The year 2024 began with sad news. That of the death of the director and last of the classic filmmakers of our country Carlos Saura, at 91 years old. She was a respiratory insufficiency the one that prevented him from going to pick up the Goya of Honor. They were Saura’s widow, Eulalia Ramonand his children who collected the award of from the hands of the actress Carmen Maura. They took advantage of the opportunity to defend Public Health. “We think that Public Health she deserves to be taken care ofjust as they take care of us. To whom it may concern, let them do it.”said Eulalia.

Thus spoke in the name of the man behind ‘The walls speak’his last documentary film that saw the light, and ‘Ay Carmela!‘, the film adaptation of the play by José Sanchís Sinisterra with which, as a young man, he was able to win his first Goya. He also left the world of cinema (and the rest of mortals) at the beginning of the year, the Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. Her love, lack of love, and lawsuits did not prevent her from forming a trajectory of more than 60 tapes, in addition to many other theater pieces or roles in television series. With a shorter path, Itziar Castrodied suddenly at 47 years. His self-confidence and professionalism were captured in series such as ‘Vis a vis’ and films like ‘Champions’ or ‘Skins’. For the latter she was nominated for the Goya for best new actress in 2017.

The journalist who also succeeded in her work was Laura Valenzuela, the first presenter on Spanish television in the old TVE studios on Madrid’s Paseo de la Habana. The world of journalism mourned her loss in March. In the same house, RTVE, felt the absence of the scriptwriter of the series ‘Cuéntame’, Eduardo Ladrón de Guevara and the presenter María Teresa Campos. The first queen of the mornings, both on radio and television, knew how to talk about everything: politics, economy, culture, society, heart and even reality shows. Hence, she was considered one of the most influential journalists of her time. She was also unmistakable Pepe Domingo Castaño, voice of sports radio. He also succeeded as a singer and writer, which he did not abandon even in his last days.

Although not Spanish but admired here, the ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perrythe daughter of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presleyor the director of films like ‘The Exorcist’ or ‘The French Connection’, William Friedkin, have left in 2023, leaving their followers orphaned of references. As have also been done by two great ‘myths’ of Spanish music such as Carmen Sevilla either Maria Jimenez. The first has in Seville, the city that gave him his stage name, a street. From them one of the most charismatic actresses of Spanish cinema will continue to be remembered. One who was always clear about where she wanted to be: in her country and with her people. From the same city, Maria Jimenez was the creator of the ‘It’s over‘, whose first single became an absolute success in Spain and Mexico, with casual lyrics about a woman fed up with an abusive situation.

Tina Turner was another of the artists who did not hesitate to speak openly about the abuse she suffered from her ex-husband during their marital and musical relationship in the 1960s and 1970s. A stormy relationship that became even more violent when the singer was under the influence of cocaine, to which he was addicted. His are the iconic songs of ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ either ‘(Simply) The Best‘. Also hers was the farewell that she starred in in 2008 with Beyoncé in an energetic live duet. A year later, when she turned 70, she officially retired. Not from her followers, who have continued to enjoy her thanks to the 2021 documentary “Tina” or the musical that is still open on Broadway stages.