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Luis Zahera

Luis Zahera

Actor · Born May 23, 1966 (60) · Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

José Luis de Castro Zahera, better known as Luis Zahera, is a Spanish actor, winner of a Goya in 2019 and 2023 for his performance in El reino and As bestas, respectively.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 23, 1966 (60)
From
Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on Motif · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 3% in 30 days

What are Luis Zahera's films like?

Across their 25 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action8 titlesTypical Motif score: 40th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Motif score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Motif score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Motif score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Thriller movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
28%
Bonds
23%
Power
14%
Survival
14%
Self
11%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 15

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 4 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 5 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 9

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 10
Ally
2 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Shapeshifter
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Trickster
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Dread
11
Melancholic
8
Warm
4
Joyful
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Thought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Luis Zahera's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 30 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Luis Zahera's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 30 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Collision Course (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Lions in Winter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Karma(2026)

    as Vasquez

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Boulevard(2026)

    as Sr. Howland

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Zeta(2026)

    as Salvador Ancares

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • You Stole My Heart(2025)

    as Trigo

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Old Dog, New Tricks(2025)

    Show 9 episodes · as Antón

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • La agencia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Luis Zahera

  • RATIÑA (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Barren Land(2025)

    as Mateo "el Gallego"

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Samaná Sunrise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Mario

  • Atasco (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · as Guzmán

  • Birds Flying East (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Mario

  • The Courier(2024)

    as Comisario Manuel Roig

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Awareness(2023)

    as Dr

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Infiesto(2023)

    as Marquina

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Our Only Chance(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as Madison

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • The Beasts(2022)

    as Xan

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Table for 3 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Canallas(2022)

    as Gallego

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Silent Cargo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Cesáreo

  • Wrong Side of the Tracks(2021)

    Show 32 episodes · as Ezequiel

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Xtreme(2021)

    as Urquiza

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Crazy About Her(2021)

    as Saúl

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Unit(2020)

    Show 12 episodes · as Sergio

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Silence of the Marsh(2019)

    as Taxi Driver

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • While at War(2019)

    as Atilano

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Candidate(2018)

    as Cabrera

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Unauthorized Living (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 23 episodes · as Ferro

  • La resistencia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Zone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lucio

  • Planeta Azúcar (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as Hombre

  • Cain's Father (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bermejo

  • May God Save Us(2016)

    as Alonso

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Strangers on the Road (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Hombre 1

  • The App (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Way I Love You (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Drug dealer

  • Buscando el Norte (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as Roberto

  • The Beach of the Drowned(2015)

    as Jose Arias

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Retribution(2015)

    as Driver

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • La Xirgu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Ramón María del Valle-Inclán

  • Nothing in Return(2015)

    as Policía municipal

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • El Club de los 27 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Max

  • Land Rober Tunai Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Victor Ros (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Ángel Sarabia

  • Códice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Lázaro

  • Cuéntame un cuento (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Ramiro

  • The Change (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Luis

  • El chiringuito de Pepe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Teniente Colman

  • Blockbuster (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Amateur (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Ricardo

  • Faraday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Salaó (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Freire

  • Combustion(2013)

    as Detective

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Invader (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Arturo

  • Todo es silencio (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Malpica

  • Game of Werewolves(2011)

    as Guardia Civil

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Onde Está a Felicidade? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Anxo

  • 23-F: la película (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jesús Muñecas Aguilar

  • Tarkovsky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Client

  • The Valdemar Legacy II: The Forbidden Shadow(2010)

    as Lovecraft

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • El Premio (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Manuel

  • Marina (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Pablo

  • The Valdemar Legacy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Lovecraft

  • Spanish Movie(2009)

    as Antonio

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • La noche que dejó de llover (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Cell 211(2009)

    as Releches

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Rated R (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Ángel Mota

  • El tesoro (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Papo la Pulpa

  • Wrap Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Padre de Miguel

  • Gutbai, Charly (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Xaquín

  • Círculo rojo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 16 episodes · as Tamayo

  • The Contestant (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Pizarro

  • Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer(2006)

    as Pereira

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • La silla (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Policía B

  • Diario de un skin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Year of the Tick (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sr. Nieto

  • El lápiz del carpintero (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Acuña

  • Mondays in the Sun(2002)

    as Administrativo del astillero

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Cuéntame cómo pasó (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mateo Peña

  • Lena (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Antonio

  • El váter susurra (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Live Tides (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 150 episodes · as Celso Puga "Petroleo"

  • Pratos Combinados (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 261 episodes · as Hugo Pastrala

  • Divine Words (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Girl and Wolf (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • O matachín (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Sigma (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Zeta 2 (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Salvador Ancares

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles, 84 of them dated from 1987 to 2026; peak year 2025.

Biggest box office

Cell 211 (2009)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

The Beasts (2022)

Motif 96th

Film career

19872026

Peak 2025 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 15 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2002Screen debut· Mondays in the Sun
  • 2024First top-billed film· Birds Flying East
  • 2025Best so far· Barren Land
  • 2025Best so far· Old Dog, New Tricks

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting89 of 89: 89 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score46th

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s39 · acting2020s24 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 6% of 31 roles
02121722

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Luis Zahera's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Motif score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 30 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Boulevard (2026)

78th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Beasts (2022)

Motif 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Luis Zahera's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles55–92 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles27–70 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity6 titles54–83 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles55–83 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 75 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Luis Zahera work with?

People who share at least 2 of Luis Zahera's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Luis Tosar shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles