Pepa Arenós, a Catalan actress, voice artist, and political activist with a career spanning over half a century across theater, film, television, and radio, has died at the age of 78.
Arenós Leaves a Versatile Artistic and Political Legacy
- A Half-Century Career: Arenós graduated from the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona and built a versatile portfolio encompassing independent theater, film, television, and dubbing.
- Cultural and Political Footprint: Beyond her artistic credits—including voicing Baba the Witch in Bola de Drac—she presented the historic 1976 Diada in Sant Boi de Llobregat and remained active in Catalan political movements.
- Tributes from the Stage: Industry figures, including actor and director Joan Lluis Bozzo, publicly remembered her as a formidable, fiercely committed performer.
From Gràcia to the Independent Stage
Born in the Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia in 1948, Arenós laid the groundwork for her extensive career by earning her degree in Dramatic Art from the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. She quickly immersed herself in the independent theater movement of the era, joining the theater group El camaleó. Her early theatrical foundation propelled her into productions alike, notably appearing in Josep Maria Flotats’’ staging of Stalin alongside Carme Conesa, Pere Eugeni Font, and Pep Sais.
Her presence extended far beyond the physical stage. Over more than fifty years in the entertainment industry, Arenós crossed into film, television, dubbing, and radio. On the big screen, she secured roles in Jaime Camino’s Las largas vacaciones del 36 (1976), Carles Mira’s Con el culo al aire (1980), and Fernando Trueba’s El embrujo de Shanghai (2002). Television audiences also grew familiar with her work through Catalan regional series such as La Granja, Estació d’enllaç, and Ventdelplà on TV3.
Muere a los 78 años Pepa Arenós, la actriz de teatro, cine y televisión conocida por su activismohttps://t.co/ewOvpY6Qip
Arenós Combined Broadcast Work with Catalan Activism
Arenós proved equally comfortable behind a microphone. In 1986, she hosted the ecology program Línia Verda on Ràdio 4 and contributed to dramatic features for Catalunya Ràdio. Culturally, her voice reached viewers through her dubbing work, most notably voicing Baba the Witch in Bola de Drac.
Yet her cultural footprint was matched by her political commitment. Long before her passing, she cemented her place in contemporary Catalan history by presenting the historic Diada demonstration on September 11, 1976, in Sant Boi de Llobregat. A militant of the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC), Arenós served as vice president of the theatrical organization teatRe amb R de República and consistently lent her voice to public demonstrations advocating for Catalan independence.
| Medium | Notable Projects & Roles |
|---|---|
| Theater | Stalin (dir. Josep Maria Flotats’), El camaleó independent theater group |
| Film | Las largas vacaciones del 36 (1976), Con el culo al aire (1980), El embrujo de Shanghai (2002) |
| Television | La Granja, Estació d’enllaç, Ventdelplà (TV3) |
| Radio & Voicework | Línia Verda (Ràdio 4), Baba the Witch in Bola de Drac |
Arenós Calls for Peace Before Industry Figures Honor Her
In her later years, Arenós maintained her public activism. In February 2023, she stood alongside actor Enric Majó in Barcelona’s Plaça de Sant Jaume to read a manifesto marking the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire, a return to peace negotiations, and the global prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Following news of her death, cultural figures rushed to honor her legacy. Theater actor and director Joan Lluis Bozzo took to his account on X to describe her as a “formidable actress” and a “strong woman with a very great heart, a tireless fighter for the freedom of Catalonia, always present in all battles and in all commitments.”
Ha mort l’actriu i directora de doblatge Pepa Arenós. Va dirigir nombroses produccions, però molts la recordareu per posar veu en català a la mítica Baba la Vident de 'Bola de Drac'.S’apaga un micròfon, però sempre ens quedarà la veu. Descansi en pau. pic.twitter.com/lHEArQ4YQ1
More on Pepa Arenós
Acabo d'assabentar-me de la mort de PEPA ARENÓS. Actriu formidable. Una dona forta amb un cor molt gran. Lluitadora infatigable per la llibertat de Catalunya. Sempre present a totes les batalles i a tots els compromisos. Pepa, advocada dels drets del nostre país, ET RECORDAREM!
Mor als 78 anys l'actriu i activista Pepa Arenós: amb 50 anys de carrera als platós i als escenaris, va presentar la històrica Diada de Sant Boi de 1976 https://t.co/c3zTAiw9tX https://t.co/c3zTAiw9tX
