If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you’ve probably seen Mario Ermito. Maybe you recognized him as the impossibly handsome Filippo in A Perfect Story or noticed him popping up in the final high-stakes season of Elite. Honestly, the guy is everywhere right now. It’s not just luck, though. Ermito has been grinding in the industry for over a decade, transitioning from the chaotic world of Italian reality TV to becoming a legitimate leading man in international cinema.
Basically, he's the Italian export that Hollywood didn't see coming.
Most people first got a glimpse of him back in 2011. He was a contestant on Grande Fratello 12 (Italy's version of Big Brother). It didn't last long—he was evicted after just two weeks—but it was enough to spark something. He didn't want to be just another "reality star." He wanted to act. And he actually put in the work, which is something a lot of people get wrong about him. He didn't just walk onto a film set because of his looks; he spent years taking small roles in Italian "fictions" like Il peccato e la vergogna and Don Matteo to build a real resume.
Mario Ermito Movies and TV Shows: The Big Breakout
The real shift happened when he started landing roles in Spanish-language productions. This was a smart move. Spain and Italy have a lot of cultural overlap, and Netflix has been bridge-building between these markets for years.
The Netflix Effect: Elite and A Perfect Story
In 2023 and 2024, Ermito's career hit hyper-drive. You've probably seen Un cuento perfecto (A Perfect Story). He played Filippo, the "perfect" but ultimately wrong-for-her fiancé of the protagonist, Margot. It was a role that required him to be charming but a bit stiff, and he nailed it.
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Then came Elite. Joining a show like Elite in its eighth season is like jumping onto a moving freight train. He played Pier, and while the show is known for its ensemble cast, Ermito held his own among the seasoned veterans of Las Encinas. It solidified him as a face that international audiences—not just Italians—could recognize and root for.
Pídeme lo que quieras: The "Fifty Shades" Moment
If you’re a fan of Megan Maxwell’s novels, you already know why 2024 was a massive year for him. Mario was cast as Eric Zimmerman in the film adaptation of Pídeme lo que quieras (Ask Me What You Want).
This wasn't just another role. This was the role.
Playing a powerful, dominant German businessman in an erotic romantic drama is a huge gamble. It can either make you a superstar or pigeonhole you forever. Early reviews of the film, which hit theaters in late 2024, praised his chemistry with co-star Gabriela Andrada. He brought a certain vulnerability to Zimmerman that wasn't necessarily on the page, making the character feel less like a trope and more like a human being.
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A Career Built on Variety
It’s easy to look at his filmography and see only the "pretty boy" roles, but that's a mistake. Ermito has actually jumped across genres quite a bit.
- Comedy: In Por los pelos (2022), he played Lucca in a story centered around men traveling to Turkey for hair transplants. It was goofy, lighthearted, and showed he doesn't take himself too seriously.
- Crime Drama: In the TV series Fiori sopra l'inferno (Flowers Over the Inferno), he took on the role of Andreas. This was a much darker, more atmospheric project than his Netflix rom-coms.
- Biopics: He appeared in La stoccata vincente, a 2023 TV movie about the life of fencer Paolo Pizzo.
He's also kept one foot in the reality world when it made sense for his "brand." In 2020, he went back to his roots for Grande Fratello VIP 5. Some critics said it was a step backward, but it actually kept him relevant with the Italian public while he was waiting for his bigger film projects to clear post-production.
What’s Coming Next in 2026?
Mario isn't slowing down. He’s currently attached to a project called Ídolos, where he plays Roberto Scala. This film, produced by Warner Bros, is expected to make waves in the 2026 festival circuit. He’s also been exploring his musical side, recently releasing a single titled "Entre sombras y luz."
It’s rare to see an actor successfully pivot from reality TV to "prestige" Netflix dramas and then into pop music, but Ermito seems to be pulling it off.
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Why You Should Keep Watching
The reason Ermito works is because he understands the "Global Netflix" era. He speaks multiple languages, he’s comfortable working in different countries, and he has a classic cinematic look that works as well in a period piece as it does in a modern thriller.
If you're looking to catch up on his work, start with A Perfect Story for the vibes, then move to Fiori sopra l'inferno to see his acting range. If you're feeling adventurous (and don't mind some steaminess), Pídeme lo que quieras is the obvious choice.
To stay updated on his upcoming releases, follow his official social media channels where he frequently posts behind-the-scenes content from his European film sets. Keeping an eye on Spanish and Italian production house announcements (like Publispei or Versus Entertainment) is also a great way to spot his next big project before it hits the mainstream.