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Saura Lightfoot-Leon

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Saura Lightfoot-Leon
Born1998 (age 25–26)
Leiden, Netherlands
Nationality
  • British
  • Dutch
  • Spanish
Other namesSaura Lightfoot Leon
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Years active2020–present

Saura Lightfoot-Leon (born 1998) is a Dutch-born English-Spanish actress. For her debut feature film Hoard (2023),[1] she received two British Independent Film Award nominations. She was named a 2024 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.[2]

Early life

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Lightfoot-Leon was born in Leiden, Netherlands[3] to English father Paul Lightfoot and Spanish mother Sol León, both dancers and choreographers, and grew up in The Hague.[4] Lightfoot-Leon graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting.[5]

Career

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As a child, Lightfoot-Leon appeared in the projected background videos of her parents Paul Lightfoot and Sol León's ballet and contemporary dance productions, such as Silent Screen (2005)[6] and Stop-Motion (2014) at Lucent Danstheater in The Hague,[7][8] which was also shown in 2018 at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.[9] Upon graduating from RADA in 2020,[10] Lightfoot-Leon featured in their final project with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) She Remembers,[11] which was staged virtually.[12]

After making her television debut in an episode of the BBC One miniseries Life After Life in 2022, Lightfoot-Leon made her feature film debut as the lead Maria of Luna Carmoon's film Hoard, appearing alongside the likes of Joseph Quinn and Hayley Squires. For her performance in Hoard, Lightfoot-Leon was awarded a Special Jury Mention at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.[13][14][15] She was nominated for the 2024 British Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performance and jointly nominated for Best Joint Lead Performance with Quinn. Lightfoot-Leon has upcoming roles in the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air and the Netflix series American Primeval.[16]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes titles that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Grapes Rae Short film
2020 Hard Pass Short film
2023 Hoard Maria

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 Life After Life Hilde 1 episode
2024 Masters of the Air Louise 2 episodes
2024 The Agency †
2025 American Primeval † Abish

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Silent Screen
2014 Stop-Motion Lucent Danstheater, The Hague
2020 She Remembers Nederlands Dans Theater (virtual)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2023 Venice International Film Festival Special Jury Mention Hoard Won [17]
2024 British Independent Film Award Best Joint Lead Performance Pending [18]
Breakthrough Performance Pending

References

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  1. ^ "Rising Stars: Saura Lightfoot-Leon". The Media Eye. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ Jolin, Dan (26 June 2024). "Stars of Tomorrow 2024: Saura Lightfoot-Leon (actor)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Residencies: Sol León and Paul Lightfoot". Orsolina 28. July 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Mottram, James (28 March 2024). "Saura Lightfoot-Leon is riding a tornado". Next Big Thing. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Saura Lightfoot-Leon". RADA. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Silent Screen". The National Ballet of Canada. 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Stop-Motion". Nederlands Dans Theater. January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Sol León & Paul Lightfoot - STOP-MOTION Nederlands Dans Theater / NDT 1". Kumquat Performing Arts Paris. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  9. ^ Mead, David (2 July 2018). "Defining contemporary dance today: Nederlands Dans Theater in London". SeeingDance. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ Watts, Graham (22 July 2020). "Nederlands Dans Theater – Paul Lightfoot and Sol León lockdown streamed premieres". DanceTabs. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  11. ^ Embrechts, Annette (29 July 2020). "Paul Lightfoot en Sol León nemen met twee dansfilms afscheid van hun eigen Nederlands Dans Theater". de Volksrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  12. ^ Liber, Vera (15 July 2020). "Stream review: Standby / She Remembers". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  13. ^ Grater, Tom (25 April 2022). "Saura Lightfoot Leon, Hayley Squires & Joseph Quinn Starring In UK Debut 'Hoard'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. ^ Corá, Angelina (3 September 2023). "Interview with Joseph Quinn and Saura Lightfoot-Leon: 'Hoard' and the catalogues of love". The Italian Rêve. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  15. ^ Seghedoni, Serena (4 September 2023). "Hoard Interview: Luna Carmoon, Saura Lightfoot Leon & Joseph Quinn". Loud and Clear Reviews. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. ^ Thao, Phillipe (24 January 2023). "'American Primeval' Unleashes Its Full Cast into the Wilderness". Tudum by Netflix. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  17. ^ Dalton, Ben (8 September 2023). "Luna Carmoon's 'Hoard' takes three prizes including audience award at Venice Critics' Week". Screen International. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  18. ^ Pulver, Andrew (2024-11-05). "Kneecap leads nominations for British independent film awards". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
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