In relation to Cristóbal Balenciaga, a collection of works exists that showcases haute couture fashioned with extraordinary technique and the unmistakable spark of a genius. Yet Balenciaga himself remains a private figure. Actor Alberto San Juan, born in Madrid in 1986, lent his body and voice, moving with grace and sophistication, to embody this legendary designer. The series Balenciaga recently debuted on Disney+. San Juan’s career spans more than fifty films, over twenty-five television series, and as many theatre projects, yet he regards this project as the pinnacle of his professional journey so far. Balenciaga, through his portrayal, will forever be tied to this series.
Did the experience feel like a mission of magnitude during filming?
It felt monumental, as if the role itself carried immense weight. He approached it with the sense that he was taking on something unprecedented in his career. It was the absolute hero’s journey in a show rooted in a man who shaped fashion history.
Has he taken on a real historical figure before?
Yes, in the film Hours of Light, he portrayed a prisoner named Juan José García alongside Emma Suárez. That role brought a different kind of recognition, but Balenciaga as a person remained relatively unknown to the wider world. The designer’s fame rests on his stitched masterpieces rather than personal notoriety.
The series relied on a narrow set of material to recreate Balenciaga. Biographers, supported by testimonies from those who knew him, formed the backbone of the script. No audio recording of the designer survives, and only a handful of images exist from his workshop. He avoided the limelight and led a life that hid his private choices. Born at the close of the nineteenth century, he was a Catholic who kept his personal life discreet, and many believed he concealed certain aspects of his identity.
He lived through turbulent times, including Franco’s regime in Spain and the German occupation of France. Though Balenciaga was already forty-two and had a stable self-image, he emerged from a Basque village with a modest family background and a conservative society that later faced upheaval. Balenciaga’s upbringing in the early decades of the twentieth century played a significant role in shaping the man behind the cut and seam.
Most of the series unfolds in French and Basque. Disney Spain plans to present the original language version, emphasizing the European essence of the show, with characters and cast drawn from across the continent rather than Spain alone. The multinational cast also includes Germans, Brits, and Americans, highlighting a truly international collaboration.
Did he have any prior exposure to these languages?
Not at all. The actor prepared by studying the script with a language coach. The Basque he learned is the Guetarian dialect, which varies notably from one region to another. He also trained to simulate sewing under the guidance of designer and tailor Iñigo Garaizabal.
Balenciaga tended to avoid the press. Would that approach be hard for an actor today?
Today he averages seven interviews daily, a demanding rhythm he accepts as part of the job. He wishes promotion could happen without exposing personal life, but he recognizes that public visibility is part of the profession.
Is the goal to shield personal life, or is it simply unavoidable in a modern project?
The ideal for an actor is to let the character speak for itself, with the public learning about the life through the performance. Yet in practice some personal exposure is inevitable.
Did Balenciaga take a political stance, or was it a quiet survival that shaped his choices?
He never spoke publicly on politics, but as a prominent figure during Franco’s Spain, his stance matters because it illuminates the balance between personal integrity and political pressure. The show explores how he stayed apart from the harsh realities around him, while still being deeply connected to his community.
Additionally, the series suggests Balenciaga’s loyalty to his people persisted even when they vanished from everyday life, a period that spurred his creativity. Did that freedom come at a price?
There is a striking contrast: a strict, formal, and cautious man who nonetheless could dream without limits when it came to fashion. He possessed the technical mastery to realize those dreams financially. During the Nazi occupation of Paris, Balenciaga’s hat designs faced restrictions for their boldness. Adapting to reality meant making compromises to endure.
He understood that haute couture remained accessible mainly to the upper class. The ruling class, whether Francoists or Nazis, faced the same challenge of survival, and Balenciaga navigated that landscape without surrendering his craft.
When asked about his own stance, he said he followed the script and the director’s vision, managing a heavy workload without second-guessing.
Is the result satisfying?
Very much so. He felt a deep sense of achievement and contentment, even if it left room for future growth. People often dream bigger, but this project stands as a high point.
Does the portrayal mirror Balenciaga’s level of dedication? The actor recognizes Balenciaga as a genius while acknowledging his own luck and humanity. He fears losing touch with the truth of a performance but remains proud of the work.
If Balenciaga saw his company selling designer items alongside humble products, that would be surprising, but the actor has focused on Balenciaga’s life and work for a few years. He does not claim authority over every hypothetical scenario.
Balenciaga did not take a public stance on politics, but the actor’s own position arose from a belief in better coexistence. He speaks about the ongoing challenge of diverse perspectives; understanding others becomes a path to a more tolerant society. The series invites viewers to consider the distance between a designer’s private life and the broader historical currents.
Season two of the show Everyone is a Lie features another compelling role for the actor, this time as a distinctive police officer. He enjoyed the experience and looks forward to continuing with the series, hoping for more seasons to come.