The generational handover in Spanish film and series is more than secured. A new generation of actors under 35 is leading the industry's most ambitious productions, conquering international platforms and racking up awards at a pace rarely seen before. This is the list of the ten young actors and actresses who will shape Spanish screen culture over the coming years.
Ester Expósito
The Madrid-born actress became one of the most recognizable faces of Élite and one of the most-followed Spanish actresses in the world on social media. But beyond the viral phenomenon, Expósito has shown an acting maturity few expected from someone so young. Her work in Acapulco (a Mexican production) and on European projects shows her ability to adapt to international productions. At 24, she has already worked in four different countries and speaks English and Italian fluently. She is the model of the 21st-century actress: trained, digital and borderless.
Itzan Escamilla
The Madrid-born actor was the emotional heart of Élite for several seasons. His ability to convey male vulnerability within a teen-television context is remarkable: he built a complex character, with real traumas and aspirations, in a genre that tends toward the superficial. Escamilla has chosen his later projects carefully, betting on auteur cinema over quick fame. Why he has a future: the preparation he puts into every role and his willingness to explore uncomfortable territory set him apart from other actors of his generation.
Jaime Lorente
Denver in La Casa de Papel was one of the show's most beloved characters, and Lorente built him with an authenticity and humor that became his signature. But more interesting than his popularity is his later work: his role in El Cid proved he can carry a large-scale historical production, and his presence in European productions confirms that his international reach is serious. Lorente is one of the young Spanish actors with the greatest physical capacity for action cinema combined with dramatic sensitivity.
Miguel Herrán
He won the Goya for Best New Actor at just 19 for A cambio de nada, even before La Casa de Papel made him famous worldwide. That order in his career is telling: artistic credibility first, mass fame later. His work in La Casa de Papel as Río brought a fragility and an authentic youthfulness the character needed. Herrán represents the young actor who understands that Goyas are built before the millions of followers, and that perspective is what guarantees a long career.
Georgina Amorós
One of the most versatile young actresses on the current scene. Her work in Élite was notable, but she has managed to diversify toward independent cinema and auteur productions. What sets her apart: her capacity for physically demanding roles combined with an emotional delicacy that few actresses her age possess. She has worked with directors from different generations and always brings something unexpected to each character. An actress that casting directors seek out when they need someone who can play the part but also reinterpret it.
Álvaro Rico
Known for Élite and his work on several European productions, Álvaro Rico is one of the young Spanish actors with the greatest reach in the international market. His command of English and French has opened doors in France and in English-language productions. Why he stands out: his physical work is exceptional and his capacity for characters of sustained emotional tension makes him highly valuable for thrillers and psychological drama. He is currently building a career that balances mainstream visibility with artistically accomplished projects.
Jorge López
The Valencia-born actor has built a solid career across Élite and several national and international productions. His capacity for morally ambiguous characters is especially notable: he knows how to play with the viewer's sympathy in a calculated way, revealing the character's contradictions little by little. His greatest strength: authenticity. Jorge López never seems to be acting, which in cinema is the equivalent of acting perfectly. A quality casting directors recognize immediately in the self-tape.
Mina El Hammani
One of the most important actresses of her generation, not only for her talent but for what she represents: the diversity that Spanish screen culture urgently needs. Her work in Élite was one of the most complex on the show, building a character with real cultural and emotional depth. What makes her special: her ability to reach extreme registers without losing credibility, and her willingness to be the voice of stories that Spanish cinema took far too long to tell. An actress with a mission, which always produces richer performances.
Amaia Aberasturi
The Basque actress is one of the most solid talents of her generation thanks to her rigorous acting training and the variety of projects she has chosen. She stands out especially in the fantasy and horror genre with a dramatic edge, a niche where actresses of her profile are scarce. Her work in Cardo revealed her as a complete actress: creative, physically and emotionally available for any dramatic situation. Amaia represents the kind of actress that Spanish genre cinema needs to compete internationally.
Pol Monen
The Catalan actor has built a careful career across theater, film and series, always prioritizing artistic quality over immediate visibility. His work in several Madrid stage productions is especially valued by critics, and his transition to the screen has maintained that rigor. Why he has a future: actors who build their careers from the theater have a depth and a resilience that those who start straight in television take years to develop. Pol Monen already has that solid foundation at just thirty.
2026 trend: The young Spanish actors who work the most internationally are those who master at least two languages besides Spanish, maintain an active digital presence, and have done theater or independent film work before reaching the major platforms. The combination of artistic rigor and digital visibility is the winning formula.
How young Spanish actors are conquering the international platforms
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Create my free profile →The leap of young Spanish actors onto international platforms is neither coincidence nor luck. It is the result of several factors converging at this historic moment: the globalization of audiovisual content, the technical quality of Spanish productions, and the rise of a generation of actors born with a European and international mindset.
Unlike previous generations, today's young Spanish actors learn English from childhood, consume international content naturally, and understand that their market is not Spain but the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. That mindset shows in how they approach their careers: they pursue international projects from the outset, study at European and American schools, and build their profile with a Los Angeles casting director in mind as much as a Madrid one.
For actors just starting out, the lesson of this generation is clear: artistic quality and digital visibility are not opposites. The best young Spanish actors have understood that they can make good cinema and have millions of followers at the same time. The key is never to sacrifice one for the other.
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