After 18 years on air, one of Spanish television’s longest-running series, Love Is Eternal, continues to captivate audiences. The show began its journey under the title Amar en tiempo revoltos on La 1 and is now nearing its finale in the after-dinner slot on Antena 3. Throughout its run, the cast has changed season by season, yet three characters have remained constants from start to finish: the proprietors of the El Asturiano bar, including the matriarch, Manolita, and the two central figures who define the evolving family saga. The on-screen emotions ran high as the final scenes were filmed, with the performers sharing their memories and tears as the curtain prepared to fall.
They filmed the series finale in October. What emotions did you feel while portraying this moment?
There were so many emotions tied to what the ending represented. At times the crew would glance at one another and cry, and other moments saw silences filled with recognition of how fortunate they felt. There were waves of nostalgia, but also excitement, as if the show were stepping into television history. It was a mixture of sadness and exhilaration, intertwined with a sense of completion.
Was there any actor who didn’t cry in that final scene?
No one stayed dry. The tears were abundant for everyone. In fact, one of the hardest parts was mastering the last line. The brain seemed to freeze, and the crew had to repeat the sentence several times, a testament to how deeply the moment resonated because, once spoken, it signaled the end of an era.
Do you think the audience will cry at this ending?
Absolutely. This finale is crafted to deliver the emotional payoff viewers expect. It has been prepared with care and labor, ensuring that no one feels shortchanged by Amar.
Many fans will envy the trio of Manuel Baqueiro and José Antonio Sayagués, who have been part of the series since its inception. It is rare to sustain a career in this industry for so many years.
The stability is a rare gift, both financially and emotionally, and it offers a unique learning experience. The acting profession can be highly intermittent, and landing a long-running show is not something to take for granted. There was a moment when no casting was needed because a short series would suffice and a small role was all that was available, which underscored how unusual this 18-year journey proved to be.
“Asuncion Balaguer believed Manuel Baqueiro and the interviewer were a real-life couple”
Manolita, the mother figure who anchors a large family and runs a business, is not the same girl she once was in the early episodes.
She stands as one of the more memorable female characters crafted for this fiction. Like a mother and grandmother who faced tough times, she adapted to societal changes, guiding her daughters and shaping her own path. She is generally considered one of the least typecast roles on television because her beginnings diverge significantly from how she ends.
Manolita’s life mirrors broader changes over these 18 years, and so does the author’s journey as a two-time mother behind the scenes.
Indeed, the performer welcomed two children during the Amar years.
From birth?
Yes. When the first daughter arrived, writers initially doubted the timing, thinking it a joke. It took some time to adjust the script because of the real-life birth. The span of the tale stretches from the late 20th century into nearly two decades, covering many personal milestones.
What moment stands out most for you? What do you remember fondly?
I picture the set bustling with my daughters, a magical scene where motherhood wove into the daily life of the Asturiano family. Nursing on set, the babies naturally became part of the world we built together, an image that still glows in memory.
What about the most challenging moments?
Farewells grew heavy each season as cast members moved on. The goodbyes carried a weight that reflected the shifts in the ensemble, bringing a sense of loss with every transition.
Some viewers speculated that her on-screen husband Manuel Baqueiro was a real-life partner. Was there truth to that?
That rumor persisted beyond the street and into professional circles. Asuncion Balaguer even believed we were together in real life, which required clear denial. It was just a show, after all, though the bond between the actors felt very real to audiences.
Baquero has two film projects in the pipeline, Tierra Baja and Cariñena, and continues to produce work tied to her broader portfolio. Would you ever consider returning to a daily soap?
There is a fondness for daily soaps, but another long-running series isn’t in the plans right now. The draft of Amar and its legacy remains a unique milestone in the actor’s career.