Fátima Baeza
Fátima Baeza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Fátima Baeza Medina May 22, 1973 Madrid, Spain |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Partner | Guillermo Ortega |
Fátima Baeza Medina (born 22 May 1973) is a Spanish actress. A graduate of the Royal School of Dramatic Art (RESAD) in Madrid with a long background in the theatre, she became known to a wide audience for playing the nurse Esther García on the Telecinco medical drama Hospital Central, a role she held from the series' premiere in 2000 until 2011.[1] Her character's relationship with the doctor Maca Fernández, played by Patricia Vico, became a milestone in Spanish television fiction and turned the two women into references for the LGBT community.[2][3]
Early life and career
Baeza studied at the Royal School of Dramatic Art in Madrid and developed an extensive career on stage before working in television. She made early guest appearances on Spanish series such as Farmacia de guardia, as Sister Mariví, Hermanas and El comisario before joining the cast of Hospital Central.[4]
Hospital Central
Baeza was part of the cast of Hospital Central from its 2000 premiere as the nurse Esther García. According to the actress, her role was originally minor and she was nearly written out of the series until a love story with the character Maca Fernández, played by the newly arrived Patricia Vico, gave her character continuity; the storyline became a hit and the two became icons for the LGBT community.[5] After leaving the regular cast, she returned for a 2011 season finale that reunited several of the show's historic actors.[6]
Later work
After Hospital Central, Baeza continued working steadily in television, with roles in series such as Desaparecidos, HIT and Madres.[7] In the Antena 3 drama Heridas (2022) she played the teacher Carmen, a role she has described as a reflection of contemporary society, while also working on the production as an acting coach.[8][9] Alongside her acting, Baeza has worked as an acting coach, including coaching child performers.[10] She also appeared in the short film Tótem Loba, directed by Verónica Echegui, which won the Goya Award for Best Short Fiction Film in 2022.[11]
In May 2019 she initiated and starred in the stage show Miss Mara. Quien se reserva no es artista, a production of the Teatro Circo Price in Madrid based on her own research about the Spanish trapeze artist Miss Mara, directed by the company Teatro en Vilo and performed alongside trapeze artists.[12] In 2025 she returned to the stage opposite her partner, the actor Guillermo Ortega, in Frankie y Johnny en el claro de luna, the Terrence McNally play directed by Pilar Massa at the Teatro Lara in Madrid.[13] The production was staged in the theatre's Sala Lola Membrives.[14]
Personal life
Baeza has had a long-term relationship with the actor Guillermo Ortega, known for the series La que se avecina, with whom she has two children; the couple have also worked together on stage.[15] Their daughter, Alma, who turned 18 in November 2025, has also begun a career in acting.[16]
Filmography
The following filmography is based on her professional film database profile.[17]
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–1996 | Farmacia de guardia | Sister Mariví | Antena 3 |
| 1998 | Hermanas | Telecinco | |
| 1999 | El comisario | Telecinco | |
| 2000–2011 | Hospital Central | Esther García Ruiz | Telecinco |
| 2011 | Cheers | Luisa | Telecinco |
| 2012 | Toledo, cruce de destinos | Mother Zoe | Antena 3 |
| 2016 | El secreto de Puente Viejo | Yolanda | Antena 3 |
| 2016 | La sonata del silencio | La 1 | |
| 2017 | La zona | Carmen | Movistar+ |
| 2019 | Hospital Valle Norte | La 1 | |
| 2020 | Desaparecidos | Telecinco | |
| 2020 | Servir y proteger | Carmen Gómez | La 1 |
| 2020 | Madres. Amor y vida | Charo | Telecinco |
| 2020 | 30 monedas | Vergara's mother | HBO |
| 2021 | Vida perfecta | Movistar+ | |
| 2021 | HIT | Sonsoles | La 1 |
| 2022 | Heridas | Carmen | Antena 3 |
| 2023 | Mía es la venganza | Elena del Pino | Telecinco |
| 2023–2024 | Invisible | Disney+ |
Film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Las flores de Bach | Juan Flahn |
| 2008 | El amor se mueve | Mercedes Afonso |
| 2011 | Maktub | Paco Arango |
| 2024 | Padre no hay más que uno 4: Campanas de boda | Santiago Segura |
Short films
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Campos de luz | María Casal |
| 2005 | Lo que tú quieras oír | Guillermo Zapata |
| 2005 | Queridos reyes magos | Tirso Calero |
| 2020 | Tótem Loba | Verónica Echegui |
| 2023 | El primer beso | Miguel Lafuente |
References
- ↑ "Fátima Baeza" [Fátima Baeza]. Soy de Series (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Patricia Vico, Fátima Baeza y el spin-off de Maca y Esther con el que fantasean sus fans: "Podría ser muy interesante"" [Patricia Vico, Fátima Baeza and the Maca and Esther spin-off their fans dream of: "It could be very interesting"]. Vertele (elDiario.es) (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Marcos, Patricia (14 July 2025). "La vida de Patricia Vico, Macarena en 'Hospital Central': su estado actual, un marido director de cine y su único hijo" [The life of Patricia Vico, Macarena in 'Hospital Central': her current situation, a film-director husband and her only son]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Martín, Almudena (19 May 2026). "La vida de Fátima Baeza, Esther en 'Hospital Central', en 2026: su estado actual, un marido actor y su única hija" [The life of Fátima Baeza, Esther in 'Hospital Central', in 2026: her current situation, an actor husband and her only daughter]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Hernández, Patricia (28 June 2019). "Fátima Baeza: "Cuando llegó Patricia Vico a 'Hospital Central' estaban a punto de despedirme"" [Fátima Baeza: "When Patricia Vico arrived at 'Hospital Central' they were about to fire me"]. FormulaTV (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ ""Hospital Central", renovada, cierra temporada con la vuelta de rostros históricos" ["Hospital Central", renewed, closes its season with the return of historic faces]. Vertele (elDiario.es) (in Spanish). 10 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Fátima Baeza: "Esther cambió mi vida y ayudó a cambiar la vida de muchas personas"" [Fátima Baeza: "Esther changed my life and helped change the lives of many people"]. FormulaTV (in Spanish). 26 June 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Fernández Ferreira, Roberto (2 May 2023). "Fátima Baeza, sobre su papel en 'Heridas': "Carmen representa a la sociedad en esta historia"" [Fátima Baeza, on her role in 'Heridas': "Carmen represents society in this story"]. Antena 3 (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Galdón, Carlota (3 May 2022). "Fátima Baeza reflexiona sobre su personaje en 'Heridas': "Represento la visión del espectador"" [Fátima Baeza reflects on her character in 'Heridas': "I represent the viewer's perspective"]. Atresplayer (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Una coach infantil necesita tener empatía y complicidad con los niños" [A children's coach needs empathy and rapport with the children]. Cadena SER (in Spanish). 27 September 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "'Tótem loba', de Verónica Echegui, Mejor Cortometraje de Ficción en los Premios Goya 2022" ['Tótem loba', by Verónica Echegui, Best Short Fiction Film at the 2022 Goya Awards]. La Nación (in Spanish). 12 February 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Miss Mara. Quien se reserva, no es artista" [Miss Mara. Whoever holds back is not an artist]. Teatro Circo Price (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Fátima Baeza y Guillermo Manuel Ortega regresan al teatro con "Frankie y Johnny en el claro de luna"" [Fátima Baeza and Guillermo Manuel Ortega return to the theatre with "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"]. Masescena (in Spanish). 16 September 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Cuesta, Eva S. (9 March 2026). "'Frankie y Johnny en Claro de Luna': dos soledades se encuentran en el Teatro Lara" ['Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune': two lonely souls meet at the Teatro Lara]. Telemadrid (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Martín, Vanessa (15 November 2025). "La vida actual de Fátima Baeza, Esther en 'Hospital Central': un proyecto con su pareja, un conocido actor, y madre de dos hijos" [The current life of Fátima Baeza, Esther in 'Hospital Central': a project with her partner, a well-known actor, and mother of two]. Divinity (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "¿Te acuerdas de Esther, de 'Hospital Central'? Su hija ya tiene 18 años y es actriz como ella" [Do you remember Esther, from 'Hospital Central'? Her daughter is now 18 and an actress like her]. ¡Hola! (in Spanish). 6 November 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Fátima Baeza" [Fátima Baeza]. FilmAffinity (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2026.