Victoria Luengo
Victoria Luengo Sáez (born 7 April 1990), known professionally as Vicky Luengo, is a Spanish actress specializing in film, television, and stage performances.[1][2] Luengo gained prominence through her lead role as Laia in the 2020 HBO Europe miniseries Antidisturbios (Riot Police), a thriller depicting internal conflicts within Spain's riot police unit, which earned critical acclaim for its portrayal of institutional tensions.[3][4] Her subsequent film roles include the indie drama Suro (2022), for which she received the Gaudí Award for Best Female Lead Performance in 2023, recognizing her depiction of a woman navigating rural isolation and personal upheaval.[5][6] She has also appeared in Pedro Almodóvar's English-language debut The Room Next Door (2024), alongside Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, contributing to a narrative exploring euthanasia and maternal bonds.[3] Beyond these, Luengo has featured in series like Reina Roja (Red Queen, 2024), an adaptation of Juan Gómez-Jurado's novel, and films such as Chavalas (Girlfriends, 2021) and El Sustituto (The Replacement, 2021), showcasing versatility in genres from ensemble comedies to psychological thrillers.[7][1] Her theater work includes stage adaptations, though specific productions remain less documented in primary sources compared to her screen credits. No major public controversies have marked her career, with attention focused on her acting craft and award nominations rather than extraneous personal or political matters.[5]Early life and education
María Victoria Luengo Sáez was born on April 7, 1990, in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. She spent the majority of her childhood and adolescence in Barcelona's Sagrada Família neighborhood.[8] From a young age, Luengo developed a strong interest in acting; at around 11 years old, she requested that her mother enroll her in an acting school. She trained at the Escola Memory, a specialized institution for interpretation in Barcelona. At age 14, she secured her first professional theater role.[9][8][10]Acting career
Early roles in theater and television (2006–2015)
Luengo made her professional acting debut in television as an uncredited extra in the 2006 TV movie Rumors, marking her initial entry into the medium through background appearances.[11] Her early theater work focused on stage productions in Barcelona, where she built experience in ensemble roles. In 2009, she appeared in Plastilina by Marta Buchaca, directed by Marta Angelat at Sala Beckett, contributing to a cast that included Pere Molina, Jaume Madaula, and Mone Teruel in an exploration of youth violence.[12][13] Throughout the early 2010s, Luengo continued alternating between theater and episodic television roles, gradually transitioning from minor parts to more defined characters, though specific credits from this period remain sparsely documented in public records beyond initial breakthroughs like Plastilina.Breakthrough and critical acclaim (2016–2020)
In 2018, Luengo portrayed Eva, the ex-girlfriend of the protagonist, in the romantic comedy Las leyes de la termodinámica, directed by Mateo Gil and starring Vito Sanz and Berta Vázquez.[14] The film, which blends scientific explanations with interpersonal relationships, marked one of her notable supporting roles in feature cinema during this period. Luengo's performance as Rosa Díaz, a complex riot police officer, in the 2020 Movistar+ miniseries Antidisturbios represented her breakthrough to wider recognition.[15] The series, depicting internal conflicts within Spain's riot police unit, garnered critical praise for its realistic portrayal of institutional tensions and earned three Premios Feroz, including Best Drama Series.[16] Her role in the production led to a nomination for Best Actress at the Iris Awards.[17] Concurrently in 2020, she appeared as Natalia in the thriller Hogar (The Occupant), directed by David and Àlex Pastor, playing the girlfriend of an unemployed man who squats in an elderly woman's apartment.[18] The film received attention for its tense narrative on economic desperation and squatting, contributing to Luengo's growing acclaim in Spanish cinema.[19] She also featured in the short film Chavalas that year.[14]Expansion into international and leading roles (2021–present)
In 2021, Luengo portrayed Marta in Chavalas, a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Carol Rodríguez Colás, which explores female friendship among a group of young women in Barcelona. That same year, she played Eva Vidal in El Sustituto, a thriller directed by Sigfrid Monleón, marking her continued involvement in Spanish genre cinema. Luengo earned acclaim for her leading role as Elena in Suro (2022), a rural drama directed by Mikel Gurrea, where she stars alongside Pol López as a couple attempting to revive a cork plantation in Catalonia. The film premiered at the 70th San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 23, 2022, receiving praise for its portrayal of cultural and relational tensions.[20] Her performance highlighted her ability to anchor introspective character studies, contributing to the film's selection for international festivals.[21] In 2024, Luengo assumed the titular leading role of Antonia Scott in Reina Roja (Red Queen), an Amazon Prime Video series adapting Juan Gómez-Jurado's bestselling novel. As the brilliant investigator with an IQ of 242 heading a secret European police unit, her character drives the narrative of high-stakes crime-solving. The series premiered globally on March 4, 2024, expanding her visibility through the platform's international distribution.[22] [23] Further broadening her reach, Luengo appeared as Fred's wife in Pedro Almodóvar's The Room Next Door (2024), the director's English-language debut featuring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The film, which delves into themes of friendship and euthanasia, premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024, and won the Golden Lion. This role positioned her within a high-profile international production, distributed by Warner Bros. in multiple territories.[24]Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Original title | English title (if applicable) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Nacer | Born | Marianna[25] |
| 2020 | Hogar | The Occupant | Natalia[26] |
| 2021 | Chavalas | Girlfriends | Marta |
| 2021 | El sustituto | The Replacement | Eva |
| 2022 | Suro | Cork | Elena[20] |
| 2024 | La habitación de al lado | The Room Next Door | Martha (Fred's wife)[24] |