Barbara Rey’s life in cinema began during a post-Franco Spain that was just starting to shed its taboos. Her early work opened doors for a showgirl career that blended glamour with controversy, eventually leading her to co-own a circus after a chance encounter with a notable figure. She became a defining name in the world of entertainment, renowned not only as a performer but also as the charismatic owner of the Russian Circus, where she earned fame as a fearless animal tamer.
From that moment, about forty years ago, her life shifted when she found a love that felt both new and familiar. The relationship drew attention from prominent figures, including Juan Carlos I, then the King, and it became part of a broader narrative that some believed carried a blend of sincerity and spectacle. This Sunday, Atresplayer Premium will present a fiction-based series, available on the Atresmedia platform after a period on Antenna 3, exploring this famous chapter of her life.
Production work on the project is led by Daniel Écija, known for popular series such as “Los Serrano,” “Periodistas,” and “Estoy vivo.” Cast members include Jaime Lorente, known for “La casa de papel” and “El Cid,” and Belén Cuesta, recognized for her roles in “La casa de papel.” The series centers on the revelation of a muse who meets the circus entrepreneur whose business had fallen on hard times and who helped bring it back to life. Rey’s romance with the circus is a central thread of this story, intertwining love, career, and showbusiness in a way that captivates audiences.
escape from parody
The performers bear physical resemblances to the iconic figures they portray. Lorente’s depiction is more stylized, giving the character a smug, sly presence that fits the tone of the country-named heist series, while Cuesta appears in a platinum wig with long legs that evoke a certain star quality. Yet the goal is not to imitate; the actors avoid parody. There is a touch of layered backstory that enriches their portrayals. The cast notes that their attention is less on appearances and more on conveying the character’s inner life and public persona. They even chose not to imitate Rey’s distinctive hoarse voice, focusing instead on the broader spirit of the era and the woman herself.
In the story, the relationship with the king emerges early, with the claim of a life lived in the public eye, supported by a modern interpreter, Christopher Suárez. The narrative presents not just a romance but a panorama of the era, introducing other familiar figures who inhabited those years. Among them are characters reminiscent of the era’s famous personalities, with anecdotes that evoke the media chronicle of the time. The cast also features Artur Busquets, José Milán, Chema Adeva, Belén Ponce de León, and others, each contributing to a tapestry that blends fact and fiction.
The love story, though rooted in truth, carries cinematic elements that illuminate both the joys and the shadows of fame. It traces the couple’s happy moments—from a whirlwind courtship to a public wedding and the extraordinary life they built running a circus together—alongside the darker sides: struggles with substance use, gambling, infidelity, and mistreatment faced by a central figure who challenged societal judgments. The portrayal emphasizes a fiercely independent woman who faced scrutiny and blame from an approving and critical society alike. The creators and Belén Cuesta describe the project as a respectful yet candid exploration of that complex life, and Rey herself expresses satisfaction with the portrayal, signaling a cautious triumph in bringing her story to the screen.