On the tails of Abigail Breslin receiving an Academy Award nomination for “Little Miss Sunshine” and Dakota Fanning scoring on the big screen with “Charlotte’s Web,” – 2006 was a good year for adolescent female actors – both American and foreign. Young Spanish actress Ivana Baquero made waves of her own that year as the breakout star of “Pan’s Labyrinth” – a haunting fairy tale and historical epic from Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. Beating out a thousand preteens for the role of Ofelia in “Labyrinth,” Baquero made millions of moviegoers fall in love with her impressive skills and beautifully expressive face.

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain on June 11, 1994, Baquero was an only child. Her mother also grew up in Catalonia, while her father was a businessman. She attended an American school in Barcelona, learning to speak Spanish, Catalan and English. Growing up, Baquero enjoyed riding bikes and playing soccer and football. She also loved American movies – especially the work of her favorite actors Dustin Hoffman, Jodie Foster, and Mark Wahlberg. Baquero’s biggest inspiration, however, was always Natalie Portman, who famously made her acting debut in “The Professional” (19994) when she was just 13 years old.

At age eight, Baquero made her acting debut in the movie “Romasanta” (2004) with Julian Sands – a film about werewolves and their hunters. Later that same year, the young actress followed with yet another thriller, “Rottweiler.” In 2005, Baquero continued her run of horror film roles when she landed a small part in – “Fragiles” starring Calista Flockhart. The talented teen also appeared on the small screen in Spanish television programs like “Maria I Assou” (2005) and “Films to Keep You Awake: The Christmas Tale” (2005).

At the young age of 11, Baquero started filming the movie “Pan’s Labyrinth.” She was cast after a nationwide search for the perfect young star, and was director Del Toro’s pick after his wife cried while watching her touching second audition. The movie, set during the Spanish Civil War, had at the heart of it, the character of Ofelia, who escapes into a fantasy world where she meets the mythical creature, Pan. Baquero lit up the screen every time she appeared, whether it was the harsh reality of a war torn Spain, or the twisted mystical world Ofelia imagines throughout the film. Her co-star Maribel Verdu described Baquero’s performance as “fantastic.” “Pan’s Labyrinth” was a hit with critics and audiences worldwide, even winning Academy Awards in 2006 for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. Baquero got rave reviews for her brilliant and ethereal performance and, at age 12, also became the youngest Spanish actress to win a prestigious Goya Award – Spain’s Oscar equivalent.