O'Callaghan Collection
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Famous Spanish People (Who Have Had an Impact on Modern Culture)

by
25 October 2017 · 3 min read
modern music

If you enjoy keeping up to date with films, television and music, you’ve probably noticed that some of your favourite stars come from Spain.

The country has bred some exceptional talent in these industries with numerous Spanish actors, chefs, artists and creatives continuing to make waves and gain recognition around the world.

Perhaps it’s their fiery personalities, good looks or innate dancing skills that make them so successful, but whatever it is they have made their mark firmly on the entertainment and cultural industries.

Here at The Eliott Hotel Gibraltar, we’re in awe of Spain’s diverse contribution to modern culture across a range of interests and disciplines. Read on for our guide to some of the most famous Spanish people to have made a splash in their particular area of cultural expertise.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso

Perhaps one of the most iconic figures in modern art, Picasso is of Spanish descent but spent most of his life in France working as a painter, sculptor, poet and playwright. During his lifetime, Picasso produced over 20,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other items including costumes and theatre sets. His ability to create work that employed a number of different styles led to him garnering a significant following of both fans and critics. His work ranged from movements such as cubism to surrealism and post-impressionism.

Enrique Iglesias

pop music singer

Recognised the world over for his talents as a singer, songwriter, record producer and even actor, Enrique Iglesias has been hailed as the King of Latin Pop. Having successfully crossed over from the Hispanic music scene to the mainstream US market, the multi-faceted vocal talent has released a number of iconic singles still popular today, including the love song ‘Hero’. Having sold over 159 million records worldwide, the son of the equally legendary Julio Iglesias is one of the best-selling Spanish artists of all time.

Luis Buñuel

filmmakers

This Spanish-born filmmaker’s career saw him work across France and Mexico and revolutionise avant-garde surrealism. Buñuel created films from the 1920s through the 1970s. His work spans two continents, three languages, and an array of different genres including western, romance, adventure and documentary.

Sergio Ramos

soccer

Spain is a country that is renowned for its love of football and this Spanish soccer star epitomises the beautiful game to a tee. Born in Camas, Ramos moved to Madrid in 2005 to pursue his talent and love for football. He now captains both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team and can play as both a central defender and a right back.

Lope de Vega

Spanish people are renowned for their expressive nature when it comes to language, and this playwright, poet and novelist is hailed as one of the key players in the Spanish Golden Century of Baroque literature. He has been nicknamed “The Monster of Nature” because of the large amounts of work that he has produced and presented to the masses, most of which has been highly acclaimed.