Ernesto Alterio

Ernesto Alterio is an Argentine‑Spanish actor whose career spans film, theatre and television, and whose work is marked by a deep connection to both his Argentine roots and his adopted Spanish culture. Born on 25 September 1970 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he is the son of celebrated Argentine actor Héctor Alterio and psychologist Modesta Ángela Bacaicoa Destéfano, and he grew up in a family where artistic expression was highly valued. The family was forced into exile during the violent political climate of Isabel Perón’s government, and when Ernesto was four years old they settled in Madrid, a move that left an indelible imprint on his identity and later fueled the themes of displacement and belonging that appear in many of his performances. Although he initially pursued academic studies in biology and later history, he ultimately chose the stage, a decision encouraged by his father’s legacy and his own curiosity for “music, photography, history…”. In 1996 he co‑founded the influential theatre collective “Ración de oreja,” which later evolved into the celebrated company Animalario, alongside peers such as Alberto San Juan, Guillermo Toledo and Nathalie Poza. This early experience opened doors to cinema, and he quickly attracted attention with leading roles in Fernando Colomo’s The Stolen Years—earning a Goya nomination for Best New Actor—and the Argentine‑Spanish co‑production Havana Quartet. His television breakthrough came with the cult miniseries Vientos del agua, in which he shared the screen with his father, highlighting a rare on‑screen familial dynamic. Over the years he has collaborated repeatedly with director Marcelo Piñeyro, appearing in projects that often explore complex social and historical issues. Ernesto’s bilingual fluency enables him to work seamlessly in both Spanish and Argentine productions, and his performances are praised for their emotional authenticity, subtle humor, and the ability to convey the nuances of exile, identity and love. Today, more than two decades after his debut, he remains an active and respected figure in the Iberian‑Latin American entertainment world, continuing to shape the cultural dialogue through his diverse body of work.