ELEVEN PEOPLE YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE ASTURIAN

There are about 1 million people living in Asturias. A lot of them are just common people, but a few are really famous. You will discover which celebrities were born in Asturias.

1. Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso Díaz (born in 29 July 1981) is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a double World Champion who is currently racing for McLaren F1 team. He is often regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers in the history of the sport.

Fernando Alonso was born in Oviedo.

2. Queen Letizia of Spain

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (born 15 September 1972) is the Queen of Spain as the wife of King Felipe VI, who ascended on 19 June 2014 on the abdication of his father Juan Carlos I. Before her marriage to Felipe, Letizia was a journalist and news anchor. Letizia and Felipe have two daughters, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, who is now the heir presumptive, and Infanta Sofía.

Letizia Ortiz was born in Oviedo.

3. Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique Martínez García (born 8 May 1970), known as Luis Enrique, is a Spanish former professional and a manager. Luis Enrique was born in Gijón, and began his career with local Sporting de Gijón, where he gained the nickname Lucho after Luis Flores, a Mexican forward in the team. He then spent most of his playing days with the two biggest Spanish clubs: first Real Madrid for five seasons and, in 1996, after seeing out his contract, he moved to fierce rivals FC Barcelona on a free transfer. Luis Enrique started working as a manager in 2008 with Barcelona B and, three years later, moved to Roma. In the 2013–14 season he managed Celta, before returning to Barcelona and winning the in his first year and the double in his second.

Luis Enrique was born in Gijón.

4. Pablo Carreño

Pablo Carreño (born in Gijón in 1991) is a Spanish professional tennis player. On September 11, 2017 entered the top 10 in the world ranking after reaching the semifinals of the US Open.

5. Hevia

José Ángel Hevia Velasco, known professionally as Hevia (born October 11, 1967), is a Spanish bagpiper – specifically, an Asturian gaita player. He commonly performs with his sister, Maria José, on drums. In 1992 he was awarded first prize for solo bagpipes at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany.

Possibly his most recognisable composition is the 1998 piece Busindre Reel, from his first album Tierra de Nadie. Hevia is known for helping invent a special brand of MIDI electronic bagpipes, which he is often seen playing live. The instrument was developed with Alberto Arias (pupil and computer programmer) and the electronic technician Miguel Dopico.

Hevia was born in Villaviciosa.

6. David Villa

David Villa Sánchez (born 3 December 1981) is a Spanish professional who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York City and the Spain national team. He is also the captain of New York City FC. He is nicknamed El Guaje (The Kid in Asturian) because as a youngster he frequently played football with children much older than him. David Villa Played for Gijón, Zaragoza ,Valencia, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, New York City and Melbourne City. He hit his La Liga goalscoring peak while at Valencia, scoring 28 league goals in the 2008–09 season.

David Villa was born in Langreo.

7. Santi Cazorla

Santiago “Santi” Cazorla González (born 13 December 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Arsenal and the Spain national team. Cazorla operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a winger, central midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker.

Santi Cazorla was born in Llanera.

8. Sergio G. Sanchez

Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez is a Spanish director and screenwriter. Sánchez has written and directed his own screenplays for short films such as Temporada baja (2003) and 7337 (2000).

Sánchez’s first film script was for The Orphanage in 1996. Sánchez originally wanted to direct the script but he was repeatedly turned down by various Spanish production companies. While Sánchez was working on the short film 7337, he met with director Juan Antonio Bayona and offered him the script to direct. The Orphanage was a large hit and Sánchez was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 2008 Goya Awards in Spain.

Sergio G. Sanchez was born in Oviedo.

9. José Luis Rubiera

José Luis Rubiera Vigil (born 27 January 1973) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. Also known as “Chechu” Rubiera. He last rode for the UCI ProTour team Team RadioShack.

Rubiera won his first professional race at the 1997 Giro d’Italia, winning stage 19. His climbing ability was instrumental in leading Lance Armstrong to five of his Tour de France victories, most famously leading Armstrong up the start of Alpe d’Huez in 2001. He earned an engineering degree in 2004, while balancing his race schedule and studies. He is very respected in the and was elected as deputy to the cyclists’ representative council of the UCI ProTour.

José Luis Rubiera was born in Gijón.

10. Anthony Blake

José Luis Panizo González, also known as Anthony Blake, is an Asturiano mentalist and illusionist.

Anthony Blake was born in Oviedo.

11.Eva Longoria

The last one of our list is not 100 procent correct. She was born in the United States, but her family originates from Asturias. There’s even a village named “Longoria”, they used to live there.

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón (born March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, activist and businesswoman. After a series of guest roles on several television series, Longoria was first recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, on which she starred from 2001 to 2003. She is perhaps best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, which ran from 2004 to 2012 and for which she received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.