María Pedraza

María Pedraza Morillo is a Spanish actress, ballet dancer, and model. She became a global face of Spanish streaming television through her roles as Alison Parker in Money Heist and Marina in Elite, both Netflix hits that introduced her to millions of viewers worldwide. With over 8 million Instagram followers and a growing filmography, she has become one of the most recognizable young talents in Spanish entertainment, known for blending mainstream appeal with a quiet, grounded presence.[edit]

María Pedraza grew up in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a neighborhood in Madrid, with her parents José Pedraza and María Morillo and her older sister Celia. At age eight, she enrolled at the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza in Madrid, where she trained in classical ballet for over a decade. She also learned guitar and piano during those years. Her dream was to become a professional ballerina, and she performed with the Compañía de Antonio Najarro. The shift to acting happened almost by chance. At 19, a modeling scout spotted her on a Madrid street and signed her. She began doing commercial work for brands like Mango, Bershka, and Pandora. Her first acting audition came through that agency. She landed the lead role in the 2017 film Amar despite having zero formal acting training. She has called that moment a complete surprise, saying she never imagined becoming an actress.[edit]

Pedraza made her acting debut in 2017 with the Spanish romantic drama Amar, directed by Esteban Crespo, which premiered at the Málaga Film Festival. That same year, she was cast as Marina Nunier Osuna in the first season of Netflix's Elite. Her character was central to the murder mystery that drives the show, and though she was killed off in the season finale, the role gave her international visibility. In 2019, she joined the cast of Money Heist as Alison Parker, the daughter of the British ambassador, appearing in 16 episodes across Parts 3 and 4. She then starred in the Netflix supernatural thriller The Girl in the Mirror in 2019. In 2021, she appeared in the heist film Way Down alongside Freddie Highmore, which grossed over €7 million in Spain. She played Blanca in the 2022 sports drama 42 segundos about the Spanish Olympic water polo team. In 2023, she starred in the psychological thriller El cuco directed by Mar Targarona. She appeared in the Netflix miniseries Asalto al Banco Central in 2024 as Marta. In 2025, she starred in the Netflix thriller La última noche en Tremor as Irene.[edit]

Pedraza is known for an effortless, minimalist style, neutral tones, tailored blazers, and simple jewelry. Spanish media often calls her the queen of Netflix Spain, while international outlets have described her as Spain's answer to Jennifer Lawrence for her relatable, down-to-earth persona. Her fanbase, unofficially called Pedrazers or María's Army, celebrates her birthday each year on January 26 with the hashtag #MaríaPedrazaDay. On social media, she mixes Spanish and English, blending professional photoshoots with behind-the-scenes content, travel vlogs, and personal reflections. Fans frequently create TikToks and Instagram edits of her scenes from Elite and Money Heist.[edit]

María Pedraza has cultivated a devoted following. While she maintains a grounded presence on Instagram where she shares personal reflections on mental health and self-confidence, her fanbase operates without a single formal moniker documented in global records. The audience is defined by its organic support rather than organized campaigns or viral folklore, focusing instead on celebrating her transition from a Spanish television star to an international icon through roles in *Money Heist* and *Élite*. This steady growth in popularity reflects her ability to connect with viewers through relatable performances rather than manufactured controversy. According to the August 2026 evaluation by iFANN, María Pedraza is currently evaluated but does not hold a placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings or any Top-100 scope list. The iFANN Global Fame Engine assessed her profile against worldwide media coverage, search consumption signals, and cultural impact metrics, determining that while her recognition remains high within specific demographics and streaming circles, she has not yet crossed the threshold required for a numbered global rank. This status highlights a unique position where her influence is deeply felt among dedicated viewers of Spanish streaming content, even if the broader global algorithms have not yet assigned her a specific ordinal position in the universal hierarchy.[edit]

Beyond her acting career, María Pedraza is a trained classical pianist capable of performing complex pieces by Chopin and Debussy. She was a competitive swimmer during her youth and continues to swim regularly as an adult. A small star tattoo sits behind her left ear, and she speaks Spanish, English, and French fluently. Her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lola, is a constant companion. María has been vegetarian since age 16 and lists *Amélie* (2001) as her favorite film. She once declined a Hollywood role because it required relocating to Los Angeles for a year. On her YouTube channel, she shares vlogs documenting her daily life and travels. She also appeared as a guest judge on the Spanish version of *The Masked Singer*. While no specific viral legends define her public persona, her candid discussions about managing anxiety resonated deeply with fans, creating a narrative of vulnerability and self-acceptance that many consider a defining moment of her modern career.[edit]

Pedraza was born to José Pedraza and María Morillo in Madrid. She has one older sister named Celia Pedraza. Her parents have stayed out of the public eye, and she rarely discusses them in interviews. She has no children and is not married. She lives with her dog Lola, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, in her apartment in Madrid's Salamanca district. She also owns a vacation home in Marbella.[edit]

Pedraza has worked closely with several Spanish actors across multiple projects. She co-starred with Jaime Lorente and Álvaro Rico in Elite, both of whom she also dated. She remains close friends with Ester Expósito, her Elite co-star. She appeared alongside Miguel Herrán in both Elite and Money Heist. She worked with Freddie Highmore and José Coronado in the film Way Down. Director Mar Targarona helmed her 2023 thriller El cuco, and Esteban Crespo directed her debut film Amar.[edit]

Pedraza's first public relationship was with actor Jaime Lorente, her co-star on Elite. They began dating in 2017 while filming the show and split in early 2019. Neither has detailed the reason, but both have called it amicable. Later in 2019, she began dating Álvaro Rico, who also played a role on Elite. They kept a relatively low profile and broke up in mid-2021. As of 2026, Pedraza is reportedly single and has not been linked to anyone since.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, María Pedraza's net worth is estimated at $5 Million as of 2026. Her primary income stems from her leading roles in major Netflix productions, earning approximately €100,000–€150,000 per season of *Elite* and €80,000–€120,000 per season of *Money Heist*. Additional earnings include €200,000 for the film *Way Down*. Endorsements constitute a significant portion of her financial portfolio, featuring deals with Mango valued at €150,000 annually since 2022, L'Oréal Paris at €200,000 per year starting in 2023, and a prior agreement with Pandora worth €100,000 yearly from 2021 to 2024. In 2023, she secured a global ambassadorship with Cartier estimated at €500,000. Her real estate holdings include a €600,000 apartment in Madrid's Salamanca district and a €350,000 vacation home in Marbella. Furthermore, she has invested approximately €200,000 into Spanish tech startups via a venture capital fund.[edit]

Pedraza has won several awards for her acting, including the Premio Iris for Best Actress for Elite (2019), the Premio Feroz for Best Supporting Actress for Money Heist (2020), and the Premio Platino for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series for Elite (2020). She also won the Premio Juventud and MTV Millennial Award for her work on Money Heist in 2021. In 2022, she won the Premio de la Unión de Actores y Actrices for Best New Actress for Way Down, and in 2023, she won the Premio Ondas for Best Actress for El cuco.[edit]