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Alba Flores

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the actress. For the poet, see Alba Flores Robla.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Villa.

Alba Flores
Flores in 2024
Born
Alba González Villa

(1986-10-27) October 27, 1986 (age 39)
Madrid, Spain
OccupationActress
Years active2003–present
FatherAntonio Flores
Relatives

Alba González Villa (born October 27, 1986), known professionally as Alba Flores, is a Spanish actress. She is best known for her roles as Saray Vargas in the prison crime drama series Vis a Vis (2015–2019) and Nairobi in the heist series Money Heist (2017–2021).

Early life

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Flores is the daughter of musician and composer Antonio Flores and Ana Villa, a theatrical producer.[1] Her family consists of Romani performers, musicians, and actors: She is the granddaughter of Lola Flores, known as "La Faraona" ("The Pharaoh"), niece of singers Lolita Flores and Rosario Flores, and cousin of actress Elena Furiase.[2][3] Her paternal grandfather, Antonio González [es] referred to as "El Pescaílla" was also a Spanish singer and guitarist, and is considered to be one of the fathers of Catalan Rumba. She is Romani.[4][5][6] Her father composed a song dedicated for her entitled "Alba". She was nine years old when her father died.[7]

Flores studied dramatic interpretation from the age of 13, with secondary training in piano performance. Her early roles on stage included Luna de miel en Hiroshima (Honeymoon in Hiroshima) (2005) and the Romani version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (2007).[8]

Career

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2005–2014: Career beginnings

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In 2005, Alba made her film debut in Chus Gutiérrez's, El calentito, alongside Verónica Sánchez, Ruth Díaz, Macarena Gómez, Estíbaliz Gabilondo, and Lluvia Rojo.[9] Her television debut was in an episode of the series the El comisario in 2006. In 2008, she landed a role in the Antenna 3 television series The Ulysses Syndrome [es]. That year, she performed in the musical theater production of Enamorados anónimos (Love Anonymous: The Copla Musical in Broadway) helmed by dance choreographer Blanca Li and music composer Javier Limón.[10]

In 2009, she recorded her father's song, "No Puedo Enamorarme de Ti (I cannot fall in love with you)", for the soundtrack of a movie by Roberto Santiago's [es], Al final del camino, starring Malena Alterio and Fernando Tejero.[11]

She trained at the Corazza Acting Studio by the renowned acting coach Juan Carlos Corazza.[12] She participated in the studio's 2011 theater play, Comedia Y Sueno (Comedia and Dream, the most beautiful lie).[13]

Beginning in 2013, she was cast as the protagonist's Moroccan servant, Jamila, in the Antena 3 series El tiempo entre costuras (The Time in Between), set in Spain and the Northern Protectorates in Morocco, following the Spanish Civil War. She then played an Indian woman in Vincente Ferrer, a television film based on the life of Spanish Missionary Vicente Ferrer. Filming took place in Anantapur, India.[14] This was followed by an appearance in the TVE series Cuéntame as an important witness in a plot involving corrupt police.[9]

2015–2019: Breakthrough with Vis a Vis

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From 2015 to 2019, she played Saray Vargas de Jesús, a Romani woman who initially faced a 5-year prison sentence for Assault in the prison crime drama series Vis a Vis (Locked Up). Considered a clever and thrilling breakout out hit by critics, the show gave Flores her first breakout role in television. For this, she received her first TV Award, a shared Onda Award for Best Female Performer in Fiction with the female cast of the series, a Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Award from the Spanish Actors Union Awards, and several other nominations.[15][16][17][18] In 2017, Netflix bought Global streaming rights for the show. With a strong following, the show ran for a total of four seasons plus the spinoff fifth season Vis a vis: El Oasis (2020). Flores, who played an essential character on Vis a Vis, had a special guest appearance in the finale of El Oasis.

In 2016, she performed in the Spanish theatrical production of La Rosa Tatuada by Tennessee Williams.[19] In 2017, she played Políxena, the daughter of the King of Troy, in production of Troyanas, based on the tragedy written by Greek playwright Euripides about the Women of Troy after the end of Trojan War. It premiered on Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival. Flores was nominated for Best Supporting Actress Award in Spanish Actors Union Awards for her performance.[8]

2017–present: International recognition with La Casa de Papel

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Nairobi mural in Ehrenfeld, Cologne

While working with Álex Pina in Vis a Vis, the producer asked her if she wanted to join his new show La Casa de Papel (Money Heist). She did not audition as Pina wrote a role for her as one of the bank robbers, nicknamed Nairobi, an expert in counterfeiting and forgery in charge of printing the money in Parts One and Two and overseeing the melting of gold in Parts Three and Four.[20] After the series was cancelled after its one-season run, Netflix acquired the global streaming rights in 2017 and ordered additional seasons. Since then, it gained worldwide recognition, becoming Netflix's most viewed non-English series. It received critical praise and won several awards including best drama series at the International Emmy Awards. Her role as Nairobi brought her international recognition as well as several acting accolades, including winning an Iris Award for Best Actress.[21][22]

In 2017, Flores performed in the musical play "Drac Pack" co-written by her Vis a Vis co-star and friend Najwa Nimri.[23][24] In 2020, she served as the Spanish narrator for the Netflix nature documentary Night on Earth.[25] In 2021, she performed in the Spanish theatrical production of La excepción y la regla by German Playwright Bertolt Brecht, for which she was nominated for Best Theatre Actress by Fotogramas de Plata.[26]

Personal life

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Flores is vegetarian and has campaigned on behalf of the Latin division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, saying that, "You have to leave the animals off the plate".[27]

In March 2022, she was among 151 international feminists who signed the Feminist Resistance Against War: A Manifesto in solidarity with the Russian Feminist Anti-War Resistance.[28][n. 1]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Director
2005 El calentito Amaya Chus Gutiérrez
2006 Los managers Chica Casting Fernando Guillén Cuervo
2013 Vicente Ferrer Shamira Agustín Crespi
2015 The Memory of Water Carmen Matías Bize
2023 Te estoy amando locamente (Love & Revolution)[32] Lole

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 El comisario Sohara Episode: "Y dime tonta"
2008 El síndrome de Ulises [es] Arabia Salazar Episode: "Volver"
2013 Vicente Ferrer Shamira TV movie
The Time in Between Jamila 5 episodes
2014 Cuéntame cómo pasó La Chelo Episode: "En la boca del lobo"
2015–2019 Vis a vis Saray Vargas de Jesús Main role; 40 episodes
2017–2021 Money Heist Ágata Jiménez / Nairobi Main role; 34 episodes
2020 Vis a vis: El Oasis Saray Vargas de Jesús Episode: "¿Quién era Zulema Zahir?"
2021 Maricón perdido Lola [33]
2022 Sagrada familia (Holy Family) Caterina [34]
TBA Ulterior Ada [35]
TBA Romancero Tábata [36]

Theater

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Year Title Author Director
2005 Honeymoon in Hiroshima Esteve Ferrer
2007 Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare Tamzin Townsend
2008 Enamorados “Anonimos" Olga Iglesias Durán Blanca Li y Javier Limón
2011 Comedia Y Sueno William Shakespeare, Federico García Lorca Juan Carlos Corazza
2016 La Rosa Tatua Tennessee Williams Carme Portaceli
2016 Drac Pack Najwa Nimri, Emilio Tomé y Carlos Dorrego Fernando Soto
2017 Troyanas Euripides, versión de Alberto Conejero Carme Portaceli
2019 La excepción y la regla Bertolt Brecht Catalina Lladó

Accolades

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Ondas Awards Best Female Performer in Fiction (ex aequo female cast) Vis a vis Won [15]
2016 25th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Vis a vis Nominated [37]
2017 4th Feroz Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Vis a vis Nominated [38]
26th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Won [16]
2018 21st Iris Awards Best Actress Vis a vis Nominated [39]
27th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Supporting Actress in Theatre Troyanas Nominated [8]
6th Feroz Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Money Heist Nominated [40]
27th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Nominated [41]
2019 21st Iris Awards Best Actress Money Heist Won [42]
28th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Series Nominated [43]
7th MiM Series Awards [es] Best Drama Actress Nominated [44]
Zapping Awards Best Actress Nominated [45]
Fotogramas de Plata Best Theatre Actress La Excepcion Y La Regla Nominated [26]
2020 29th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Lead Actress in a Television Series Money Heist Nominated [46]
7th Feroz Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Nominated [47]
7th Platino Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV series Won [48]
2021 9th MiM Series Awards [es] Best Comedy Actress Maricón Perdido Nominated
2022 30th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Stage Actress in a Secondary Role Shock 2 (La tormenta y la guerra) Won [49]
2024 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Television Actress in a Minor Role Romancero Nominated [50][51]

Notes

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  1. ^ This manifesto was criticized by both Ukrainian feminists and members of the Feminist Anti-War Resistance themselves.[29][30][31]

References

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  1. ^ "Tokio & Nairobi, las actrices españolas que "la rompen" en La casa de papel". Infobae (in Spanish). January 28, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Naranjo, Pablo (February 13, 2018). "Alba Flores, una actriz de raza que no se anda con tonterías". Chit Chat Post (in Spanish). Quokkers S.L. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  3. ^ ""The Flores Saga:25 years without La Faraona"". Elpais. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Solari, Di Ilaria (April 1, 2020). ""Il matriarcato è già qui" parola di Alba Flores aka Nairobi la super star de La casa di carta 4". ELLE (in Italian). Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Davis, Arianna (April 2, 2020). "Alba Flores Reveals "Money Heist's" Nairobi Wasn't in the Original Script". Oprah Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Nairobi de "La casa di carta": "Quando a scuola mi chiamavano zingara"". VanityFair.it (in Italian). July 2, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "From Lola's death to Antonio's". Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Kuranda Representatives". kurandaweb.com. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Alba Flores y Álvaro Cervantes, Premio Actúa Joven Talento de la Fundación AISGE". Artezblai (in Spanish). November 14, 2017. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Enamorados Anónimos el musical dela copla en Broadway". madridteatro.eu. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Al Final del Camino Music Department Crew". imdb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Corazza Study". estudiocorazza.com. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  13. ^ "COMEDY AND DREAM. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LIE". redescena.net. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Vicente Ferrer Movie". IMDB. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Redondo, David (October 28, 2015). "Las chicas de Vis a Vis y El ministerio del tiempo triunfan en los premios Ondas". Los 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Spanish Actors Union (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  17. ^ "Alba Flores, La Revelación de Vis a Vis". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial Información General S.L.U. June 25, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Alba Flores es Saray: Vis a vis". Fox (in Spanish). Fox Networks Group España, S.L.U. 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  19. ^ "The Tattooed Rose at The Maria Guerrero Theater". madrisesteatro.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  20. ^ Davis, Arianna (April 2, 2020). "Alba Flores reveals La Casa de Papel/Money Heist creator wrote Nairobi's role for her". oprahmag.com. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "El duro y aplaudido discurso de Belén Esteban tras recibir Sálvame un Premio Iris: "Darnos un premio es un milagro"". El Mundo. Unidad Editorial Información General, S.L.U. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  22. ^ Marrón, Mireya (June 5, 2020). "Alba, una Flores "abrumada" y con "miedo" a su fama mundial: "Intento lidiar con ello"" [Alba, a Flores "overwhelmed" and "afraid" of her world fame: "I try to deal with it"]. Nius Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  23. ^ "Trojans, I sing of resistance and strength". abc. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  24. ^ ""Drac Pack" of Dreams and Vampires". abc. December 30, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  25. ^ "Alba Flores on Instagram: "#LaTierradeNoche #Nightonearth Ya disponible en @netflixes 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇"". 2020. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Fotogramas de Plata, Spain (2019)". Twitter Official Fotogramas Cine Account. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  27. ^ "Alba Flores se hace vegetariana: "Hay que dejar los animales fuera del plato". elDiario (in Spanish). May 18, 2020.
  28. ^ "Feminist Resistance Against War: A Manifesto". Spectre Journal. March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  29. ^ Hendl, Tereza (2022). "Towards accounting for Russian imperialism and building meaningful transnational feminist solidarity with Ukraine" (PDF). Gender Studies. 26: 62–93.
  30. ^ Ashley Smith (June 23, 2022). "Inside the Russian Resistance Against Putin's War". Spectre Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  31. ^ "Russia's women are fighting back against the war in Ukraine". OpenDemocracy.net. October 4, 2022. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  32. ^ Alberto, Sisí Sánchez (July 6, 2023). "'Te estoy amando locamente' o cuando apelar a la memoria se demuestra luminoso, encantador y necesario". Vogue.
  33. ^ "Quién es quién en el reparto de 'Maricón perdido', la serie de Bob Pop para TNT". Cinemanía. 20minutos.es. June 25, 2021.
  34. ^ "Netflix vuelve a juntar a Najwa Nimri y a Alba Flores en 'Sagrada familia', la nueva serie de Manolo Caro". El Periódico. October 8, 2021.
  35. ^ Lomas, María G. (November 29, 2022). "Alba Flores se embarca como protagonista y productora en la nueva serie 'Ulterior', de Manuel Burque y Álex Rodrigo". Ahora Qué Serie – via LaSexta.
  36. ^ García Herráez, Silvia (April 22, 2023). ""Romancero", del videoclip a una historia de terror basada en las tradiciones". Cadena COPE.
  37. ^ "Los protagonistas de 'La casa de papel' copan las nominaciones de los Premios de la Unión de actores". Antena 3. Madrid: Atresmedia Corporación de Medios de Comunicación. July 2, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  38. ^ "'La casa de papel' arrasa en las nominaciones a los premios Feroz". Antena 3. Madrid: Atresmedia Corporación de Medios de Comunicación. July 11, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  39. ^ "Atv Awards, Spain (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  40. ^ "Feroz Awards, ES (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  41. ^ "Spanish Actors Union (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  42. ^ "Atv Awards, Spain (2019)". El Mundo. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  43. ^ "Spanish Actors Union (2019)". IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  44. ^ "Alba Flores, Pepe Viyuela y Paco Leon: entre los nominados de los Premios MiM series 2019". larazon.es. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  45. ^ "Zapping Awards 2020". IMDB. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  46. ^ "Spanish Actors Union – 2020 Awards". imdb.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  47. ^ "Feroz Awards, ES (2020)". Premios Feroz. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  48. ^ "The PLATINO Awards for Best Female Supporting in Mini-series or TV series is Alba Flores". twitter.com/premiosPLATINO (in Spanish). Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  49. ^ Aller, María (March 15, 2022). "Premios Unión de Actores 2022: 'El buen patrón' arrasa entre los premiados". Fotogramas.
  50. ^ "Todos los nominados de la 32 edición de los Premios Unión de Actores y Actrices de España". Escribiendo Cine. February 4, 2024.
  51. ^ "Malena Alterio, Maribel Verdú, Lola Dueñas y Quim Gutiérrez, entre los protagonistas de los 32 Premios UA". Europa Press. March 12, 2024.
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