Bio: ​ Paola Bontempi is a remarkably versatile actress, truly bilingual in English and Spanish, who has trained at renowned acting schools in London, Los Angeles, and Madrid. Born into a rich heritage of Italian, German, Chilean, and Spanish descent, Paola grew up on the beautiful island of Tenerife, Spain. From an early age, she was driven by a clear vocation for the performing arts. She pursued studies at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife and later broadened her academic horizon at Harvard University. Further refining her craft, she trained in London at the London Academy of Performing Arts and the prestigious Guildford School of Acting, where she graduated with honors. Her passion for film and television led her to Los Angeles, where she trained at UCLA.

​

It was in Los Angeles that Paola launched her professional career, playing lead roles in theatre productions in both English and Spanish. She also worked in voiceover, television commercials, and made her film debut. After gaining invaluable experience, she embarked on a new professional adventure in Madrid, where she currently resides and continues to work in film, television, and theatre.

​

In film, one of her most compelling roles was in the feature film The Glass Coffin, a unique thriller that captivated audiences worldwide. Her remarkable performance in this one-character film, set entirely inside a limousine, earned her critical acclaim and multiple awards, including Best Actress at the Athens Horrorant Film Festival, Utah's FilmQuest, and South Africa’s Horrorfest. She was also nominated for the same category at the NOLA Film Fest. Additionally, she has starred in In the Trap, directed by Alessio Liguori, as well as the short films Mask of Sanity and The End of All Things, winning Best Actress awards at the Queens World Film Festival and Bilbao’s Fant, respectively. Her film credits also include Oscar, The Color of Destiny, where she worked alongside renowned actors such as Joaquim de Almeida, Victoria Abril, Emma Suárez, and Jorge Perugorría. Her outstanding performance in this film got her superb reviews.

​

On television, Paola has worked on the latest season of the long-running Spanish hit comedy La Que Se Avecina and the series Nacho. She has also appeared in acclaimed series such as Mercado Central and Guante Blanco. Internationally, she captivated audiences in the UK with her portrayal of Catherine of Aragon in the BBC drama Six Wives with Lucy Worsley, one of her favorite roles to date.

Paola Bontempi continues to challenge herself with diverse and dynamic roles, earning recognition for her talent, dedication, and versatility in both Spanish and international productions.

​

Film/TV:

• “Six Wives with Lucy Worsley” Wall to Wall Prod. BBC1

• “La Que Se Avecina” Contubernio. Primevideo / Tele 5

• “Nacho” Bambú Producciones. LionsgatePlus / Atresmedia

• “Kosta, The Paradise” Mediapro

• “Glow And Darkness” Dreamlight

• “Cuéntame Cómo Pasó” Ganga Prod. TVE1

• “Guante Blanco” TVE1

• “Estados Alterados, Maitena” La Sexta

• “In the Trap” Dir. Alessio Liguori

• “Conducta Animal” Dir. Miguel Romero

• “La Niebla y la Doncella” Dir. Andrés Koppel

• “El Ataúd de Cristal” Dir. Haritz Zubillaga

• “La Isla Interior” Dir. Felix Sabroso y Dunia Ayaso

• “Oscar, una Pasión Surrealista” Dir. Lucas Fernández

​

Theater:

• “Shakespeare Scenes” Dir. Justin Francis. Festival Parque Morden, London

• “The Winter's Tale” Dir. Louis Fantasia. Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre, London

• “What about Leonardo?” Dir. Gemma Eddington. Millmead Theatre, Guildford

• “Guys and Dolls” Dir. Peter Barlow. Ivonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 

• “Nunsense” Dir. Rahmi Mowjood. LAPA Theatre, London

​