
Elena Santonja
ActingAbout Elena Santonja
María Elena Santonja Esquivias (29 May 1932 – 17 October 2016) was a Spanish TV presenter and occasional actress. She was the host of some shows in the early days of TVE such as Entre nosotras (1958), but she reached fame as a host of the cooking show Con las manos en la masa, that lasted from 1984 to 1991. In this program she cooked food alongside many celebrities (a different one per episode) such as Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, Rosa Chacel, Carlos Berlanga, Joaquín Sabina, Alaska... She also made sporadic roles as actress in films such as El verdugo (1963) by Luis García Berlanga or Crimen de doble filo (1965) by José Luis Borau. She married in 1956 with film director and scriptwriter Jaime de Armiñán whom she had 3 children: Álvaro, Eduardo and Carmen. She died on 17 October 2016 in Madrid at aged 84. Description above from the Wikipedia article Elena Santonja, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Elena Santonja reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 7 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Elena Santonja's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 29% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Elena Santonja remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Executioner, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Elena Santonja Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Elena Santonja's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Elena Santonja.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Todos los nombres de Sara | Self - TV Host (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Live Flesh | Madre de Elena (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Moors and Christians | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | National III | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | ¡Jo, papá! | Elena (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | Un, dos, tres, al escondite inglés | Party Guest | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Executioner | Girl at Book Fair | Super Hit | Similar → |
Elena Santonja - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Elena Santonja?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Elena Santonja is "The Executioner" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has Elena Santonja acted in?
Elena Santonja has been featured in at least 7 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Elena Santonja?
Other notable films include "Live Flesh", "National III", and "Moors and Christians".




