Personal details
- Birth Date: 1994-06-11
- Height: 5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Birth Location: Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Parents: Ivan Baquero
- Professions: Actress
Ivana’s story kicks off in Barcelona, Spain—yeah, that Barcelona. She wrapped up high school at The American School of Barcelona, which honestly sounds as international as it gets. But things really took off for her in 2006 when Guillermo Del Toro, the guy behind some seriously wild films, spotted her talent and handed her the lead in "Pan’s Labyrinth." Fun fact: the role of Ofelia was meant for an eight-year-old, but Ivana, who was eleven, just crushed her audition so hard that Del Toro was like, “Never mind, it’s hers.” Talk about making a first impression. Her performance? Absolutely next-level. She ended up snagging the Goya Award for Best New Actress in 2007, which is basically like Spain’s version of the Oscars. Not too shabby for her age. People didn’t stop there—she also picked up the Union of Spanish Actors’ Best Newcomer, the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor, and the Imagen Award for Best Actress. That’s a trophy shelf most adults would kill for. Before "Pan’s Labyrinth," she wasn’t exactly just hanging around. Nope. She’d already landed roles in movies like "Fragile" with Calista Flockhart and "Romasanta" with Julian Sands—all while she was still in elementary school. Later, she took her first swing at an American film in "The New Daughter," starring with Kevin Costner. Then, in 2015, she jetted off to New Zealand for MTV’s "The Shannara Chronicles," bringing Terry Brooks’ fantasy world to life. And if all that wasn’t enough, she’s been juggling law studies alongside her acting career. Seriously, does she ever sleep?
Let’s talk about crazy young talent—Ivana Baquero straight-up made history when she snagged the Goya Award for Best New Actress at just 12 years old. Yeah, twelve. She absolutely crushed it as Ofelia in Guillermo del Toro’s dark fairy tale El Laberinto Del Fauno (or Pan’s Labyrinth, if you’re not brushing up on your Spanish). The movie itself is this wild blend of fantasy and harsh reality, set against the backdrop of post–Civil War Spain, and Ivana, man, she just dives right into all the magic and horror like it’s nothing. She holds her own with these heavy, seasoned actors and totally becomes the heart of the film. People talk about “breakout roles” like it’s a cliché, but this? This was a career rocket launch, and it’s still nuts to think she was only a kid. That Goya win? More than deserved.
Man, getting to play a character with that much grit and swagger? That’s rare, especially for a woman on screen. I mean, I’d just barely ditched my teenage years, still kind of finding my feet as an adult, and then boom—here comes this role. Before that, it was all kid stuff for me, you know? Nothing nearly as high-stakes or badass as this gig on Shannara Chronicles. It was the first time I felt like I was doing something that actually pushed me, made me feel alive and, honestly, just super charged up. This character isn’t just some background fixture—she’s always moving, always thinking, always a step ahead. There’s something wild about stepping into shoes like that. You get to tap into a side of yourself you didn’t even know was there. Talk about feeling empowered. It’s just cool, plain and simple. And let’s be real, how often do you get to say that about work?
June 11, 1994
5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Ivan Baquero and Surekha
31 years old