The end of the greatest heist in history is finally upon us. The gang has been shut in the Bank of Spain for over 100 hours. They’ve rescued Lisbon, The Professor has been captured by Sierra, and they’re about to engage an enemy unlike any they’ve faced: the army. Netflix’s Money Heist is back for its fifth and final season and if the the first five episodes are anything to go by, this looks like it might be a season of all out war.
In this Goggler exclusive, we got a chance to sit down with Enrique Arce and Hovik Keuchkerian, who play Arturo and Bogotá, for a chat about their respective characters.
Umapagan Ampikaipakan: Enrique, my first question is for you. We’ve come to the end of the road now, and I want to know if you think that there is redemption for Arturo?
Enrique Arce: I think there’s redemption for every character. I think there’s redemption for every person in the world if they put their minds to it. I do have to say – and I say it in every interview – I wasn’t very happy, or very keen, with the scene where I drug and molest the governor’s secretary. I told Álex Pina and Jesús Colmenar, the show’s creators, I said, “You know what? I think in a way, with this scene, the soul of the character has been killed.” Honestly, I felt that the character lost his possibility of redemption when that scene happened in Season 4. Now he’s become an action figure. I love Season 5 because Arturo has finally become what you’ve always wanted, which is, an action figure.
UA: I guess, those days of being a motivational speaker are gone!
EA: Yes! I’m a motivational speaker! FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
UA: At least it’s character growth. From motivational speaker to action hero!
EA: Are you in a library?
UA: I’m in my home… but I have a lot of books.
EA: And have you read all of those books?
UA: Yes, I am a very big nerd…
But back to Arturo. The thing about the character, despite doing some very reprehensible things, is that he feels like someone who is essential to the story. Everything he’s done are important moments in his journey. For better or for worse.
EA: Yes, he is a more complex character because he has so many ups and downs. For me, that’s what makes it so thrilling to to do as an actor.
UA: Hovik, you came into Money Heist in Season 3, once it was already this global phenomenon. What was that like for you? Was there more pressure on you because there was suddenly so much hype going in to that season?
Hovik Keuchkerian: I was just very thankful for the opportunity of working on this massive Spanish show. I was very proud of that. So it wasn’t that kind of pressure. Because I was like, thank God I’m working! And in this case, it just happened that Money Heist was like this huge show.
For me, it’s about doing the job, just day by day. I’m just focusing on the job. I was just in the moment, and doing what I have to do. Of course there was a responsibility, but what helped was that everyone on the show was on the same level. We were all friends. We were one team.
But also, I deal very well with pressure. On the same level that the rest of the friends on the team, but I deal very well with pressure.
EA: Well, you have to know something about Hovik which is very important. And he hasn’t said it. But he doesn’t have social media. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t have social media of any kind. So he’s not in touch with everything that is happening with Money Heist around the world. Which, let me tell you, is fantastic for your sanity.
HK: 11 years ago I had a discussion on Twitter. I can’t remember what it was about, but I got up the next day and said, “It’s over!” I have my e-mail, and if you want to tell me that you love Money Heist, you can tell me face-to-face. It’s better you know. So I can see you and hug you. Much better than a social network.
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