Exclusive Interview: Javier Martínez, an emerging actor and performer to watch

The portrait of an actor whose calling changed the course of his life. ©Javier Mantrana

Following a first feature dedicated to his journey, Javier Martìnez agreed to open up to ETUU in an exclusive interview. Trained as a chemical engineer and driven by vocation for acting, Javier Martínez has spent several years cultivating a nuanced and deeply embodied approach to performance. Moving seamlessly between theatre and film, he has developed a distinctive artistic voice marked by precision, emotional depth, and meticulous character work.

As the Cannes Film Festival draws to a close and attention shifts toward the talents poised to shape the future of cinema, Javier Martínez emerges as one of the names to watch. Although he didn’t grow up in an artistic family, he has always been drawn to creative pursuits: singing, dancing, painting, crafts, and even cooking. What appeals to him most is the opportunity to share the joy of creation with others. Yet despite this natural affinity for the arts, Javier initially followed a more conventional path, studying: chemical engineering. Over time, however, his desire to perform never diminished; it only grew stronger. Two pivotal experiences would only eventually lead him to realize that stepping onto the stage was a vital necessity.

 "As long as I can evoke a sincere emotion in someone, I will feel that I am exactly where I belong." Javier Martínez,

The call of the stage

Like an image impossible to forget, a lingering fragrance, or a hazy yet constant memory, for Javier, "the call to perform was always there, very present". It revealed itself on various occasions, particularly during performances he attended regularly. But one evening, something new happened—a revelation. Javier recalls: "I attended a performance of the musical Cabaret in Vitoria. I was deeply moved. I remember being on the verge of tears. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to be on stage and experience all of it from within."

That was the turning point. "One day, I decided to listen to that passion and enrolled in a theatre and film school in Vitoria. From the very first class, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be."

From then on, Javier led a double life: engineer by day and theatre student by night. He remembers with a smile: "At the time, I worked as an engineer all day and studied theatre in the evenings. I also took part in creating the productions: set design, costumes, props... I was living life at full speed."

However, juggling these two lives eventually took a physical toll on him and served as an important warning sign that gradually pushed him toward a new direction.

"This double life eventually had physical consequences. The pressure became so intense that I began suffering severe stomach pains. That's when I realized I couldn't go on like that." He adds: "Since I knew I didn't want to give up theatre, I made a difficult decision: I left my stable engineering career to devote myself entirely to my dream."

An Actor devoted to his roles and to storytelling

For Javier Martínez, acting is more than portraying a character—it's about inhabiting one. He explains: "Inhabiting a character goes far beyond simply interpreting them. It means lending them my voice, my body, my imagination, and my entire emotional range. My goal is for the audience to feel what the character feels, without artifice."

This approach to acting doesn't rely solely on the script, and Javier understands that well. Beyond following the text and embodying the character, he adds layer upon layer to their construction." Of course, I start with the script, but I always try to go further. I build an entire universe around the character: their fears, desires, goals, wounds, and contradictions. I enjoy giving them additional layers—a depth that isn't always present in the screenplay." For Javier, acting doesn't begin only on stage; it also takes place during the process of character creation.

Like many performers, part of himself inevitably finds its way into every role. Yet he remains careful never to lose sight of the character behind the performance: "I'm not trying to play Javier; I'm trying to deeply understand someone else."

When asked whether he considers himself an instinctive or analytical actor, he answers: "Both." According to him, the two are inseparable. "Instinct is only possible when you've prepared the ground thoroughly enough." He continues: "I analyze a great deal. I meticulously build the character before filming or rehearsals begin. But once I'm on set or on stage, I want to be free. I want to listen to my scene partner, truly live the situation, and allow room for the present moment."

Memorable acting experiences

When asked about his most cherished memory on stage or on screen, Javier answers without hesitation: The Bodyguard (El Guardaespaldas), the musical. More than a memorable role, the production marked a genuine turning point in his career. He explains: "I played two radically different characters: the stalker and the leading man. That duality was a fascinating challenge. Touring throughout Spain was an extraordinary experience." He adds emotionally: "Whitney Houston's songs, an artist I deeply admire, resonated every evening with a very special intensity."

Even more important than being remembered for a role is Javier's desire to leave a lasting emotional impression on audiences. "What matters to me is never leaving the audience indifferent." Through his work, every time he steps onto a stage or appears before a camera, he hopes: "That the audience can connect with the character, experience their story alongside them, and feel something authentic."

What drives Javier above all is the desire to awake emotion and moves people —something he believes to be the actor's most beautiful mission. Each time he performs, he pursues the same goal: "I want the person who enters the cinema or theatre to leave slightly different. Even if the change is tiny, if there has been an emotion, a reflection, or simply an inner movement, then something meaningful has happened."

Current projects and future perspectives

ETUU: What projects are you currently working on?

Javier Martínez:

"I am currently performing at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela, where I am part of the production of El Gato Montés, composed by Manuel Penella and directed by Christof Loy. It's an exciting artistic adventure carried by an exceptional team. At the same time, I continue with the daily work of being an actor: auditions, training, ongoing education, and preparing future projects."

He continues:

"It's an intense work built around a tragic love triangle. I’d rather preserve a little mystery, but it's a story driven by magnificent music and powerful dramatic tension."

ETUU: Is there a role you haven't explored yet that particularly appeals to you?

Javier Martínez:

"Without hesitation: comedy. I've already done comedy during my career. Audiences often see me in more dramatic roles. Yet I truly love this genre. I would like the opportunity to further develop that side of my work, particularly through more extroverted and exuberant characters who express their emotions more directly. Drama often requires intense introspection. Comedy allows for a different energy, more outwardly expressed, and that perspective greatly appeals to me."

He also notes:

"I would also like to explore action films further. Taking part in a major production of that kind would be a dream. Without pretending to become James Bond, of course, I would love to portray a character evolving within that universe—intense, physical, and rich in dramatic stakes. These are roles that offer an actor an extraordinary playground."

Javier Martínez and cinema in one image

Without much hesitation, Javier immediately thinks of one image when asked to describe his relationship with the seventh art: "An open window onto other worlds." He elaborates: "Each film allows us to discover lives we would never have lived, and experience emotions we may never encounter in our own existence. Whenever I go to the cinema, I always feel as though I'm entering a unique space where anything becomes possible."

More than a journey through different worlds, cinema represents for the actor a form of passive catharsis. It opens up endless possibilities and allows each person to draw from it whatever they wish. He explains: "It's a place where we can laugh, suffer, dream, love, travel, understand others, and sometimes better understand ourselves. "A true place of expression for actors, cinema is also a living space for audiences, free to feel and let go. "Cinema remains above all else: an open window onto emotion."

One certainty inhabits Javier Martínez: "My next great role is still ahead of me." A perspective that inspires him to keep moving forward and continue shaping his artistic path. The Basque actor concludes with words that reflect the emotional intensity that defines him: "As long as I can evoke a sincere emotion in someone, I will feel that I am exactly where I belong."

Subject from: Victoria di Cala (BC)

Co-written by: Cassandre Parent and Eva Bettale

Translated by: Federica Mignacca