IN CONVERSATION WITH POL HERMOSO

interview by JANA LETONJA

Pol Hermoso began his career in Catalan fiction in projects such as TV3’s series ‘Merlí’ (TV3). His other credits include Antena 3 and Netflix’s series ‘Alba’, Netlix’s ‘Sagrada familia’, and most recently, series ‘Bandidos’ and film ‘Polar’. Currently, we can watch him in HBO Max’s series ‘Furia’, which premiered on 11th July.

You first gained wide recognition with ‘Merlí’, a series that became a hit far beyond Catalonia, especially in Latin America. How did that international success impact your career and perspective as an actor?

It was the first project I was part of that broke out of the territorial market it was originally intended for. As an actor, that’s always a joy. First, because the project can reach a much wider audience, and second, because it allows you to start opening up professional opportunities beyond your own region. In this particular case, more than opening up new job opportunities, which it did, it was an eye-opener for me regarding the industry itself. I started to understand how it works, how the threads that shape our profession are pulled.

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What was it like working on ‘Merlí’ and seeing it gain such a strong following on Netflix? Did you anticipate it would resonate so widely?

No, not at all. This was a project by local Catalan television. It wasn’t something conceived or developed with international distribution in mind, nor with expectations aimed in that direction. I actually think that’s also a key part of its success.

You’ve also been a main cast member in hit series like ‘Alba’ and ‘Sagrada Familia’, both with Netflix ties. How does working on these projects compare to your earlier TV work?

First came ‘Alba’, produced by Atresmedia and later acquired by Netflix, and then ‘Holy Family’, a Netflix Original. It’s true that early in my career, many of my projects ended up being linked to the platform, and for me it’s been a blessing to be part of projects backed by Netflix, ones that can cross borders and reach a number of viewers that would have been unthinkable when I first started in this profession. When I began, around the age of 12, it was unimaginable for a project to have an impact beyond your own region. Maybe, at best, within your country. That shaped the way we worked back then. Now I feel like there are projects that, even before they begin, already carry the pressure of needing to become global hits. The pressure and expectations rise very quickly, but at the same time, it’s exciting. It becomes a much more complex challenge. Like everything in life, there are two sides to the coin, but you have to know how to adapt to what’s in front of you. The industry never stops evolving.

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Your recent project ‘Bandidos’ has been very successful, especially in Latin America. How has being part of the second season challenged or excited you as an actor?

The biggest challenge for me was jumping into the tone and the vibe of the series and the cast really quickly. It’s a very ensemble-driven show, and the bond between the characters — that sense of brotherhood — is the core of it. Coming into a second season, where the actors already have that chemistry, the rhythm is set, and the tone is locked in, you really have to pay attention to what’s going on so you don’t show up and feel like you’re doing a totally different show. Honestly, Netflix, the producers, and everyone on set welcomed me with open arms and made it super easy for me to adapt.

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Next up, you have ‘Furia’ premiering on HBO Max. Can you share what attracted you to this project and what viewers can expect?

When I auditioned for ‘Furia’, I was in the middle of shooting ‘Bandidos’ in Mexico. If I remember correctly, we were filming in the jungle of Veracruz. I was super focused on that project and didn’t really have the headspace for much else. But when my agent told me it was a project by Félix Sabroso, I didn’t need to hear anything more. I just said “Tell me what I need to do and we’ll send it in”. I remember recording a self-tape in the hotel, right there in the middle of the jungle, doing the best I could. An opportunity like that doesn’t come around every day. The viewers can expect the unexpected. The storylines are kind of crazy and still brilliantly built. Every single person involved has made and amazing job to tell stories that put characters in a sort of particular situations, still being all of them realistic enough, so they don’t feel fake, but with unexpected turns that keep you completely hooked. Also, I can tell laughs are guaranteed.

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Your work has reached audiences across different countries and cultures. How do you think your Catalan roots influence your acting style or the projects you choose?

I couldn’t really say if there's a particular style in me just because I’m Catalan, or if that influences the way I choose my projects. What’s clear is that I trained and began working in that region and in that language, so that will always be a part of me. But one of the beautiful things about being an actor is that you’re constantly evolving and pushing your own boundaries. What I love most about my Catalan roots is that they’re forever tied to the beginning of it all, to my childhood, to my very first steps as an actor. That pure excitement and sense of wonder you feel at the start is what made me begin this journey in the first place.

With so many series and films reaching Latin America and beyond, how important is international appeal for you as an actor?

For me, it’s a huge motivation and really important for my career. It keeps me sharp and aware, it makes me want more. When a project reaches another territory, it pushes me to take an interest in that culture and its industry, to learn how things are done there. That excites me, and I absolutely love it as a professional challenge.

How have you volved as an actor since your early roles in Catalan fiction?

Well, basically I’ve gone from being a kid to a teenager and now to an adult in this industry. I’ve grown a lot, and I hope to keep evolving, gaining maturity and awareness in what I do. At the same time, there’s this constant struggle that many of us who started acting as children go through, trying not to lose that genuine spark we had when we were younger and less selfaware. That kind of truth is really hard to hold on to.

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Do you have a particular method or routine that helps you get into character?

Not really, to be honest. I tend to adapt to whatever each project requires. I do have certain work routines that I stick to when starting something new, like script analysis and some prep work. But then, little by little, each project starts to shape its own rhythm, its own schedule, and its own specific quirks.

What kind of roles or stories are you most passionate about telling moving forward?

I always say that the projects I get most excited and motivated about are the ones where I get to sit down with the creator, director, or producer, and when they explain the project to me, I can see that spark in their eyes, that excitement about telling the story. There’s nothing that motivates me more or makes me want to dive into a project than a creator who’s genuinely passionate about the project and having me be part of it. That said, I’m really eager to explore comedy more. With ‘Bandidos’ and ‘Furia’, a little door opened there, and I was left wanting to keep exploring that space, a kind of dark, acid comedy. Even so, I’ve always chased the goal of being as versatile as possible.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent POL HERMOSO at CRAM Talent
photography JAVIER BIOSCA at UNO Artists
styling JON MIKEL DEL VALLE
hair and makeup ALBA CÓRDOBA at UNO Artists
production ANGELA DEL CAL at Lava Management