María Belón (born 1966)[1] is a Spanish physician and motivational speaker, known for surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami when she was on holiday in Thailand with her husband Enrique (Quique) Álvarez[2] and three sons Lucas, Simón, and Tomás.
[3] She was portrayed in the 2012 film The Impossible by Naomi Watts (with the name changed to Bennett), who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
[5][6][7] Belón is credited in the cast of the 2012 film The Impossible for providing her story and working on the set in Thailand in the same locations as the original tsunami.
There is no difference between me—a Spanish woman named María who is alive—and thousands of moms who are under the sea.
[11][12][13][14]Belón now travels around the world as an advocate for survivors of the tsunami and gives motivational speeches about how she overcame the turmoil and two years of recovery following her injuries.