Laia Costa Bertrán (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Catalan: [ˈlajə ˈkɔstə]; born 18 February 1985) is a Spanish actress who has worked in Spain, Russia, Germany, Argentina, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. Costa has won several accolades, including a Goya Award, two Platino Awards and a German Film Award, in addition to nominations for a British Academy Film Award and a European Film Award.
Costa earned a degree in advertising, public relations and marketing, as well as a PhD in political science and media studies, before starting her acting career at the age of 26. Following initial appearances in minor television roles in Spain, she achieved international recognition through her portrayal of the titular character in the critically acclaimed one-shot German thriller Victoria (2015). Her performance earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role at the German Film Awards 2015, making her the first foreign and only Spanish actress to secure a Lola. Costa later starred in the romantic dramas Newness (2017) and Only You (2018), the horror thriller Piercing (2018), and the romantic comedy Duck Butter (2018).
For taking the lead in HBO Spain's eight-episode romance series Foodie Love (2019), Costa received a nomination for a Feroz Award for Best Main Actress in a Series. She was also part of the cast in the first season of the financial drama Devils (2020). Also in 2020, she made an appearance in the science fiction television anthology series Soulmates. Costa garnered widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Amaia, a new mother in Alauda Ruiz de Azúa's Lullaby (2022). This performance earned her the top accolades of the season, including a Goya Award, a Feroz Award, a Forqué Award, and a Platino Award, as well as receiving a nomination for a CEC Award. She has since starred in three Spanish films in 2023, including the rural drama Un amor, which earned her a second Platino Award for Best Actress, and portrayed Moghedien in the Amazon Prime Video series The Wheel of Time.