The actor, currently succeeding with the series about the 23-F coup and the film Frontera, accepted the challenge of embodying one of the most imitated characters in Spanish history. Esparbé explained that the hardest part was "overcoming the prejudice towards Juan Carlos I". For preparation, he read Javier Cercas' book, listened to podcasts, and watched material focusing on the 43-year-old monarch.
“"The offer to play Juan Carlos I initially scared me. He is one of the most imitated characters in Spanish history."
Regarding the coup, Esparbé pointed out the lack of official documents and quoted Cercas' conclusion: "The King has been sold as the savior of democracy, and, according to Cercas, he was the savior of the Crown". He also highlighted the importance of the film Frontera, where he plays Manel Grau, a Republican who helped 80,000 Jewish refugees cross the Pyrenees between 1943 and 1945.
At 42 years old, the actor states he feels it is the best moment to tell stories, feeling "more grounded" than before. He stressed his concern about the rise of the far-right and the need for projects that delve into times of misery and repression, such as the series about the Transition and the film linked to the post-war period.
