Basque Actress and Educator Esther Uria Dies at 55
Basque actress Esther Uria, celebrated for her extensive theatre career and roles in national TV series, has died at 55 in Donostia following a brief illness.
The Basque cultural scene is mourning the death of Esther Uria, a San Sebastian actress who passed away at 55 in Donostia Hospital after a short, aggressive illness. For decades, her name was closely linked to theatre in Euskadi, where she starred in acclaimed productions such as The Green Cockatoo and The Importance of Being Earnest. She also brought her talent to national television, appearing in popular series like Hospital Central and Cuéntame cómo pasó. El Diario Vasco was the first to report the news of her passing.
Although her acting career was thriving, in 2008 she decided to take a break to pursue another of her great interests: education. A graduate in Dramatic Arts from Antzerti, she shifted her focus to teaching and excelled academically. She earned the Extraordinary Award in Special Education and the End-of-Degree Award in Psychopedagogy, in addition to a Master's in Secondary Teacher Training.
Her desire to connect performing arts with teaching led her to receive a scholarship in 2014 to research theatre as an educational tool at the University of Victoria in Canada. Years later, in 2018, she completed her doctorate at EHU/UPV, perfectly uniting her two vocations. "A teacher is also an actor," she once stated, explaining that communication is key to connecting with students.
On stage, she created many memorable moments. In Cada día es solo una vez al día (Every Day Is Only Once a Day), a play she premiered in 2013 with her partner, Edu Errondosoro of the popular group Golden Apple Quartet, she played a woman who learns to laugh at herself to enjoy the present. It was a declaration of her approach to life.
Her face was also familiar on Basque television thanks to EITB productions like Euskolegas and Pilotari. Additionally, she appeared on national networks in shows such as Amistades peligrosas (Cuatro), El doctor Mateo (Antena 3), and El comisario.
Esther Uria leaves behind a legacy that beautifully combines artistic passion and a dedication to education. Her final applause will resonate on the stages where she grew.