Eduardo Noriega: the actor who always plays himself

Eduardo Noriega: the actor who always plays himself

Eduardo Noriega's last three films and the series he has worked on share a common denominator: the character is, in essence, always the same. A posh boy from a good family, well educated, with a touch of mystery and arrogance. It doesn't matter whether the role is a doctor, a journalist or an executive; the register is identical. It's a recurring criticism that, far from being new, has an illustrious precedent: Antonio Resines, whose charisma allowed him to nail the same archetype for decades without anyone accusing him of lacking versatility.

Resines' long shadow

Antonio Resines built his career on a single register: the down-to-earth, ironic, sometimes abrasive but endearing guy. And he did it so well that it's hard to imagine any other actor in his roles. His secret isn't technique —he holds a degree in Media Studies, not in Drama— but an innate charisma that fills the screen. Eduardo Noriega, on the other hand, trained at the RESAD (Spain's Royal Dramatic Arts School) and at the Drama School of Santander, yet his acting stays on the surface: a frozen expression, correct but flat diction, an inability to disappear behind the character.

What about the rest of Spanish cinema?

Noriega isn't the only one. The debate about actors who play themselves extends to other figures such as Rodolfo Sancho —son of Sancho Gracia—, whom some consider underused despite his credibility in historical series. The comparison with the past stings: series from the 70s and 80s, with theatre-trained actors, had an acting quality that is scarce today. Even the cheesy comedies of Esteso and Una manola, without subsidies, filled cinemas. A symptom of an industry that now prioritises marketing over craft.

The startling fact: Antonio Resines, with no formal acting training, was actually mistaken for the real character in public health campaigns. Eduardo Noriega, with years of drama school, still fails to convince beyond his pretty face. Meanwhile, Spanish cinema keeps producing series about medieval reigns with budgets that would make Game of Thrones pale, but forgets figures like Blas de Lezo, whose life is pure dramatic material. Something doesn't add up.

Related discussions in the forum

• Link to watch Torrente Presidente online · 53 replies
• I just watched Torrente Presidente and here's my opinion · 82 replies
• Pechuga, how is Minerva's daughter from La del tiempo · 215 replies