Ana Rujas, the creator redefining Spanish fiction
Ana Rujas, protagonista de Cardo y La mesías, combina actuación, guion y dramaturgia con una mirada ética y generacional.
Ana Rujas (Madrid, 1989) is an actress, screenwriter, and creator recognized for her versatility and authenticity. Trained at Estudio Juan Carlos Corazza, she began her career in youth series such as HKM and 90-60-90, later consolidating her presence in impactful projects like Cardo, La mesías, and En el barro. Beyond acting, she has written and starred in plays and books, becoming a generational voice that blends risk, intuition, and ethical commitment in the cultural industry.
Origins and training
Ana Rujas was born in Carabanchel, a working-class neighborhood of Madrid, in 1989. Her childhood was shaped by the influence of a hardworking environment and an artistic curiosity that led her to experiment with theater from an early age. She trained at Estudio Juan Carlos Corazza, where she learned to build characters from the intimate and everyday. Over time, she expanded her studies with teachers such as Susan Batson and Miguel del Arco, consolidating a versatile and emotional technique.
First steps in television
Her debut came in 2008 with the youth series HKM, where she played Vicky. A year later, she gained national visibility with 90-60-90, diario secreto de una adolescente, portraying África. This beginning positioned her as an emerging face of Spanish fiction. She later appeared in productions such as Hispania, Punta Escarlata, La que se avecina, and Paquita Salas, showing her ability to move between historical drama and contemporary comedy.
Theater and writing
At a point of personal exploration, she moved to New York, where she found a freer creative space. There, together with other creators, she conceived La mujer más fea del mundo, which marked her entry into playwriting with a transgressive and feminist proposal. Later, she published and adapted La otra bestia, an autofiction work in which she explored intimacy and the tension between vulnerability and strength, combining literature, stage word, and performance.
Cardo and generational recognition
The turning point arrived with Cardo, a series she co-wrote with Claudia Costafreda and starred in as María Hernández. The show became a generational manifesto, portraying millennial life with rawness and authenticity. The project was acclaimed by critics and audiences, earning Rujas a Feroz Award and an Ondas Award. With Cardo, she reaffirmed her role as an author, actress, and creator capable of connecting with a wide and diverse audience.
New challenges on screen
In 2023, she appeared in La mesías, produced by Los Javis, portraying Montserrat, an intense and disturbing character. Her performance demonstrated her capacity to embody dark and complex roles with strong emotional depth. She was later cast in En el barro, a spin-off of the Argentine series El Marginal, where she played Amparo “La Gallega” Vilches, a visceral and extreme role that expanded her career to an international audience.
Choices and professional ethics
Throughout her career, Ana Rujas has emphasized the importance of choosing projects and collaborators based on personal and artistic coherence. On several occasions, she has declined to work with certain professionals in order to uphold a clear ethical stance. This position established her as a figure who prioritizes authenticity and respect for creative sensitivity, even when such decisions meant sacrificing visibility or stability in the industry.
Current projects
Among her recent works is La buena letra, a film adaptation of Rafael Chirbes’ play, where she secured a leading role after insisting on participating. At the same time, she is writing her first feature film with Ariadne Serrano, inspired by El desencanto, seeking to reflect on time, memory, and family wounds. With these projects, Rujas is expanding her presence in acting, writing, and directing.
A singular voice in culture
The hallmark of Ana Rujas rests on two pillars: intuition as her guide and the representation of complexity through intimacy. Her recurring phrase, “make the small big,” synthesizes a philosophy that permeates her creations. Through imperfect characters and honest narratives, she has become a generational reference, showing that art can be a space of risk, self-discovery, and direct communication with the audience.
