Spanish Celebrities Born In February

Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, who plays for FC Barcelona, is considered one of the world’s best centre halves. He is amongst the few players who have won the UEFA Champions League for two consecutive years, but for different teams. He also played a crucial role in the Spain national team’s victory in 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.

Best known to fans as The Professor from the iconic Spanish series La Casa De Papel, or Money Heist, has won several awards for the role. He overcame cancer in his 30s. The father of twins is now a co-owner of the Spanish theater company 300 Pistolas.

Marc Márquez is a Spanish professional road racer best known for his association with Repsol Honda. Having won eight Grand Prix World Championships so far, Márquez is counted among the most successful motorcycle racers in the history of motorcycle racing. The most successful and popular Spanish rider in MotoGP history, Márquez is also counted among the greatest innovators of MotoGP.

Born to a music producer father, Cameron McVey, and a singer mother, Neneh Cherry, Mabel McVey was destined to make a career in music. The English singer-songwriter debuted on SoundCloud with her track Know Me Better. It is believed she had initially used music as a therapy for her anxiety.

Sara Carbonero is a Spanish-Portuguese TV personality and sports journalist. She is best known for her association with the popular free-to-air TV channel Telecinco, where she worked as a presenter. Carbonero made headlines in 2010 when she covered the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the match between Switzerland and Spain that featured her then-boyfriend Iker Casillas whom she later married. 

Born to a seamstress in Basque Country, Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo escaped to France to avoid the Spanish Civil War and took up the name Paco Rabanne. He later gained fame for his avant-garde accessories, his designer clothes made of material such as metal and plastic, and his signature chainmail dress.

Najwa Nimri is a Spanish actress and singer best known for playing a  policewoman inspector in the TV drama series La casa de papel. As a singer, she formed the band Najwajean with Carlos Jean and has also released a few solo albums. In 2020, she hosted a podcast called Vis a vis: Cara B. 

Antonio José de Sucre was a Venezuelan political leader who served as the President of Peru from 23 June to 17 July 1823. He also served as the second president of Bolivia from 29 December 1825 to 18 April 1828. Antonio José de Sucre also played an influential role as an independence leader through his work alongside Simón Bolívar.

Luis Buñuel was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker with a brilliant career spanning almost half a century. He worked in France, Mexico, and Spain and directed films spanning various genres. His filmmaking technique was strongly influenced by mise-en-scène. He was hailed as a leader of avant-garde surrealism and is considered one of the top directors of the 20th century.  

Born into poverty and orphaned at age 2, Impressionist painter Joaquín Sorolla later traveled to Rome to acquire training in painting. He began his career painting on themes of historical and social relevance and later also excelled in landscapes and portraits. Sad Inheritance remains one of his best works.

Spanish Romantic poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer was orphaned at age 11. Inspired by his painter brother Valeriano, he embarked on a literary career, writing for El Contemporáneo in Madrid. His Rimas (Rhymes) and Leyendas (Legends) gained popularity only after his death at 34 due to tuberculosis.

Fernando Sor was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist best remembered for writing solo classical guitar music. Widely regarded as the best classical guitarist of his generation, Fernando Sor also composed an opera, two ballets, and three symphonies. Many of his works have been studied by students and guitar enthusiasts all over the world.

Best remembered for reinventing the film noir genre, director Jean Negulesco earned the tag of "the first real master of CinemaScope.” Born in Romania, he later moved to Paris, where he worked as a stage designer and painter. His Oscar-nominated direction in Johnny Belinda made him popular in Hollywood.

Julio Iglesias, Jr. is a Spanish singer. He is the son of singer Julio Iglesias and journalist Isabel Preysler.  Enrique Iglesias is his brother. Julio Jr. began his career as a model and was offered acting gigs. However, he declined the acting offers to focus on music. He has participated in several reality TV shows.  

Lola Montez was an Irish actress and dancer. She achieved popularity as a Spanish courtesan, dancer, and mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The German revolutions of 1848–1849 forced her to flee to the United States, where she established herself as an actress and dancer. Lola Montez has been portrayed in many films, including Lola Montez, the King's Dancer.

French physicist and mathematician François Arago discovered rotatory magnetism, named Arago's rotations. He is also remembered for his research on the wave theory of light and for the reforms he introduced as the French minister of war and the navy. The Eiffel Tower has his name inscribed on it.

Joaquín Sabina had begun writing lyrics at age 14. The legendary Spanish singer and songwriter mostly sings on heartbreak and love. Apart from releasing triple-platinum tracks such as Vinagre y Rosas, he has also penned books on poetry. He once went on a 4-year hiatus after a stroke.

Juan Negrín was a Spanish physician and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Spain from 17 May 1937 to 31 March 1939. An important political leader, Juan Negrín also served as the Minister of the Treasury and as the Minister of National Defence from 5 April 1938 to 31 March 1939.

Spanish sociologist and professor Manuel Castells has taught at prestigious universities such as the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and the University of California, Berkeley. Educated at the Sorbonne, he specialized in law and economics and later deviated to sociology and communication studies. He now serves as the Spanish minister of universities.

Rocío Monasterio is a Spanish-Cuban businesswoman, architect, and right wing politician. Monasterio is currently leading the Madrid branch of a political party called Vox and is serving as a Member of the Assembly of Madrid. An architect by training, Rocío Monasterio designed the house where she is currently living with her family.

Blas de Lezo was a Spanish navy officer remembered for his role in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias where he commanded the Spanish imperial forces to a decisive victory against the British invasion fleet under Edward Vernon. Considered one of the most heroic figures in Spanish history, Lezo is also counted among the greatest strategists in naval warfare history.

Remembered as the founder of St. Augustine in Florida, USA, Spanish admiral and explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés has also been credited with planning the first regular trans-Atlantic convoys. Ruthlessly loyal to the Spanish king, he massacred the entire population of a nearby French post and established a string of forts along the Atlantic coast to protect Spanish interests.