Tejero, Fernando

(1967- )

   From the late 1990s, through his appearances on film and television, Fernando Tejero has quickly become one of the most popular Spanish actors, following in a tradition of common comic types, such as those represented in the past by Alfredo Landa or Paco Martínez Soria. Broad audiences easily relate to the type of not-too-bright, uncultivated, and slightly naïve young man he has played repeatedly in a number of films. His emblematic roles were in Días de fútbol (Football Days, David Serrano, 2003) and the sequel of sorts El penalti más largo del mundo (The Longest Penalty in the World, Roberto Santiago, 2005). His characterizations so far have been paper-thin, if effective, and he has yet to show ambition in a starring role, but supporting parts in films like Torremolinos 73 (Pablo Berger, 2003), Crimen Ferpecto (Ferpect Crime, Álex de la Iglesia, 2004), or Días de cine (Cinema Days, David Serrano, 2007) show an actor attempting to change gears and try new registers. He owes his popularity partly to television, where he starred in the long-running sitcom Aquí no hay quien viva (No One Can Live Here).

   Historical Dictionary of Spanish Cinema by Alberto Mira