Montaje propio Who is Bárbara Goenaga: the actress in Borja Sémper's 'shadow', PP spokesperson
The 41-year-old Basque performer balances her artistic career and her role as a mother, along with this position for Feijóo
Amid the growing wave of corruption scandals affecting PSOE, PP's national spokesperson, Borja Sémper, has intensified his criticism. He describes Sánchez as someone "in the hands of a handful of criminals" and supports a motion of no confidence if PSOE's allies allow it.
Meanwhile, PP is slowing down its actions, confident that PSOE's crisis will weaken itself. All this while preparing for its national congress in July.
In this complex political landscape, Sémper's role is gaining prominence due to his critical, thoughtful, and strategic tone. Alongside him appears a figure who, without belonging to the political world, brings a symbolic dimension: Bárbara Goenaga, his partner since 2014.
Born on July 20, 1983, in San Sebastián, Bárbara Goenaga Bilbao is the daughter of painter Juan Luis Goenaga and niece of Aizpea Goenaga, actress and director. Her career began at the tender age of three with appearances in Basque-language series such as "Bai Horixe!" and "Beni eta Marini".
At nine, she made her film debut with Urte ilunak (The Dark Years), and between 1994 and 2000 she achieved great popularity thanks to her role in the long-running series Goenkale.
At 16 years old, she moved to Madrid, where she participated in shows such as El grupo, A medias, and El comisario. In film, her credits include titles such as El regalo de Silvia (2002), La luna en botella (2006), and Oviedo Express (2007)—nominated for the Goya Award for Best New Actress. Also Los cronocrímenes (2007), Agnosia, Gernika (2016), and series such as Amar es para siempre (2013) and Cuéntame cómo pasó (2014).
Her versatility has earned her numerous awards, including Unión de Actores, Cosmopolitan, and international recognition, such as the Tirana Festival for Pikadero (2015).
Over more than two decades, Goenaga has explored all formats: film, television, theater (notably in La punta del iceberg and Historia de una escalera), short films, and series. In 2023, she was the face of La Academia on Prime Video, and she remains popular in the Basque and national cultural scene.
Her "Romantic History": From Óscar Jaenada to Borja Sémper
Until 2013, she kept a relationship of more than a decade with actor Óscar Jaenada, from which her first son, Aran, was born in February 2011.
In the summer of 2014, Goenaga and Sémper met in Donostia through mutual friends. What began discreetly became official in March 2015, after several months in which they avoided media attention.
Sémper, separated from his first marriage, which left him with a son, went through a reserved stage before starting this relationship, which quickly became solid.
The couple have four children: Aran (2011), from her previous relationship, another son from Sémper's previous marriage, and two children together: Telmo, born in February 2016, and Eliot, born on September 7, 2018. They believe in an upbringing based on positive discipline, as they have shared on RTVE's podcast Te crío mucho.
Although Goenaga doesn't hold formal political roles, her role as a public figure alongside Sémper brings a symbolic dimension to PP's narrative. Her sensitivity to issues such as feminism, work-life balance, and LGTBI+ rights brings nuances that he counters from a liberal and transparency-focused approach.
Activism and Visibility
During the pandemic and on social media, Goenaga used humor to denounce posturing on the internet. She has raised her voice against homophobia and has publicly defended her husband. Although she suffered ideological attacks, her response has been clear and committed.
Sémper, former spokesperson for PP Vasco and exposed to ETA threats in his youth, left politics in 2020 to work at EY, before returning in 2022 as national spokesperson and in 2023 as a deputy for Madrid.
Today, he is Deputy Secretary of Culture and national spokesperson for PP. As the main promoter of the most critical and ethical line in the socialist crisis, he has warned that corruption "stinks" and demands explanations from PSOE. He has warned of the end of Sánchez's cycle and raised the possibility of a motion of no confidence if parties in the socialist sphere change their stance.
A Couple in the Public Sphere: Portrait of a Personal and Political Alliance
Both have appeared together at cultural events (festivals, museums) and have shared projects: Goenaga co-hosted the 2024 San Sebastián Film Festival alongside figures such as Buenafuente and Romero. Meanwhile, Sémper has often been involved in cultural events.
On the podcast "Te crío mucho" they talk about respectful education and work-life balance, sharing their family approach with the public.
Goenaga's role reinforces the modern, sensitive, and conciliatory profile of PP Vasco and national. She contrasts a cultural and feminist discourse with Sémper's political toughness.
They avoid political or media overacting, carefully choose when and where to appear, and protect their privacy, something valued in their circle.
In the face of PSOE's crisis, Sémper has activated a discourse based on ethics, control, and the demand for responsibility. At the same time, Bárbara Goenaga's role complements his profile. She doesn't take on official political roles, but she brings cultural sensitivity, humanism, and emotional balance to the narrative.
Together, they represent a powerful duality: culture and politics, intimacy and public presence. An alliance that, without formal institutional prominence, exerts a striking symbolic influence on the Spanish political landscape.
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