Luis Zahera, born in 1966 in Santiago de Compostela, captured the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor for his grounded, civilian performance in As bestas. The ceremony spotlighted a strong field including his co star Diego Anido, seen as an imagined brother, along with Ramón Barea for Cinco Lobitos and Fernando Tejero and Jesús Carroza for Modelo 77. This victory marked Zahera’s ascent at the national level, following his prior recognition in the same category just a few years earlier.
He is sometimes described as earning a second Goya in the same category, after the first in 2019 for his supporting role in El reino, a film crafted by the same director, Rodrigo Sorogoyen. The distinction underscores Zahera’s enduring collaboration with Sorogoyen and his ability to make a lasting impact in contemporary Spanish cinema. The moment on stage was noted as a turning point in Zahera’s career, reinforcing how a recurring partnership can shape an actor’s legacy [Citation: Goya Awards Archive].
“Seville, I owe you,” the Galician actor reportedly told the audience upon receiving the trophy for his second career Goya. He expressed gratitude for the supportive city and the people who helped him along the way. The acceptance speech also touched on his dream of playing a western and confronting a French antagonist, a nod to genre ambitions that have fueled his later choices. He dedicated the moment to his brother Anido and to colleagues involved in the Goya competition, including Denis Ménocq, with a personal message of camaraderie and friendship [Citation: Goya Awards Archive].
Zahera’s career in Galicia began with visibility on local television during the late nineties, where he portrayed a character named Petróleo in a regional series. His transition to national television followed with appearances in acclaimed programs such as Central Hospital and other popular titles of the era. In recent years his work expanded to include productions like Living Without Permission, Red Sky, and Operation Black Wave. His film career featured a pivotal role in the adaptation of El lápiz del carpintero directed by Antón Reixa, followed by performances in Alatriste, Cell 211 directed by Díaz Yanes, and While the war is in progress by Alejandro Amenábar, reflecting a diverse range of genres and historical settings [Citation: Goya Awards Archive].