Marta Nieto Martínez, born on 31 January 1982, is a Spanish actress and film director who has garnered international acclaim for her intense, emotionally resonant performances in independent cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of Spain's most versatile and compelling talents, transitioning seamlessly from stage to screen and eventually behind the camera. Her breakthrough role in the psychological thriller Madre brought her widespread recognition and a Goya Award for Best Actress, cementing her status as a formidable force in European film.

Nieto began her acting career in the early 2000s, appearing in Spanish television series such as El Comisario and Hospital Central, where she honed her craft in episodic roles. She gradually moved into feature films, earning early notice for her work in La Soledad and La Mujer Sin Piano. However, it was her collaboration with director Rodrigo Sorogoyen that proved transformative. In 2019, she starred in Madre, a feature-length expansion of Sorogoyen's Oscar-nominated short film of the same name. In the film, Nieto delivered a tour-de-force performance as a mother grappling with the disappearance of her young son, a role that demanded raw vulnerability and psychological depth. Her portrayal earned her the Goya Award for Best Actress, along with nominations for the Forqué and Feroz Awards, and the film itself premiered at the Venice Film Festival to critical praise.

Following the success of Madre, Nieto continued to push artistic boundaries. She starred in La Hija de un Ladrón and El Inconveniente, but she also expanded her creative horizons by stepping into directing. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the short film La Entrega, which was selected for the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The short, a tense and intimate drama, showcased her ability to craft compelling narratives from the director's chair, earning her further accolades and establishing her as a multifaceted filmmaker. She has expressed a deep interest in exploring themes of motherhood, loss, and identity, both as an actress and director.

Nieto's international profile continues to grow, with her work being recognized at major festivals including Cannes, Venice, and San Sebastián. She has collaborated with prominent Spanish directors such as Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Jonás Trueba, and has expressed admiration for the work of Isabel Coixet and Pedro Almodóvar. Currently, she remains active in both acting and directing, with several projects in development. Her approach to her craft is characterized by a meticulous preparation and a willingness to inhabit difficult, emotionally complex characters. Marta Nieto stands as a testament to the depth of contemporary Spanish cinema, a dedicated artist whose work continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike, and whose future projects are eagerly anticipated.