Biographie
Born in Madrid, the capital of Spain, he is the son of two entrepreneurs and the second of four siblings. His father began working at thirteen and, alongside his mother, built a highly successful textile business in the heart of the city.
After completing school, he enrolled in Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid to satisfy family members who disapproved of his aspirations in the unpredictable world of acting. Shortly after, he joined the university's theatre group, where he met his future mentor, Antonio Malonda. After two years and several productions, Malonda encouraged him to audition for the Royal Conservatory of Dramatic Art of Madrid (RESAD). Selected as one of 50 from over 1,700 applicants, he started at RESAD while finishing his final year of Sociology.
In 1997, he debuted in the film "Resultado Final," directed by Juan Antonio Bardem, an Honorary Goya recipient.
During his penultimate year at RESAD, David Ottone, director of the theatre company Yllana, known for physical slapstick comedy, recruited him. Impressed by his academic achievements, Yllana and he began a close collaboration, touring over 20 countries for two years.
He later left touring to pursue television, landing a role in the series "Hospital Central" (2002–04). Concurrently, he joined the National Theater Company (Centro Dramático Nacional), performing in plays such as Dürrenmatt's "The Visit," Antonio Buero Vallejo's "Story of a Stairway," and classics like Lope de Vega's "Justice Without Revenge."
His career gained momentum when he portrayed the iconic "Don Juan Tenorio" by Zorrilla at the Alcala de Henares Festival, performing before audiences of 40,000 per show.
In 2005, he starred in the lead role of the comedy "Monty Python's Flying Circus," touring Spain. Simultaneously, he appeared in the TV show "Noche H" as an eccentric journalist, acting alongside stars such as Tim Robbins, Penélope Cruz, Bruce Willis, Hilary Swank, Pedro Almodóvar, Steve Martin, and Ralph Fiennes.
In subsequent years, he portrayed diverse characters across TV and film, including appearances in "Cuéntame Cómo Pasó" (2006), "Muchachada Nui" (2007–08), "La Tira" (2008–09), "Spanish Movie" (2009), "La que se Avecina" (2010), "Los Quién" (2011), and "Felipe y Letizia" (2011). In the latter, he became the first actor to portray Spain's Prince Felipe de Borbón.
Throughout this period, he balanced film and television with theatre, participating in over a dozen productions. Notably, he starred in the musical "Spamalot," earning the 2009 "Gran Vía" award for Best Actor in a Musical Comedy.
In 2012, the Fundación Siglo de Oro selected him to portray Henry VIII at The Shakespeare Globe to Globe Festival in London, making him the first Spanish actor to play a leading role at The Globe Theatre. His performance received high praise from major publications like The Guardian for its authenticity.
He also portrayed King Juan Carlos I de Borbón in the upcoming TV movie "El Rey" (Tele 5).
In 2013, he won the "Biznaga de Plata" for Best Supporting Actor at the Malaga Film Festival for his role in Jorge Naranjo's film "Casting."
Currently, he is filming the TV series "El Príncipe," playing a secret agent investigating a terrorist cell in Morocco, scheduled for release in 2014.
Recently, he returned from Los Angeles, where he performed as Henry VIII at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, receiving favorable reviews including from the LA Times. There, he connected with a prominent Hollywood agent who now represents his career in the United States.
He has also produced, directed, and written numerous short films, composing and recording their music himself, reflecting his passion for guitar. These shorts have been featured in over 16 film festivals and garnered multiple nominations, including winning Best Short Film for his quirky comedy "Vuelta y Vuelta" at the 2004 Iberoamerican Film Festival of Madrid.
