If you’ve spent any time at all scrolling through the "Spanish-Language TV" category on Netflix, you’ve seen her. That intense, blue-eyed stare is everywhere. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine the massive global explosion of Spanish media without María Pedraza. She didn’t just participate in the revolution; she was the face of it.
Most people recognize her as the high-stakes hostage Alison Parker in Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) or the tragic Marina in Elite. But her filmography is way deeper than just the "Big Two." From her origins as a professional ballerina to her recent 2024 and 2025 projects like Bank Under Siege and the upcoming Just Play Dead, Pedraza has built a career that moves between gritty crime thrillers and high-art indie films.
The Instagram Discovery That Changed Everything
It’s the kind of story that feels like a cliché movie plot. In 2017, director Esteban Crespo was looking for a lead for his film Amar. He didn't find her at a prestigious acting academy or a high-end agency. He found her on Instagram. At the time, María was focused almost entirely on her career as a classical dancer.
That ballet background is basically her "secret sauce." If you watch her move on screen—even in non-dancing roles—there’s a specific posture and discipline there. Amar was a raw, sweaty, and sometimes uncomfortable look at first love. It wasn't a "safe" debut. She played Laura, a girl caught in an obsessive relationship, and it immediately signaled that she wasn't interested in being just another teen star.
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Breaking Down the "Big Three" Shows
If we’re talking about María Pedraza movies and tv shows, we have to start with the heavy hitters. These are the projects that turned her into an international household name.
- Money Heist (La Casa de Papel): She played Alison Parker, the daughter of the British Ambassador. She was the ultimate "lamb" in the lion's den. While the show eventually became about the robbers, her performance in the first two parts was the emotional anchor for the hostage side of the story.
- Elite: This is where she really exploded. Playing Marina Nunier Osuna, she was the catalyst for the entire series. The mystery of who killed her drove the first season. Even though she wasn't in the later seasons, her shadow looms over the show to this day.
- Toy Boy: After the success of Elite, she pivoted to a legal thriller. As Triana Marín, a young lawyer trying to help a male stripper prove he didn't commit a murder, she showed a more professional, adult side. It’s a messy, fun show that found a massive second life on streaming after a quiet start on Spanish network TV.
Why 2024 and 2025 Are Her Most Interesting Years
Lately, María has been moving away from the "teen idol" labels. You might have missed Bank Under Siege (Asalto al Banco Central), which hit Netflix in late 2024. It’s a historical heist drama set in 1981, and it reunited her with Money Heist co-stars like Miguel Herrán. It’s much more grounded and political than her earlier work.
She also made a surprising jump into British television with The Famous Five, playing Gabriela. It was a weird move for her fans, but it proved she can handle English-language productions just fine.
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Looking ahead into 2026, her project Just Play Dead is what everyone is talking about. Starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green, this is her definitive "Hollywood moment." It’s a massive leap from her days as a ballerina in Madrid, and it's directed by Martin Campbell—the guy who did Casino Royale. That's some serious pedigree.
The "Dancing on Glass" Connection
If you want to see the "real" María Pedraza, you have to watch Dancing on Glass (Las niñas de cristal). Released in 2022, this movie allowed her to finally merge her two lives: acting and ballet.
She plays Irene, a dancer who gets the lead role after the previous star commits suicide. It is a dark, psychological dive into the pressure of perfection. Honestly, it’s probably her best performance because it feels so personal. You can see the physical toll the role took on her, and the dance sequences aren't faked by a stunt double. That’s all her.
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A Quick Cheat-Sheet of Her Essential Filmography
If you're looking to binge her work, don't just stick to the top of the Netflix charts. Here is a better way to look at her career progression:
- The Raw Start: Amar (2017) – The one that started it all.
- The Global Hits: Money Heist (Parts 1-2) and Elite (Season 1).
- The Indie Pivot: Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (2019) – A small-scale drama about roommates that feels like a stage play.
- The Thriller Era: The Courier (El correo) and Awareness (2023). Awareness is actually a sci-fi flick where she plays Esther, proving she can do action too.
- The Mature Shift: Bank Under Siege (2024).
Dealing with the "Typecast" Rumors
For a while, people thought María was stuck in the "troubled teenager" loop. It's a fair criticism if you only watched her early stuff. But if you look at Galgos (2024) or Urban: La vida es nuestra, she is playing much more complex, adult characters. In Urban, she plays Lola, a woman escaping her life to find herself in the Malaga music scene. It’s a much more vibey, grounded role than the high-drama of Elite.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're caught up on her mainstream hits and want more, here is how to navigate the "Pedrazaverse" right now:
- Watch Awareness on Prime Video: Most people associate her with Netflix, but this sci-fi thriller shows her range in a completely different genre.
- Check out the "Lala" Music Video: She starred in Myke Towers' music video in 2023, which has hundreds of millions of views. It's a great example of her "model/muse" energy.
- Track the release of Just Play Dead: This is going to be the turning point for her career in the US market. If this hits, she won't just be a "Spanish star"—she'll be a global one.
- Follow her photography: She's a big fan of film photography and often shares her own behind-the-scenes shots on social media, which gives a way better insight into her personality than any interview.
María Pedraza isn't just a "social media discovery" anymore. She has survived the fickle nature of teen stardom and turned it into a legitimate, cross-border career. Whether she’s playing a hostage, a ballerina, or a reporter, there’s an authenticity there that keeps people watching.