Juan Muñoz Santiago
Details
Alternate Names: Juani Ruiz, Juan Munoz Santiago
Physical Characteristics: N/A
Full Biography
Juani Ruiz, often recognized by her birth name Juan Muñoz Santiago, is a prominent Spanish actress and singer whose journey reflects the evolving landscape of transgender visibility in Spain. Born in June 1962 in Badolatosa, Seville, Ruiz faced significant challenges early in life due to her gender identity, eventually moving to Madrid where she navigated a society that offered little protection to the LGBTQ+ community. Her early years were marked by hardship, including periods of survival through sex work, a reality shared by many trans women of her generation.
Her entry into the public eye began in 1983 as one of the protagonists of Antonio Giménez-Rico’s landmark documentary, Vestida de azul (Dressed in Blue). The film was a pioneering work in Spanish cinema, offering a raw and humanizing look at the lives of six trans women during the transition to democracy. Following this early exposure, Ruiz pursued formal acting training at the "La Lavandería" school in 2000 to overcome personal fears and build her self-esteem.
Ruiz experienced a major career resurgence in 2020 when she was cast as herself in the critically acclaimed series Veneno, created by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. The show, which chronicled the life of her friend Cristina Ortiz, catapulted Juani into the spotlight, showcasing her charismatic personality and deep-rooted history within the community. She continued her collaboration with the creators in the series Cardo—where she notably played a cisgender character—and returned to her roots in the 2023 series Vestidas de azul, a narrative continuation that honors the memory of the women from the original 1983 documentary.
In addition to her acting, Ruiz fulfilled a lifelong dream by launching a musical career, releasing singles such as "Fantasmas del pasado" in 2023 and "Ahora viene lo mejor" in 2024. Today, she stands as a symbol of "trans memory," a woman of fulfilled dreams whose persistence has made her an essential figure in Spanish contemporary culture.
