Under Almodóvar's Wing: Milena Smit's Meteoric Rise Milena Smit's rapid ascent from model to co lead in Pedro Almodóvar's Oscar nominated Parallel Mothers, opposite Penélope Cruz, is a testament to her remarkable talent.
Her journey began with an Instagram discovery and has culminated in a Goya Award nomination and a starring role in Amarga Navidad (Bitter Christmas), the Spanish director's 24th feature film.
Smit's career trajectory finds her sandwiched between two artistic titans: Almodóvar, who has written a role specifically for her in Bitter Christmas, and Chloé Zhao, whose Hamnet serves as a benchmark for Smit's own ambitions.