Biography

María del Pilar López de Ayala Arroyo (Madrid, September 18, 1978) is a Spanish actress.

She began working in television series such as Menudo es mi padre (1996). From there she went to Al salir de clase (1997) and soon made the leap to film with Fill Me with Life (2000). Her character of Rocío, an upper middle class Cadiz woman in the film Besos para todos (2000), earned her a Goya nomination for best new actress. But her definitive confirmation came with the leading role in Mad Love (2001) of Vicente Aranda, which earned her a Goya award for best female performance playing Juana and the Concha de Plata for best female performance at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Her new status as a star of Spanish cinema led her to be chosen by the cava brand Freixenet to star in its well-known Christmas spot.

In 2005 she released Obaba (2005) of Montxo Armendáriz, a film for which she obtained a new nomination at the Goya Awards, this time as Best Supporting Actress. Obaba (2005) was nominated by Spain for the 2005 Oscars, although in the end it was not nominated among the five candidates for Best Foreign Film.

Other titles in her filmography are The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004), Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer (2006), Walking Vengeance (2008) or Intruders (2011) with Clive Owen. Her latest film to date is Agadah (2017).

Away from cinema, Pilar went to New York to study Art History.
- IMDb mini biography by: Mahou 5 star

Great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of a cousin of the Most Illustrious Lord the Previous Viscount of Sotomayor then 1st Count of Casa Ayala Nobleman of Coat of Arms of de Ayala (crest) with crown of Viscount then of Count, great-great-great-great-granddaughter of the Most Illustrious Lord the Previous Viscount of Varales then 1st Marquess of Fuente Santa Nobleman of Coat of Arms of Cabeza de Vaca (crest) with crown of Viscount then of Marquess, great-great-great-granddaughter of a sister of and of the Most Illustrious Lord the 3rd Marquess of Riocabado (with the Previous Viscountcy of la Alameda) Nobleman of Coat of Arms of de Velasco (crest) with crown of Marquess (with the previous crown of Viscount) and twice great-great-great-granddaughter of a cousin of the Papal Marquess of Casa Arjona Nobleman of Coat of Arms of Arjona (crest) with crown of Marquess.

Of the House of Sotomayor.

Is twice a descendant of Christopher Columbus.

Sister of Rodrigo López de Ayala Arroyo, la Hueca (the Seal) (b. Madrid, 20 January 1975), and daughter of Rodrigo López de Ayala y Sánchez-Arjona (b. Fregenal de la Sierra, 4 July 1944) and wife María del Pilar Arroyo Gallego and sister of Rodrigo López de Ayala Arroyo (b. Madrid, 20 January 1975), paternal granddaughter of Francisco López de Ayala y Gragera (b. Fregenal de la Sierra, 1902, d. Fregenal de la Sierra, 29 August 1975), Artillery Colonel, and wife (m. Fregenal de la Sierra, 30 March 1931) María de los Remedios Sánchez-Arjona y Sánchez-Arjona (b. Fregenal de la Sierra, 27 May 1906, d. Fregenal de la Sierra, 4 February 1972) and maternal granddaughter of José Antonio Arroyo Álvaro and wife María del Pilar Gallego Gómez.

Is one of the young Spanish actors that became popular for her role in Al salir de clase (1997).