IN CONVERSATION WITH JAVIER REY

interview by JANA LETONJA

Javier Rey is one of Spain’s most respected and versatile actors, with a career that spans acclaimed television series and award-winning films. He has captivated audiences in hit shows such as Velvet, Hache, and Fariña — the latter earning him multiple honours, including the Iris and Feroz Awards for Best Leading Actor. On the big screen, his performances in films like Sin Fin, El silencio de la ciudad blanca, La Cima, and Julio Medem’s 8 have cemented his reputation for emotional depth and nuance. With recent releases including Singular and upcoming projects ranging from psychological drama to comedy, Javier continues to evolve as an actor drawn to complexity and transformation.

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You’ve built a career across very different genres: crime, romance, psychological drama, and comedy. What attracts you to such varied roles?

That’s precisely what I love about it. The careers of the actors I admire are filled with completely different genres and distinct challenges. For me, this job wouldn’t make sense if there weren’t a new challenge in every project. The more different the character I’m playing at the time is from the ones I’ve done before, the better it is for me.

Fariña marked a turning point in your career and brought you great recognition. How do you remember that period now?

It was a beautiful time, especially because we shot it in my homeland. I’m Galician, from a town called Noia, and we filmed much of the series there. I remember when they gave me all the episodes before we started shooting, it was months in advance, and I had plenty of time to work with great freedom. I think that made a difference. We were a group full of talent, surrounded by great directors, and we knew exactly the story we wanted to tell.

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Singular is a very intimate film. How did your collaboration with director Alberto Gastesi influence your performance?

Alberto is a magnificent director. He has a very clear vision of the story he wants to tell and how he wants to shoot it, but he’s open to all kinds of suggestions, and if he likes what you propose, he incorporates it.

Alberto loves working with actors, trying things out, experimenting, not closing himself off. The creative process is very important to him, and in that sense we understood each other very well. There were three actors building three lives.

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You’ve worked with filmmakers like Julio Medem, whose style is very distinctive. How do you adapt your process to different directing voices?

Over the years, you learn that a director is a human being with whom you need to have discussions, not a robot who has all the answers. There are as many ways of directing as there are directors on the planet. You simply need the sensitivity to try to understand the human being in front of you, to understand their world.

Your recent projects span platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and TVE. How do you see the evolution of television for actors today?

I think we’re in a time when an enormous amount of content is being filmed. In the past, processes were slower, but we also reached fewer people. Before, we made television for people to watch on their TV sets, now people watch us on their phones, tablets, and download our films to watch on airplanes. Everything has changed a lot.

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You’ve received several acting awards over the years. How do you balance external recognition with your own sense of artistic fulfilment?

It’s wonderful when you receive recognition. I think those are moments to enjoy. I always believe I learn with every job. Whether I receive awards or not, each project helps me become a better actor.

What is your biggest challenge as an actor right now?

I’ve been working in this profession for many years. Probably the greatest challenge is to give life and truth to every character I’m asked to portray. That the actor doesn’t win, that the characters always win.

Looking ahead, are there stories or characters you still feel you haven’t explored?

There are hundreds of characters I’d love to explore, many colleagues I’d gladly work with again, and others I’ve never worked with but would love to collaborate with. My wish list is endless.

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How do you protect your identity when portraying emotionally demanding characters over long periods?

Creating a life for the characters beyond the script is the best way to distance yourself from them. It’s my great wall, so they don’t come into my home and stay on the set where they belong.

At this stage of your career, what is most important to you creatively?

The people who surround me on projects. Actors do a large part of the creative work collectively, so the most important thing is to surround yourself with talented and generous people.

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TEAM CREDITS:

talent JAVIER REY
photography ANDRÉS GARLUJAN
styling FREDDY ALONSO
hair and makeup PEDRO CEDEÑO
styling assistant ANDREA ORTIZ
photography assistants ISABEL ANDUEZA and MARÍA GARCÍA-TREVIJANO
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
location CASINO GRAN VIA MADRID