*La Bola Negra* is the cinematic phenomenon of the year in Spain and, likely, one of the best films in the entire industry internationally. The film, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Los Javis), tells three different stories that converge and intertwine around the figure of the legendary Granada-born poet Federico García Lorca.
Although the film does not have a “protagonist” in the traditional sense of the word, the story revolves around Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente), a soldier on the Nationalist side, and Rafael Rodríguez Rapún (Miguel Bernardeau), a Republican prisoner during the Civil War.
What many people don’t know is that the two hottest Spanish actors of the moment are from Valencia: Guitarricadelafuente (Álvaro Lafuente) and Miguel Bernardeau were born in Benicàssim and the city of Valencia, respectively.
From Recording with a PlayStation Microphone to the Oscars
Álvaro Lafuente, better known as Guitarricadelafuente, was born in Benicàssim in 1997, and his career as both an actor and a composer did not begin in the most traditional way.
He began playing the guitar at age 14 and taught himself “by watching YouTube videos,” although his musical inspiration stems from Aragonese folklore and the roots of his hometown, Cuevas de Cañart, in Teruel. His story is one of intimacy and self-directed learning: in 2018, he released his first song, “Conticinio,” recorded in his bedroom with a PlayStation microphone.
His talent for songwriting and his authentic, distinctive sound quickly caught the attention of audiences and critics alike. Songs like “Guantanamera,” “Nana Triste,” and, more recently, “Babieca!” have taken his music across borders, making him one of the most internationally recognized Spanish artists.
But his success on the big screen has been even more meteoric: his role in *La Bola Negra* is his first performance in front of the cameras. The actor himself was surprised when Los Javis asked him to play Sebastián, since he thought they “were only contacting him to compose the film’s song.” His acting talent is undeniable, and some experts are already predicting he’ll be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and a Goya for Best New Actor.
A life tied to the world of acting
Miguel Bernardeau was born in Valencia in 1996 into a family that was, to say the least, passionate about cinema. The son of the famous actress Ana Duato (Merche in *Cuéntame cómo pasó*) and film producer Miguel Ángel Bernardeau, he grew up in Madrid, Albacete, and his grandparents’ farmhouse in Bétera.
Much like his character in the film, as a child he considered a career in soccer, but his passion for acting was stronger, and he moved to Los Angeles at just 17 years old to study drama.
In 2016, he made his acting debut in *Cuéntame cómo pasó*, where, interestingly, he played a soldier. In recent years, he has appeared in a long list of film and television productions, the most memorable of which are *Elite*, where he played Guzmán Núñez, and *Zorro*, where he took on the role of the masked avenger.
Now, with his exceptional performance in *La Bola Negra*, he has caught the attention of the international scene and is one of the contenders for a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Goya Awards.
