María Valverde Biography: Pictures, Siblings, Age, Parents, Net Worth, Height, Ethnicity, Boyfriend, Awards

María Valverde Rodríguez, known professionally as María Valverde, is a Spanish actress celebrated for her award-winning debut in The Weakness of the Bolsheviks (2003), which earned her a Goya Award for Best New Actress at the age of 16.

She has since built an international career, starring in Spanish films such as Three Steps Above Heaven (2010) and English-language projects, including Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014).

Profile

• Full Name: María Valverde Rodríguez
• Stage Name: María Valverde
• Born: 24, March 1987
• Age: 38 years old
• Birthplace: Carabanchel, Madrid, Spain
• Nationality: Spanish
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.64m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: 2
• Spouse: Gustavo Dudamel (m. 2017)
• Boyfriend: Mario Casas (ex)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $6 million to $8 million

Early Life and Education

María Valverde Rodríguez was born on March 24, 1987, in Carabanchel, a southern suburb of Madrid, Spain. Raised by foster parents alongside an older brother and a younger sister, little is known about her biological parents.

Her passion for acting emerged at age six, leading her mother to enroll her in a theatre school. She joined her school’s drama group and later studied at the Cristina Rota School of Dramatic Arts in Madrid, refining her craft. Her ethnicity is Spanish, and her religion is not publicly disclosed.

Career

María Valverde began her career at 15 when director Manuel Martín Cuenca selected her from 3,000 candidates for the lead role in The Weakness of the Bolshevik (2003). Her performance earned her the 2003 Goya Award for Best New Actress, marking her as a rising star.

She followed these roles with appearances in Spanish films, including Body Confusion (2004) and Vorvik (2005), as well as the erotic drama Melissa P. (2005), directed by Luca Guadagnino, based on Melissa Panarello’s novel. Her early work included theatre, where she performed in Anarkali and other stage productions in Karachi and Delhi.

Her international breakthrough came with the Spanish youth melodrama Three Steps Above Heaven (2010), in which she starred opposite Mario Casas, followed by its sequel, I Want You (2012). She ventured into English-language cinema with Cracks (2009), produced by Ridley Scott, and played Zipporah in Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) alongside Christian Bale.

Other notable films include The Liberator (2013), in which she collaborated with her future husband, Gustavo Dudamel, who composed the soundtrack, and Broken Horses (2015), starring Anton Yelchin. In television, she appeared in La Fuga (2012) and Hermanos (2014), showcasing her versatility.

María Valverde’s recent projects include the Netflix romantic comedy Sounds Like Love (2021), based on Elísabet Benavent’s novel, and the Chilean drama Fever Dream (2021), directed by Claudia Llosa. In 2025, she starred in 6 Days, a Spanish film, and is involved in upcoming series like Prestige and El Nos, as well as the movie Welad El Shams.

Her stage debut narrating Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Dudamel in 2019 at the Castell de Peralada Festival highlights her expanding artistic range. Her awards, including the 2016 European Shooting Star accolade at the Berlin Film Festival, reflect her enduring impact.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @mariavalverde
• Facebook Handle: María Valverde
• Twitter Handle: @mariavalverde

Personal Life

María Valverde married Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel in March 2017 in a private Las Vegas ceremony. The couple first collaborated on The Liberator (2013) and share a passion for the arts, evident in their joint performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019.

From 2009 to 2014, she dated Spanish actor Mario Casas, her co-star in three films. María has no children and resides between Los Angeles and Madrid, maintaining a low-key lifestyle. She is fluent in Spanish and English, enjoys painting, and has a golden retriever named Rufus.

Filmography

•    The Weakness of the Bolshevik (2003) – Maria
•    Melissa P. (2005) – Melissa
•    Cracks (2009) – Fiamma
•    Three Steps Above Heaven (2010) – Babi
•    Madrid, 1987 (2011) – Ángela
•    I Want You (2012) – Babi
•    La Fuga (2012) – Anna Serra (TV series)
•    The Liberator (2013) – María Teresa Bolívar
•    Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) – Zipporah
•    Broken Horses (2015) – Vittoria
•    Ali and Nino (2016) – Nino Kipiani
•    Guernica (2016) – Teresa
•    Back to Burgundy (2017) – Alicia
•    Galveston (2018) – Carmen
•    Fever Dream (2021) – Amanda
•    Sounds Like Love (2021) – Maca
•    6 Days (2025) – Film

Net Worth

María Valverde Rodríguez’s estimated net worth is between $6 million and $8 million. Her wealth primarily derives from her extensive acting career in Spanish and international films, including high-profile projects like Exodus: Gods and Kings and Three Steps Above Heaven.

Additional income comes from television roles, theatre performances, and endorsements, such as presenting Nina Ricci’s fragrance in 2014, reflecting her prominence in the entertainment industry.