With her statuesque, and striking Picasso-esque looks, Mallorca-born Rossy de Palma has carved out a dazzling career that’s as unique as her appearance. She’s graced the silver screen most famously in a slew of delirious films by Spain’s enfant terrible director Pedro Almodovar, hit the runway in designs by Jean-Paul Gaultier, done a stint in Hollywood with legendary director Robert Altman, and even joined George Michael and a bevy of catwalk queens for a slinky pop video, co-directed by fashionista Thierry Mugler.
Her journey from humble beginnings in Mallorca to the global stage is a story of resilience, creativity, and unapologetic authenticity. Rossy was born Rosa Elena García Echave in Mallorca, in 1964, the daughter of migrants from the mainland, drawn to the island during the early tourist boom. “Hard workers, like me. My father was a builder and my mother worked at home and outside doing hundreds of things for the family.” Aged just 12, Rossy started making her own clothes and selling them at Palma’s street market. “I like craftspeople. When your hands are busy, your mind is calm.”
Rossy was soon enough busy carving out a music career in the euphoric Madrid scene of the 1980s with a pop-punk band. And it was while performing with her band Peor Imposible that she met director Pedro Almodovar, who after giving her a small part in the Law of Desire, then cast her in his international hit Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in 1988. Almodóvar, known for his penchant for quirky and strong female characters, found in Rossy a muse who could bring his gloriously campy yet deeply emotional stories to life. The collaboration proved to be a match made in cinematic heaven, with Rossy appearing in several of his iconic films, including Kika, The Flower of My Secret, Broken Embraces, Julieta and Parallel Mothers.
Rossy’s unapologetic embrace of her unconventional beauty quickly made her an icon of self-acceptance and individuality. As she once said, “Beauty is subjective. It’s a matter of personal taste and culture. The important thing is to feel comfortable with yourself and to feel good about your own style”.
In a world that often prizes conformity, Rossy is a breath of fresh air, a vibrant reminder of the power of individuality and the beauty of embracing one’s unique traits. As Almodóvar put it: “Rossy’s triumph is a triumph of will, intelligence and tenacity. She knew she was original ever since she was a child and built herself a kind of armor to fight against all kinds of adversaries, – chief of these being bad taste and conventional taste.”
Such high praise from one of cinema’s greats speaks volumes about her impact on his work and the film industry at large. And while it may have been her looks that catapulted her to stardom, it’s clearly her undeniable talent and charisma that have kept her there.
Images: Instagram @the.se7enart
