2008)

    as Ana

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Mesrine: Killer Instinct(2008)

    as Sofia

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Savage Grace(2007)

    as Blanca

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • In the Land of Women(2007)

    as Sofia Buñuel

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Miguel and William (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Leonor

  • Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer(2006)

    as Angélica de Alquézar

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Fragile(2005)

    as Helen Perez

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dead Fish(2005)

    as Mimi

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Ana y Manuel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Ana

  • Van Helsing(2004)

    as Aleera

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Two Tough Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Tatiana

  • Rencor(2002)

    as Esther

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Blue Room(2002)

    as Ana

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Talk to Her(2002)

    as Ángela

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • No News from God(2001)

    as Pili

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Sex and Lucía(2001)

    as Belén

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Winter of the Anjanas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Adelaida

  • El árbol del penitente (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Sonsoles

  • Wiped-Out Footprints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Rosa

  • Finisterre, donde termina el mundo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Laura

  • Lágrimas negras(1998)

    as Alicia

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Grandes ocasiones(1998)

    as Susy

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • ¿De qué se ríen las mujeres?(1997)

    as Catalina Bayarri

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Luna

  • África(1996)

    as África

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Interference (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles, 50 of them dated from 1996 to 2026; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

Van Helsing (2004)

$300M worldwide

Highest rated

Talk to Her (2002)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Rosebush Pruning (2026)

Film career

19962026

Peak 2010 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1996Screen debut· Family
  • 2009First top-billed film· Hierro
  • 2010Career best· Room in Rome
  • 2019Career best· Jett

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 51 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thProducing2 of 53: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1990s7 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 22% of 27 roles
960611

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Won a Berlinale award in 2004.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Elena Anaya's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 35 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor, producer

Professionals (2020)

76th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Talk to Her (2002)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Elena Anaya's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles38–84 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles22–78 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles30–74 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles23–70 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles38–73 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Elena Anaya work with?

People who share at least 2 of Elena Anaya's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; José Salcedo shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles