What Esther Acebo Would Do in Stockholm's Shoes on 'Money Heist' - Netflix Tudum

  • Behind the Scenes

    What Esther Acebo Would Do in Stockholm's Shoes on 'Money Heist'

    “She has another kind of strength."
    Nov. 23, 2021

Naturally, Esther Acebo feels a great deal of responsibility heading into the final season of the global Netflix hit Money Heist. The long-running show, which aired as a limited series in Spain before Netflix picked up the bank-heist thriller and made three more seasons, has a massive worldwide fanbase. But it isn’t necessarily fan expectations that makes Acebo so nervous — it’s the thought of doing right by all of her talented co-workers. 

According to Acebo, who plays Mónica Gaztambide, aka Stockholm, her gratitude is aimed at the “hardest-working” cast and crew behind Money Heist. "The truth is that, as an actress, you have this undeniable challenge. You're going into a huge production, and the feeling of responsibility is multiplied by a million. Wanting to play your role well, it's not that you want to do it right, you have to do it right," she tells Netflix ahead of the Part 5 premiere. "At times it weighs heavily on you because there's that pressure — not because of people's expectations, but because of everything around you — the team — it's like, 'these people are incredible. I have to do it right.' And that motivates you so much."

As someone who has worked in the smallest, no-name theatrical productions in Spain, Acebo feels honored to be making her living acting professionally in one of the world's biggest television series. It's rewarding to have collaborated with such great artists and also to have played a character like Stockholm — a woman who went from a mild-mannered hostage embroiled in an unfulfilling affair with her boss to a key player in one of the biggest bank heists of all time.

Acebo also says that she admires — and has learned from — her character: "She's probably not the toughest lady out there, or the strongest, but she has another kind of strength," the actor says. "And that's what I've taken from this."

Mónica might be quiet; she might not be as assertive as some of the other Money Heist crew, but she is brave "I think if I had been in her shoes, I probably would have run away more than once. More than twice,” Acebo confesses. “But she's still there and she's still whole. And her ability to listen — these are things I could use in my own life."

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