LUKA PEROŠ’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Let me introduce you to Luka Peroš, who plays the character of “Marseille” in the highly popular Netflix series “Money Heist”. Ticket in hand, off I went to the country of Salvador Dali (and mine), Catalonia. Coincidence or not, Dali’s mask is also one of the ICONIC symbols of the series! So many coincidences that led me to choose Luka for our magazine cover. Thespian, globetrotter, and voice actor.

Today, Luka Peroš will once again lend his voice exclusively to our journalist François David for Hollywood Influence.

Gaël Bonnel Sanchez

Did you have clear instructions on set?

Not at all, I went in blind. I knew the main lines and that’s it. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with the character, so I followed my gut. They liked it, so we continued like that. We thought that Netflix creations were millimeter-sized! Well technically with the cameras, yes, everything is a millimeter a second. For the rest, it’s a blockbuster. I knew that Marseille was a hitman with an ecological side. He kills people, but not animals. But at the same time, he must also have a sense of humor! So I added some details gathered from Yugoslavian cinema during my childhood. The Balkan sense of humor is very subtle.

What is so special about your character?

It’s special, a little dry, a little dark. My character is almost mute. So in order to exist, I went back to some of my childhood tricks like playing with my eyes, using grunts, and so forth. All of this did not exist in the script. After seeing the series, people definitely see you as a bad person to be a killer. The director said to me on the first day “You are going to kill Angel and we’ll see afterwards.” I answered him, “Excuse me, but nobody kills in the band”. But I will have to kill? It was completely nonsense! Besides, I speak eight languages and in such an international series, I was asked to play a character who is almost mute! I was 1000% at a loss. Afterwards, once I got dressed with the gabardine-cap, it was decided they needed to do more with my character. That’s when the new scene with the pig was added and then we developed a relationship with the professor. The connection was there! The scenario of the series is that we advance the story with each new chapter.

How many writers worked on the project?

There is Alex Pina and all his team. In total, there are six or seven writers for a series like this. And I can tell you that they never stopped working!

And is the production worthy of Hollywood?

Yes, of course! In principle we always work with two cameras in a very meticulous way. Many times I felt as if I was dancing more than acting. It was very exciting.

Of all the Netflix series that were not filmed in English, this show is the most seen in history.

How do you explain the success of the series?

Of all the Netflix series that were not filmed in English, this show is the most seen in history. This can be explained in several ways. First of all, it’s super well done. Technically it’s top notch. The cinematography is incredible and there are so many characters that the audience can identify with. The kids have Rio or Denver, but the roster is so big: the good guys, the bad guys, cops, robbers… there’s always a character you want to follow more than any other. Some fans even go as far as to mourn the disappearance of one of their favorite characters!

Now that the series is officially over, does Netflix have any plans of extend the “Money Heist” effect?

There has been talk of a prequel around one of the most fascinating characters of the series: Berlin, aka Pedro Alonso. Yes, this is a series that will be released in 2023.

What will it be about?

Nobody knows. I think the writers are already prepar- ing everything. At the moment, I have no information. I would love to come back in because Pedro Alonso is a great interpreter and a dear friend. With Pedro, I don’t act, I have fun. We had a great complicity between the two of us and we had a lot of scenes together! But in spite of the obvious complicity between the two characters, I do not know if Marseille will meet Berlin again. That would be great though.

Itziar is my crush. A fantastic woman with a heart one thousand times bigger than her.

Have you kept in touch with some of the actors?

With Darko, of course (Darko Peric, “Helsinki”) because he lives in Barcelona and we’ve known each other for eight or nine years, and also with Patrick Criado, who plays Rafael, the son of Berlin in which I’ve worked on the series “Mar de Plastico”. You know, I live in Barcelona and except for Rodrigo de la Serna who is from Buenos Aires, Darko and Itziar (Ituno, Lisboa) who live in the Basque country, they are all in Madrid. Itziar is my crush. A fantastic woman with a heart one thousand times bigger than her. When you meet such a beautiful person, you don’t let her go. We have become very close. We can talk about everything. I know that if I see some of the other cast members, it will be as if we never left each other. There is a bond that will unite us for life.

What was the most complicated scene to shoot?

More than just a scene, I’m talking about the coordination between all the actors in the same scene. The choreography along with the movements of the camera, having everyone connected, that kind of thing, and also the harshness of the conditions. We were filming in sheds with ten centimeters of water every day. When you start working at 4am and you stay there for twelve hours, it’s very hard. Even with wearing special boots, in the end you feel everything; the humidity, the cold, the water, plus the particles in the air that production used to put on to create a better image. It’s very hard for anyone to imagine what it’s like. My lungs suffered quite a bit during the shooting. But hey, you have to suffer to be beautiful, right?

Yes, people may think it’s relatively fast…

Yes, yes. For a scene of ten, fifteen minutes in an episode, it takes us two weeks of shooting. Fourteen hours a day minimum.

Especially since you have to wait a long time between each scene and stay focused?

According to Murphy’s law, when you are called, it’s exactly the moment when you’ve slacked off. That’s the hardest thing – to focus your attention and energy 100% and to be ready when it’s your turn. So what’s my recipe? I listen to music, I talk to the technicians, I walk on the set. I don’t take naps, but my level of concentration is such that even when I’m tired, my mind doesn’t allow my body to rest.

Did you learn patience during your training in Boston?

Yes, but it’s mostly an empirical experience developed during my filming. I have twenty five years of experience, so it helps.

Did translating “Marseille” into several languages (English, French, German, and Portuguese help you better understand the character?

The idea of changing the voice according to the languages was quite interesting and difficult. I didn’t discover anything because I have been dubbing voices for years. The most demanding is the French language. Whereas in German or English, I’m asked to insist on the Balkan side of the character. I had to speak in almost impeccable French for the recording studio! I have to admit that I was surprised, I understand French very well, I can speak a little, but there, it was too much. Even a native Frenchman would have had a hard time understanding me.

If you had not been an actor, what job would you have liked to do?

I would have liked to work in the marine ecosystem. I love na- ture and the sea. I think that we have much more to explore in this environment, water, which covers 70% of the earth. At the age of 15, I dreamed of being the new Jacques Cousteau. Anyways, I ended up being an actor.

Was it the sea that made you want to live in Barcelona?

Barcelona has always attracted me. The sea, the sun, Dali, Gaudi, Picasso. It reminded me of my vacation village in Croatia. I came for the first time in 2010 on vacation and I wanted to settle down there the following year. In Barcelona, I feel free.

What are your three flaws?

Three faults? I have a little bit of dyslexia, which is annoying and can be funny at times. Then, I would say that I am quite impulsive in my everyday life. Not professionally, but in everyday life. And finally, I would say too honest.

And your three good qualities?

I’m faithful when in love and friendship, I’m also very, very punctual, and last but not least, I’m very professional. Not bad, but basically, you can trust me.

Every time I post something other than Money Heist, I lose followers

With around a million people following you on social media, do you consider yourself an influencer?

Yes, I do. Even though it was essential for me to get started. I thank my daughter and my wife who gave me the keys! Social media was a new world for me. In college, nobody taught me how social media worked. But it’s funny, every time I post something other than Money Heist, I lose followers. I wrapped two projects in Budapest, plus another one in Morocco, and I lost almost 200,000 people in two weeks. For example, I posted a picture while filming in Budapest and people asked me if I was shooting the 6th season of Money Heist. They don’t even read the small text underneath the picture! It’s so strange, sometimes people write without thinking or reflecting.

But through social media, you have met Khaby Lame, one of the hottest celebrities of the internet.

He is fantastic! I love him. We met through his
agent. He is young, but he understands that he could influence people thanks to his humor. What I like about him is that he invented a way to make fun of society without insulting anyone. He does it very well. I’d much rather see a video of Khaby than a girl who wants to send a very shallow message by showing her buttocks. Khaby and I talk quite often and I remembered an improvised video we made which got an incredible 85 million views on social media! Another influencer that I like a lot is Luciano Rosso, an Argentinian who makes videos with amazing facial expressions. He’s a total genius.

What are your current professional activities?

The series “The Academy” just released on Amazon Prime in Spain and Portugal. It’s about soccer academies, their big and small stories, rivalries among kids, relationships between players, coaches, trainers…it’s not just about soccer, there’s a lot of human element, it’s the reality of what happens in these centers, which can be a gateway to glory or a return to obscurity whether you turn professional or not. There’s a lot of competition, jealousy… It’s somewhat like American colleges in that sense.

The series is doing well in Spain, ranking first on Amazon. I believe it will soon release in other countries, hopefully in the United States. My role is that of a very tough, almost mean coach, and it will be liked…for better or worse (laughs). I just finished shooting a series in Serbia too. With a character that was fascinating to play. A totally different role from what I’m usually used to over the past twenty years. Here I’m not playing the tough guy! It will be released at the end of the year, in German and English. And finally, in the coming weeks, I will return to my first love, the theater. Playing live in front of an audience, I love it!

What kind of roles would you like to do?

I like to do comedy but something more refined and not crude. A funny project that would leave the audience laughing long after they leave the theater. Of course a horror film could also be fun, as long it’s something deep, intense, and suggestive. Like “The Blair Witch Project”.

Finally, let’s talk about your other great passion, soccer. Living in Barcelona, was it a surprise to see Messi sign for PSG?

Honestly, there was hype at the beginning when we saw Messi joining Neymar and Mbappé. Within a few days, Messi had become a PSG player when everyone thought he would stay at Barça. In the end, it was the same mess as Real Madrid’s Galacticos era. It shows that throwing lots of money at a pile of stars never works. It pleases the fans, the public, the media, but it only lasts so long if there isn’t a logical strategy.

I know Mbappe, Neymar, Haaland, Rakitic, Modric…

Your role has opened doors for the game of professional soccer. The players really look up to you.

Yes, I know Mbappe, Neymar, Haaland, Rakitic, Modric… I met Kylian during a classic at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, but it’s Neymar I know better since he made a cameo in ‘La Casa de Papel’. A good guy, very funny, always smiling, it’s a pleasure every time I see him. I hope to see Kylian in Spain next year. Likely yes (smiles). But La Liga is tough, very competitive and the pressure is immense. I hope he does well at Real Madrid, but I have a feeling it’s going to be tougher than expected.

How is the relationship with the city of Marseille?

It’s been wonderful, my character entered the third season of Casa de Papel and the fans of the show liked him right away. His role can only be described in one word and it’s faithful to the Professor. I see it on all over social media, people all over the world love Marseille. I have to add, my character is quite charismatic, sporting his mustache and cap. What I saw during my two visits to Marseille is that people identify with this rebellious side. It’s great to see they are proud of it.

And the effect was immediate on social media?

Yes. But people ask me why the creators of the series did not choose the name of their cities! It’s like, why didn’t you choose Rome, Istanbul, Ankara, Or Izmir? As you know, Turkish fans are super fanatics.

Having influence is cool… but it’s also a responsibility..

Do you realize the impact you have on these stars all around the world?

I am a sports fan and they are fans of music, series, and movies. They train in the morning and in the afternoon, they are free. Mbappe and Neymar are fans of the series, Madonna, George Clooney, and Stephen King. Of course I’m proud, just the other day, Jodri Alba and Pedri (FC Barcelona) came to greet me at Camp Nou. Movies, music, and sports will always make you dream. Having influence is cool… but it’s also a responsibility..

François David