What was it about Ídolos (Idols) that made you want to be part of the project?

Even before reading it, I was interested when they told me the premise behind it. It was to be the first feature film ever made about MotoGP. On top of that, I learned that director was Mat Whitecross (I’d seen some of his work and absolutely loved it) and that Warner Bros. was involved. So I picked up the script with huge enthusiasm and, once I’d read it, it was an immediate yes. The epic nature of the story – following a young man in pursuit of a dream and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it – really resonated with me and drew me in deeply.

What was the most challenging part of portraying a Moto2 rider?

The first question I asked myself was: why do these people risk their lives every weekend, riding at 350km per hour? I struggled to understand it at first. I started researching – watching documentaries, races, YouTube videos – and the producers and Warner Bros. also gave me the chance to meet riders in person. That’s when I realised that they have an absolute, all-consuming passion for motorbikes. They are everything to them. Through that passion – sometimes obsession – I was able to understand their characters, and why they choose to put their lives on the line week after week.

What was it like filming a scene with seven-time world champion Marc Márquez ahead of the final race?

Honestly, it was incredible. I’d met Marc before, but during the World Championship we travelled to all the real races – across Spain, Germany and Italy – and I gradually got to know everyone: Jorge Martín, Maverick Viñales… Marc has this incredibly charismatic, sharp quality about him. We got on really well – it was a real pleasure. He appears in a couple of moments in the film, and I think that’s absolutely essential. If you’re making a MotoGP film, how could some of the greatest riders in the world – and in the history of the sport – not be part of it?

Did you have to ride a motorbike for any of the scenes?

Yes, and honestly, they let me do more than I expected. I trained for a month and a half on bikes, working on posture and positioning. Sergio Gadea, a MotoGP rider for nine years, helped me a great deal, and there were so many people giving me incredibly valuable tips. With the Moto2 bike, I was allowed to do entries, exits and certain moments that they were later able to use in the film. But I wasn’t allowed to touch the MotoGP bike. They only let me sit on it while it was stationary, and even that was a miracle [laughs].

What does this film represent for your acting career?

I think it’s the biggest film I’ve been part of so far on every level: the budget, the scale of the production, the people behind it and the talent I’ve shared the screen with. For me, it’s another step forward – a chance to keep growing and learning, much like my character Edu when he finally attains his dream. It’s a beautiful step, and I’m incredibly grateful to Warner Bros. and everyone involved for giving me this opportunity.

You’ve been acting from a very young age. How has your career has evolved over time?

I’d divide it into two stages. Childhood, when I started at six or seven – it was more of a game back then. I felt a sense of responsibility and took it seriously, but I didn’t see it as a career. I simply accepted roles with excitement. Then, at around 18 or 19, after talking it through with my mother, I decided that I wanted to make a living from this for the rest of my life. That’s when I understood I had to build a career, choose carefully and prove that I wanted to stay in the profession – and that I had a lot to say.

Beyond the glamour, acting comes with its own demands. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?

Time. Time with the people close to you, with friends, leisure time. Any dream demands an enormous amount of time and commitment, and you end up missing out on many moments. But as long as it’s worth it and it makes you happy, you have to go all in.

What projects are you currently working on?

Very soon, the film Me has robado el corazón (You’ve Stolen my Heart) will be released on Amazon. This year I’ll also be premiering a Spanish–Mexican co-production. It’s an erotic thriller in which I have a relationship with a woman in her mid-50s who is a lawyer and the mother of two children.

Is there a role or genre you’d like to explore in the future?

My brother Mario Casas was recently nominated for a Goya Award for Away, directed by Gerard Oms. It’s a deeply independent, naturalistic and socially conscious film that captures a small slice of life. Watching it made me long for that kind of work – collaborating with directors I increasingly admire and exploring acting spaces rooted in absolute honesty, with no artifice at all.

What is your favourite film?

Big Fish by Tim Burton. It’s the film that most makes me want to act.

What does travel mean to you?

It’s the most enjoyable way to learn: discovering other cultures, exploring, meeting people while having a great time, learning through food, through people and through the sheer pleasure that comes with all of it.

A memorable trip?

Lapland. I went with my whole family, including my little brother, to meet Santa Claus. I think it’s one of the most extraordinary trips I’ve ever taken. It felt completely magical. Everything was covered in snow, there were only three hours of daylight a day, we met Santa Claus and visited his home. It was absolutely incredible.

How old were you?

Twenty-two, haha. But my little brother was seven at the time, so I experienced it very much through his eyes, and that made it even more special. 

Your favourite destination?

The more I travel, the more I appreciate just how beautiful Spain is. We have truly incredible places: the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Málaga, Cádiz…

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I hope to be working alongside people I have admired for a long time, continuing to learn and, ideally, having started a family.