Pilar Bardem

Pilar Bardem was a prominent Spanish actress and activist who was born on 14 March 1939 in Seville, Spain. She was the daughter of actors Rafael Bardem and Matilde Muñoz Sampedro, and the sister of filmmaker Juan Antonio Bardem. She started working as a model and then studied medicine, but dropped out to pursue a career in acting. She made her film debut in 1965 with El mundo sigue, directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez. She appeared in over 100 films and television shows, mostly in supporting roles, and won several awards for her performances. She was best known for her roles in films such as Jamón Jamón (1992), Live Flesh (1997), The Sea Inside (2004), and Volver (2006). She also worked in theater and was a regular in television series such as Compuesta y sin novio (1994), Hermanas (1998), El Inquilino (2004), and Amar en tiempos revueltos (2005-2007). She received the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 for Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead. She also received the Premios ACE for Best Supporting Actress, the Valladolid International Film Festival Award for Best Actress, and two Spanish Actors Union Awards. Bardem was also known for her political and social activism, especially for her left-wing views and her support for the United Left party. She opposed the dictatorship of Francisco Franco and was close to the clandestine Communist Party. She campaigned for labor rights for actors, civil rights for women, and a more liberal Catholic Church. She also opposed the Spanish government's decision to send troops to Iraq in 2003 and participated in anti-war protests. She was a vocal supporter of the Sahrawi cause and was posthumously granted the Sahrawi citizenship. She also expressed her desire to see the Third Spanish Republic proclaimed before her death. Bardem died on 17 July 2021 at the Ruber Hospital in Madrid due to complications from lung disease. She was 82 years old. She was surrounded by the love of her family and friends. She was buried at the Cementerio de la Almudena in Madrid. She left behind a legacy of artistic excellence and political commitment that inspired many people.