The Spanish actor takes on a huge role as Adolfo Suárez in ‘Anatomy of an Instant,’ showing the human side of Spain’s key figure in the transition to democracy.
Alvaro Morte, famous worldwide for playing the Professor in Money Heist, is now tackling one of his toughest roles yet. In the new series Anatomy of an Instant on Movistar Plus+, directed by Alberto Rodriguez and based on Javier Cercas’s book, he steps into the shoes of Adolfo Suarez, a vital leader during Spain’s shift to democracy.
The image of Suarez staying calm in his seat amid gunshots during the 23F coup attempt in Congress comes alive through Morte’s performance.
Casting directors Eva Leira and Yolanda Serrano knew right away that Morte was the perfect fit. They told him, “You have to be the one; there’s something about Suarez that you can bring,” as Morte shared with Vanity Fair. This isn’t the first time they’ve picked him—they also chose him for the Professor, which became a global hit and boosted his fame in and outside Spain.
Morte’s TV career started in Spain with shows like Cuéntame cómo pasó, Isabel, and Bandolera. He appeared in over 180 episodes of series like Amar es para siempre and El secreto de Puente Viejo. This experience led to the offer to play Suarez, which he got in person while in London.
Anatomy of an Instant: The Series and Its Background
The Movistar Plus+ series dives into the failed coup on February 23, 1981. The cast includes Eduard Fernández as Santiago Carrillo, Miki Esparbé as King Juan Carlos, and David Lorente as Antonio Tejero.
Set to premiere this year at the San Sebastian Film Festival, the show recreates the intense moments in the Congress of Deputies, where Suarez faced a no-confidence vote and became a symbol of Spanish democracy.
For Morte, playing Suarez wasn’t just about copying him. “We tried to recreate the energy he had to achieve what he did,” he told Vanity Fair.
He used a prosthetic nose to look more like Suarez, but the real challenge was showing his ability to build trust and convince others. “That charisma to make each person feel like his friend and fully agree with him, then persuade them—that was key,” Morte said.
Filming in Congress was unforgettable for Morte. “It was my first time there. I sat in Suarez’s exact seat, and when David Lorente as Tejero came in with that tone, hearing the gunshots audio was very moving, an overwhelming experience,” he recalled.
He also remembered the family worry on the day of the coup, which was his sixth birthday: “That day I had birthday cake and a coup—I had it all.”
During filming, director Alberto Rodriguez asked Morte to try different feelings for Suarez’s reaction: vanity, bravery, fear, or doubt.
Morte said the look on his face came from a real reaction to smoking his first cigarette, since he’s not a smoker, and the camera caught that genuine moment.
Thoughts on the Transition and Suarez’s Legacy
The series brings back the 23F events to make us think about Spain’s transition to democracy and the sacrifices made.
Morte pointed out how tough that time was, with everyone needing to give in: “To reach democracy, a lot had to be sacrificed: the Communist Party gave up, the military did too, especially when legalizing the Communist Party… I think that was the turning point.”
He noted that many issues from then are still not solved, and Spain still deals with the results of those deals. One of the most powerful scenes for Morte was the talk between Suarez and Carrillo.
“Two opposing people meet in a house outside Madrid to try to agree. After hours of talking, they left with their own views, but became friends for life,” the actor remembered.
Suarez’s charm and charisma, much like Morte’s, are key to connecting with viewers.
Morte reflected on the value of empathy and communication in acting, believing that a performance’s true meaning is in how it touches people. If it doesn’t move them, all the work is pointless.