Fans of This City is Ours have recognised Álvaro Morte, who plays the new antagonist Felipe in season 2, from his role as The Professor in the Netflix hit Money Heist. The Spanish actor, 51, joins the BBC One crime drama as Ricardo Guzman's younger brother, who is forced to take control of the cartel following Ricardo's death at the end of season one.
Morte's role in season 2
Morte said he was "incredibly excited" by the season two scripts, adding: "I loved discovering just how important Felipe was going to be in this series and the journey they had created for him. As an actor, being given a character like this, with so many layers and so much to explore, is a real gift."
He also expressed enthusiasm about working with co-stars James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow and Saoirse Monica Jackson, calling them "all brilliant".
From Money Heist to This City is Ours
Morte gained worldwide recognition after playing The Professor in Money Heist, which ran for three seasons on Netflix from July 2019 until December 2021. The series became the most-followed on Netflix for six consecutive weeks and one of the most popular shows on IMDb.
Speaking to Numero Netherlands, Morte reflected on how the role changed his life: "Since I played the character of El Profesor, many things have changed. My work is seen in many places, which increases the opportunities available to me." He added that the role gave him a national and international career and changed his personal life, noting he receives "a lot of love" from fans.
Fan reactions and other roles
Morte has also appeared in The Wheel of Time as Logain Ablar and in the historical drama miniseries The Anatomy of a Moment as Adolfo Suárez. Fans shared the BBC's trailer for the new season, with one commenting: "This is amazing, the professor has been in Merseyside." Another wrote: "Professor! @alvaromorte the best."
His character Felipe has quickly become a figure viewers love to hate, with fans posting on X: "It's going to be hard to like Felipe" and "I'm already at completely hating Felipe stage".
Morte said he fell in love with the first season because it "felt incredibly authentic". This City is Ours season 2 is available on BBC iPlayer, with episodes airing weekly on Sundays and Mondays on BBC One.
