Elena Anaya

Anaya was born in Palencia, Spain. 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. Anaya moved to Cádiz to train as an actress, after which she landed roles in África and Familia.

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

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

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

After some "quiet" years playing supporting roles in international films such as Savage Grace (2007) and Cairo Time (2009), Anaya roared back into prominence with a starring role in 2010's Room in Rome, and then a return to Almodóvar in 2011's The Skin I Live In.

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