Eric Masip: "In the acting world, the name Masip doesn't carry any weight, but in sports it does."

BarcelonaEric Masip (Barcelona, ​​1995), son of former Barça handball player Enric Masip, is one of the young promises of acting in Spain. After roles in series such as Poison or the movie Through my window (Prime Video), a true teenage phenomenon, has just released The short life (Movistar Plus+), a comedy that focuses on the short reign of Louis I of Spain. It also has Point Nemo, a Prime Video action series premiering March 28.

The short life This is the first period drama you've done. Does the wardrobe you wear influence your acting?

— The costumes bothered me a little because they were tight in some places. The wig was also very uncomfortable. But at the same time, the costumes were so faithful to the period and so cool that you almost forgot about it. At the same time, it's a series where the dialogue is very natural.

The series tells of a very short Spanish reign and coincides with the premiere of His Majesty, which also focuses on the Spanish monarchy, although in this case the plot is fictional. Is the fear of talking about the monarchy in Spain disappearing?

— I don't know, but if there weren't many series about the monarchy before, and now there are two, it seems like it's possible. I'm happy that we can talk about everything and see different versions of all the stories. This censorship of plays because they deal with certain topics that some people find inappropriate seems awful to me. I think we should be able to talk about everything as long as it's done in an artistic way. It's really cool to be able to see different points of view through art.

Almost your entire professional career has been spent in Madrid, despite being Catalan. Was this a conscious decision?

— I moved to Madrid to study acting. Beyond my training, I thought it was good for my personal development to leave my city, Barcelona, and my comfort zone. In fact, initially, I wanted to go to New York, but then my father [former Barça handball player Enric Masip] told me it might be too big a step for someone who had never left Barcelona and was eighteen years old. I found an acting school in Madrid, the Corazza School, where I'm still training today. I've had moments when I was close to doing projects in Catalan, but in the end, it never happened. And I would love to. In fact, I'd like to do more interviews in Catalan, because I honestly think I express myself better in Catalan.

You mentioned your father, Enric Masip, a Barça executive and former handball player. Does having a well-known surname have an impact?

— Not in the acting world. I'd been in the sports world, and there it did matter, because you get compared. Not in the acting world, because it's not his world, although he's supported me a lot. In the acting world, I can feel that what I've achieved is based on my own merits. There's always someone who helps you, obviously. There was an actor whose name I can't remember right now who said, "I'm not a self-made man because many people have helped me along the way." I think you have to think about all the people who have been there, even if it's just to provide moral support, and not think that you do everything on your own. Even so, I feel like in the acting world, I haven't been given anything.

You seemed destined to pursue a career in sports, and indeed, for a time you did. How did acting come your way?

— Acting was always a part of my life. I was passionate about acting and dressing up. In that sense, I was a bit of an artist in the family. It also happened at school; instead of playing soccer, I drew. I always had these interests, but I ended up playing sports because it was the way I felt like I fit in. Sports have helped me in many ways, such as understanding teamwork and discipline.

Has it also taught you perseverance? Is that a necessary quality in acting?

— I think perseverance is one of the words that defines me. Even when there's no optimism, perseverance can help you move forward. Acting is a very uncertain long-distance race.

Appeared in Poison. Is this the series that opened the doors for you?

— It was the first series where I felt like I was starting to have a chance at playing worthy characters. Before that, I'd played a lot of one-off roles and small appearances. When you have a more prominent role, you notice it.

His next release is Point Nemo, from Prime Video. What can you tell us about this project?

— It's about an oceanographic expedition made up of scientists and military personnel who go to the Pacific region where the plastic island is located. A series of events lead them to a place called Point Nemo... And I can't say any more!

But can we expect action?

— Action, suspense, adventure and some horror.