Elena Anaya

Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain.^[2] She is the youngest of three children. Her mother, Elena (Nena), is a housewife who later owned a boarding house in Palencia. Her father, Juan José Anaya Gómez (1934–2011), was an industrial engineer.^[4]

Anaya moved to Cádiz to train as an actress, after which she landed roles in África (her film debut) and Familia.^[5][6]

She first received international attention in 2001 for her role in the sexually explicit drama Sex and Lucia.^[7] She also had a small part the year after in Almodóvar's Talk to Her.^[8]

Her best-known Hollywood film role was as Aleera, one of Dracula's brides in 2004's Van Helsing.^[9] That same year, Anaya was named as one of European films' Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion.^[10]

In 2006, Anaya appeared in Justin Timberlake's music video for his single, "SexyBack".^[11]

She played supporting roles in international films such as Savage Grace (2007) and Cairo Time (2009), and then starring roles in 2010's Room in Rome and Almodóvar's 2011 The Skin I Live In.

In 2017, Anaya appeared as Doctor Poison in the superhero blockbuster film, Wonder Woman.^[12]

Anaya is a lesbian. Anaya and director Beatriz Sanchís [es] were reportedly in a relationship from 2008 to 2013.^[13][14]

In November 2016, it was announced that Anaya was expecting her first child with her partner, Tina Afugu Cordero, a costume designer.^[15][16][17] In February 2017, Anaya gave birth to their son.^[18]