María de la Paz Padilla Díaz (born 30 July 1969 in Cádiz) is a Spanish comedian, actress and presenter.
After working as a clinical assistant in a Cádiz hospital, she became known in the comedy contest Saque bola (1989) on the regional Andalusian television channel Canal Sur. She later appeared in 1994 on the television comedy show Genio y Figura on Antena 3.
She then made several appearances on several shows in this channel. In 1996, she co-hosted the television charity special Inocente, Inocente.
Between 1997 and 1999, she worked for the late night show Crónicas marcianas on Telecinco. After that, she has worked for several television shows as a presenter.
Since November 2009, she hosts the talk show Sálvame (a program with a large following in Telecinco) on Thursdays and Fridays and holiday periods.
Since 2019, Padilla has been on the talent show Got Talent España as a judge.
Besides her career as a presenter and comedian, she has also worked as an actress: in theatre, notably with theatre company El Terrat; in cinema in films like Raluy (1999), Marujas asesinas (2001) or Cobardes (2008); and in television sitcoms such as ¡Ala... Dina! (2000-2001) in TVE, Mis adorables vecinos (2004-2006) in Antena 3, and La que se avecina (2013–present) in Telecinco. She has also worked in radio broadcastings in COPE.
Television
As a presenter
Genio y Figura 1994-1995, in Antena 3
Inocente, inocente 1996, in Antena 3
Vídeos, Vídeos 1996, in Antena 3
Sonrisas de España 1997, in Antena 3
Hola, hola, hola 1997, in Antena 3
La Noche de los Inocentes 1997-1998, in Antena 3
Bajo cero con Paz Padilla 1998-1999, in Telecinco
In Fraganti 1999-2001, in TVE
Gala Míster España 2001, in TVE
Gala TP de Oro 2000 2001, en TVE
Final del COAC en el Gran Teatro Falla 2005-2009, in Canal Sur TV
Shalakabula 2006-2008, in Canal Sur TV
Gala Especiales-Nochebuena 2006-2007, in Canal Sur TV
Especial, Carnavales de Cádiz 2007-2009, in Canal Sur TV
Hasta que la tele nos separe 2006, in TVE
El Gong Show 2007, in TVE
Paz en la tierra 2008-2009, in Canal Sur TV
Especial Navidad y Fin de Año 2009-2011, in Telecinco
Dejadnos solos 2009-2010, in Telecinco
Al Ataque Chow 2010, in Telecinco
La noche en Paz: Especial de Nochebuena 2009-present, in Telecinco
Sálvame 2009–present in Telecinco
Al Ataque Chow 2010 in Telecinco
El año en Paz 2011–2016 in Telecinco
Collaborations
Saque bola (1989, comedian) Genio y figura (1994-1995, comedian) Un millón de gracias (1995, comedian) Lluvia de estrellas (1996, judge) Muchas Gracias 96 (1996, comedian) Crónicas marcianas (1997-1999, comedian) Telepasión (1999, comedian) Gala Unicef «¿Cómo están ustedes?» (2000, comedian) El Grand Prix del verano (2003 and 2008, celebrity guest) Más que baile (2006-2007, celebrity guest) Channel Nº4 (2007-2008, panellist) Al pie de la letra (2008, celebrity guest) Espejo público (2008-2009, panellist) Cantame una canción (2010, judge) La Noria (2010, celebrity guest) Pasapalabra (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; celebrity guest) ¡Arriba ese ánimo! (2012, comedian) Cabaret Olé (2012, comedian) Sopa de gansos (2015, comedian) Got Talent España (2019–present, judge)
As an actress
Main roles
¡Ala... Dina! (2000-2001) Mis adorables vecinos (2004-2006) Ponme una nube, Rocío (2008) La que se avecina (2010–present)
Recurring roles
Un paso adelante (2004) Casi perfectos (2004) Homo Zapping (2004) Cambio de clase (2006) Manolo & Benito Corporeision (2007) Pelotas (2009) Las chicas de oro (2010) Palomitas (2011) La sagrada família (2011) Cuñados (2012) Aida (2014) Chiringuito de Pepe (2016)
Cinema
Raluy, una noche en el circo (2000) Marujas asesinas (2001) Cobardes (2008)
Theatre
Ustedes se preguntarán como he llegado hasta aquí (2007–2008) Solo Paz Padilla (2012–2014) Sofocos (2012) Desatadas (2018) El Humor de mi Vida (2021-2022) con Juan Fernandez de Valderama
Published books
«Quien te ha visto y quien te ve, Mari». Ed. Espasa Libros. Año 2013.