Pedro Alonso is back. Honestly, if you watched La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), you knew this was coming. His character, Andrés de Fonollosa, was far too charismatic to let stay dead after that messy standoff at the Royal Mint. But the cast of Berlin isn't just about a one-man show. It’s a totally different vibe from the gritty, claustrophobic stress of the original series. While the mother show felt like a war movie, Berlin plays out like a romantic caper through the streets of Paris. It’s lighter. It’s snobbier. It’s full of people who are arguably just as unhinged as Berlin himself, but in a much more "European art thief" kind of way.
The magic of this ensemble is that they aren't trying to be Tokyo, Rio, or Denver. They’re a whole new squad with their own messy baggage. You've got the tech genius who can't handle her own life, the muscle who’s surprisingly sensitive, and a right-hand man who might be more loyal than is actually healthy. Let’s get into the weeds of who these people are and why the chemistry actually works.
Pedro Alonso as Berlin: The Man, The Myth, The Ego
Let’s be real: Pedro Alonso is this franchise. Without his erratic energy, the show doesn't exist. In this prequel, we see a version of Berlin that is slightly less nihilistic than the one we met in the Mint, mostly because he hasn't been hit with his terminal diagnosis yet. Or at least, it’s not the thing driving his every move. Here, he’s motivated by two things: gold and "love."
Alonso plays Berlin with a theatricality that should be annoying but is somehow hypnotic. He’s the guy who will stop a multi-million euro heist just to give a speech about the scent of a woman or the architecture of a Parisian hotel. It’s ridiculous. It’s over the top. It’s exactly why we watch. His performance relies heavily on micro-expressions—that creepy little smirk that tells you he’s three steps ahead or completely losing his mind. Usually both.
The New Crew: Breaking Down the Cast of Berlin
The show lives or dies by the people Berlin surrounds himself with. This isn't the Professor’s carefully curated team of desperate outcasts. These are specialists.
Tristán Ulloa as Damián
If Berlin is the chaotic heart of the operation, Damián is the brain. Tristán Ulloa plays the "Professor" archetype here, but with a much more weary, academic energy. He’s a close friend of Berlin, a polymath, and the person responsible for the actual engineering of the heist. Their dynamic is the highlight of the show. While Berlin is off chasing a married woman and compromising the entire mission, Damián is the one trying to keep the wheels from falling off. Ulloa brings a grounded, almost sad-dad energy to the role that contrasts perfectly with Alonso's manic outbursts.
Michelle Jenner as Keila
Keila is the cybersecurity expert. But unlike the "cool hacker" tropes we see in most heist movies, Michelle Jenner plays her with a severe social anxiety that makes her incredibly relatable. She’s a genius with a keyboard but a total wreck when it comes to human interaction. Watching her try to navigate a "normal" social situation while simultaneously bypass-ing high-level security systems is where a lot of the show's humor comes from. It’s a nuanced performance that avoids the typical "nerd" cliches.
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Begoña Vargas as Cameron
Cameron is the loose cannon. Every heist needs one. Begoña Vargas brings a fierce, unpredictable energy to the crew. She’s there for the adrenaline, mostly to outrun some past trauma that the show slowly peels back like an onion. She’s the one driving the fast cars and taking the biggest risks. Vargas has this incredible screen presence—you can’t really look away when she’s on camera because you’re not sure if she’s going to punch someone or start laughing.
Julio Peña as Roi
Roi is Berlin’s protégé. He’s got a bit of a dark past, and he views Berlin as a sort of savior/father figure, which is honestly pretty concerning if you know anything about Berlin. Julio Peña plays him with a quiet intensity. He’s the loyal soldier, the guy who will do exactly what he’s told, even if it’s insane. His chemistry with Cameron (Vargas) provides the "young love" subplot that balances out Berlin’s more toxic romantic escapades.
Joel Sánchez as Bruce
Then there’s Bruce. He’s the guy who can fix anything, drive anything, and handle the heavy lifting. Joel Sánchez plays him as a bit of a carefree spirit. He’s the most "chill" member of the cast of Berlin, acting as a foil to Keila’s constant worrying. He’s the muscle, but he’s not a meathead. He’s more like that one friend who is inexplicably good at every physical task but forgets where he put his keys.
The Parisian Rivals and Love Interests
Because this is a prequel set in France, the cast expands beyond just the core criminals. We have to talk about Camille, played by Samantha Siqueiros. She is the "inciting incident" for Berlin’s distractions. Siqueiros has the difficult task of playing a woman who is being targeted by a master manipulator while remaining a complex character in her own right. She isn’t just a pawn; her choices drive the second half of the season in a big way.
And then there’s the fanservice—but the good kind. It was a genuine shock (and a delight) to see Itziar Ituño and Najwa Nimri reprise their roles as Raquel Murillo and Alicia Sierra. Seeing them younger, working together before they became bitter enemies, adds a layer of depth to the Money Heist lore. They aren't just cameos; they are integral to the tension of the final episodes. Seeing Alicia Sierra being her usual terrifying, lollipop-sucking self in a French police station is exactly what the fans wanted.
Why This Group Feels Different
The cast of Berlin had a massive mountain to climb. How do you follow up on one of the most successful international casts in TV history? They did it by leaning into the "heist as a lifestyle" angle.
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In Money Heist, the stakes were life or death from minute one. In Berlin, the stakes are often emotional or aesthetic. This cast has to sell the idea that stealing 44 million euros in jewels is almost secondary to the thrill of the chase. They succeed because they feel like a group of people who actually spend time together. There’s a sense of history between Damián and Berlin that you don't have to be told—you can see it in how they argue.
Behind the Scenes: Casting the Chemistry
Alex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, the creators, have a very specific "house style." They love high-contrast characters. Putting a socially awkward hacker (Keila) next to a hedonistic adrenaline junkie (Bruce) is classic Pina.
The casting process for the cast of Berlin focused heavily on finding actors who could handle the tonal shifts. The show jumps from slapstick comedy to high-stakes tension to melodrama in the span of ten minutes. Michelle Jenner, for example, is a massive star in Spain, known for her versatility. Bringing that level of talent to a "supporting" role is why the show feels more premium than your average spin-off.
Common Misconceptions About the Cast
A lot of people think this is just a recycled version of the original team. It’s not.
- Keila is not the new Rio: Rio was a kid in over his head. Keila is a professional who just hates people.
- Cameron is not Tokyo: Tokyo was the narrator and the emotional anchor. Cameron is more of a wild card who is trying to find herself.
- Damián is not the Professor: The Professor was a shut-in who planned for every contingency. Damián is a man going through a mid-life crisis who happens to be a genius.
Understanding these distinctions is key to enjoying the show for what it is rather than what it's trying to replace.
How to Follow the Actors
If you’ve finished the binge and want more, the cast of Berlin is incredibly active on social media, and most of them have extensive catalogs in Spanish cinema.
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- Pedro Alonso: Check out The Silence of the Marsh (El silencio del pantano) on Netflix for a much darker, quieter performance.
- Begoña Vargas: She’s fantastic in Las Leyes de la Frontera (The Laws of the Border), a 70s-set outlaw movie.
- Tristán Ulloa: Look for Farina (Cocaine Coast), where he plays a very different kind of character in the world of drug trafficking.
- Michelle Jenner: Her historical drama Isabel is legendary in Spain.
Watching their other work really highlights the range they bring to this heist crew. It makes you realize that while the characters might be "criminals," the actors are some of the most disciplined professionals in the European industry right now.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the cast of Berlin, start by watching the series in its original Spanish audio with subtitles. So much of Pedro Alonso’s performance is in his vocal cadence—the way he whispers threats or sings his way through a conversation. Dubbing often loses that specific "Berlin" charm.
Also, pay attention to the color palettes associated with each character. The costume design for this cast is intentional. Berlin is often in rich, dark tones; Keila is in softer, more protective layers; Cameron is in bold, high-contrast outfits. It’s a visual shorthand for their personalities that helps define the team before they even speak.
For those interested in the filming locations, much of the Parisian backdrop was actually shot on location, and the chemistry you see on screen was reportedly built through weeks of rehearsals in Madrid before the cameras even started rolling. This wasn't a "show up and read lines" production. It was a concerted effort to build a family—or at least a very high-functioning group of thieves.
The best way to appreciate this ensemble is to stop comparing them to the ghosts of the Royal Mint and start enjoying the mess they're making in Paris. It's a different game, played by different rules, with a cast that is more than capable of carrying the legacy of the red jumpsuits into a new, more glamorous era.