Money Heist, otherwise known as La casa de papel in its native country of Spain, has grown to become an unexpected worldwide phenomenon. Originally planned as a limited two-part series, global streaming service Netflix has catapulted it to international acclaim, which has garnered it millions of fans, who now anxiously await the show's conclusion. With the arrival of the first volume of the final part on Sept 3, Guru speaks to Pedro Alonso, who plays the cunning and seemingly immortal Berlin, about the final episodes.
What does the fifth and final season of Money Heist have to offer?
The directors are really ambitious. They never say 'enough'. The show started with a lot of action, then we had a bit of romance and then a few elements of a thriller. But the last season is an all-out war. At the same time, they've tried to connect all the pieces from the previous seasons to make the audience understand what happened. Hopefully, by the end of this season, the audience will have all their questions answered.
How do you prepare to play a role like the notorious Berlin?
The principal tool that I use to prepare is painting. When I prepare for roles, I paint. As I keep painting I begin to gain insight into the character in an intuitive way. It helps me because, as an actor, when you hear the word 'action', you cannot think; you have to feel. You have to be brave and, if possible, don't anticipate what's going to happen or what will be said. Painting helps me process the character so I can do that.
(Photo © Netflix)
What was it like working on this season knowing that it's the last?
It was a memorable process for everyone. We left something that we didn't expect to be so loved and we received mountains and mountains of love from all over the world. What I want to see is the result because I haven't seen it yet. I'm curious because even if I've read the script, the order is changed sometimes so I'm curious to see the final product. We'll see what happens and I hope the audience enjoys it!
Why do you think Berlin is such an appealing character -- even though he's technically dead on screen, he's still part of the story?
There was a mother who wrote to me with a child that's five years old and she said her son was inspired by Berlin. I was like, 'Why? That's not good!' But at the same time, I really appreciate it. I think that Berlin is someone who accepts his contradictions, all his shadows, all his lights with a kind of brutal intensity. He's immoral in many aspects and many people, including me, would view him as a monster at first but spend an afternoon with him and you'll find there's more to him; he has a sense of humour. I think that's why people would want to spend an hour with him, because he's also quite likable, but just one hour!
Was it difficult having to keep spoilers and secrets while being part of this show?
Well technically, if I say something now, I wouldn't have any problems! Back when I was promoting Part 3 and 4, I couldn't say anything about what happened to my character! I had to make speeches to elude answering what really happened to Berlin. Anyways, I have the memory of a fish. I don't have to worry because I sometimes forget what happened in the script.
What has the experience been like bringing Berlin to life on the screen?
A week before I began to play the role, the writers approached me and told me, 'You're going to die'. I was in shock. But after I thought about it, I thought it was great. The writers are really good at not being insecure about their creativity especially for my role because he's a man who enjoys anticipating things. He loves accidents and having to change plans. So it's a role that's allowed me to play and have fun.
The first volume of Money Heist Part 5 drops on Netflix on Sept 3.
