Manu Ríos
{{short description|Spanish actor and singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Ríos|Fernández|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox actor
| name = Manu Ríos
| image = Goyas 2023 - Manu Ríos (cropped).jpg
| caption = Ríos in 2023
| birth_name = Manuel Ríos Fernández
| birth_place = Calzada de Calatrava, Spain
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|17|df=yes}}
| occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|singer}}
| years_active = 2008{{ndash}}present
}}
Manuel Ríos Fernández (born 17 December 1998) is a Spanish actor and singer. He gained recognition for his role in the Netflix teen drama series Elite (2021–2022). He has since appeared in the series Breathless (2024–2025), La edad de la ira (2022), and Muted (2023), and the short film Strange Way of Life (2023).
Early life
Manuel Ríos Fernández was born on 17 December 1998 in Calzada de Calatrava, a small town in the province of Ciudad Real.{{Cite web |date=25 July 2020 |title=De Calzada a la serie 'Élite': Manu Ríos, el nuevo rey midas de los 'influencers' que arrasa en Instagram con más de 5 millones de seguidores |url=https://www.lanzadigital.com/provincia/de-calzada-a-la-serie-elite-manu-rios-el-nuevo-rey-midas-de-los-influencers-que-arrasa-en-instagram-con-mas-de-5-millones/ |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=Lanza Digital |language=es}} His mother is a hairdresser and his father is an electrician.{{Cite web |last=González |first=Victor M. |date=2022-04-13 |title=Manu Ríos: “Yo encuentro la belleza en todo tipo de físicos, y me gustaría que en Élite hubiera esa visibilidad” |url=https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/articulo/manu-rios-entrevista-elite-la-edad-de-la-ira-referentes-belleza |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=GQ España |language=es-ES}} He has an older brother.{{Cite web |last=Fre;ría |first=Michelle |date=2021-10-06 |title=¿Quién es Manu Ríos, el nuevo integrante de Élite? |url=https://www.chicmagazine.com.mx/personajes/quien-es-manu-diaz-el-nuevo-integrante-de-elite |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=CHICMagazine |language=es}}
Career
Ríos made his television debut at the age of nine on the music reality show Cantando en familia, after being selected through a local talent search.{{Cite web |last=Real |first=La Tribuna de Ciudad |date=2013-06-19 |title=El sueño americano |url=https://www.latribunadeciudadreal.es/noticia/z785dcca8-9fc8-6422-942ccb05b8ae7ed0/201306/el-sueno-americano |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=La Tribuna de Ciudad Real |language=spanish}} The following year, in 2009, he appeared as a dancer on the Spanish talent show ¡Tú sí que vales!.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-25 |title=De Calzada a la serie 'Élite': Manu Ríos, el nuevo rey midas de los 'influencers' que arrasa en Instagram con más de 5 millones de seguidores - Lanza Digital - Lanza Digital |url=https://www.lanzadigital.com/provincia/de-calzada-a-la-serie-elite-manu-rios-el-nuevo-rey-midas-de-los-influencers-que-arrasa-en-instagram-con-mas-de-5-millones/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |language=es}}
In 2010, Ríos joined the cast of the musical Les Misérables at the Lope de Vega Theatre in Madrid, portraying the character Gavroche.{{Cite web |date=2 February 2019 |title=Manu Ríos, entrevista con el Instagramer español más potente del mundo |url=https://www.neo2.com/manu-rios-entrevista-fotos-exclusivas/ |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=Neo2 Magazine |language=es}} He later appeared in the musical Don Pepito.{{Cite web |last=Dios |first=Marisa de |date=2021-06-19 |title=Manu Ríos, el niño de Parchís que ahora triunfa en 'Élite' |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/tele/20210619/manu-rios-elite-entrevista-parchis-11824424 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=El Periódico |language=es}} In 2012, at the age of 13, he became a member of the relaunched children's musical group Parchís, with whom he released an album and toured across Spain.{{Cite web |last=Coruña |first=Luis P. Ferreiro - A. |date=14 March 2012 |title=Manu Ríos: "Hacemos los temas clásicos con un toque más moderno" |url=https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/coruna/2012/03/14/manu-rios-temas-clasicos-toque-25027968.html |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=La Opinión de A Coruña |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Dios |first=Marisa de |date=19 June 2021 |title=Manu Ríos, el niño de Parchís que ahora triunfa en 'Élite' |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/tele/20210619/manu-rios-elite-entrevista-parchis-11824424 |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=elperiodico |language=es}}
As a child, Ríos began uploading covers of popular songs to YouTube, where he developed a growing online following.{{Cite web |title=Manu Rios the Spanish Justin Bieber by neo two |url=https://www.i-magazine.tv/products.php?product=Manu-Rios-the-Spanish-Justin-Bieber-by-neo-two |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=I-MAGAZINE Inc |language=en}} In 2013, he signed a 6-year contract with music producer Richy Peña, and moved with his family to the United States to work with an American team.{{Cite web |last=Real |first=La Tribuna de Ciudad |date=2013-06-19 |title=El sueño americano |url=https://www.latribunadeciudadreal.es/noticia/z785dcca8-9fc8-6422-942ccb05b8ae7ed0/201306/el-sueno-americano |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=La Tribuna de Ciudad Real |language=spanish}} Although the release of his debut extended play (EP) was delayed due to acting commitments, he has stated that it will be released in the future.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-10-03 |title=MMSCENE MAGAZINE: MANU RIOS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW + SHOOT |url=https://www.malemodelscene.net/editorial/manu-rios-exclusive-interview/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Male Model Scene |language=en-US}} He has described his musical style as alternative pop with darker elements.{{Cite web |title=BBG Presents: Manu Rios. Photography by Amber McKee. |url=https://boysbygirls.co.uk/conversations/manu-rios |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Boys By Girls |language=en}} Ríos plays the guitar and piano, and has cited artists such as Lorde and Frank Ocean as influences.{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-10-03 |title=MMSCENE MAGAZINE: MANU RIOS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW + SHOOT |url=https://www.malemodelscene.net/editorial/manu-rios-exclusive-interview/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Male Model Scene |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=ICON |date=2020-04-14 |title=Manu Ríos: "Cualquier foto en la que pueda romper un estereotipo me hace sentir útil" |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/14/icon/1586847231_594852.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}} His 2016 cover of the song "Riptide" has over 28 million streams on Spotify.{{Citation |title=Riptide |date=2016-01-20 |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/2gUyfCgeUafLMFqKFI6cqX |access-date=2025-05-13 |language=en}}
Ríos began his acting career in 2014, playing Mauricio Martínez in the comedy drama television series Chiringuito de Pepe. He gained international recognition in 2021 after joining the cast of the Netflix teen drama Elite as Patrick Blanco, appearing in the fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Molli |date=2021-06-23 |title=All You Need to About 'Elite' Season 4 Star Manu Rios |url=https://www.newsweek.com/elite-season-4-cast-patrick-actor-manu-rios-1603300 |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} In February 2023, he was nominated for Best TV Actor at the 2022 Fotogramas de Plata for his performance in Elite.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Fotogramas de Plata 2022: lista completa de ganadores y toda la información de la gala |url=https://www.fotogramas.es/fotogramas-de-plata/a42614521/fotogramas-de-plata-2022-finalistas/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Fotogramas |language=es-ES}} Shortly after attending the 2022 Met Gala in New York, Ríos began filming the Netflix psychological thriller series Muted.{{Cite web |last=RedacciónRPP |date=2023-03-05 |title='El silencio', la nueva película de Netflix protagonizada por Arón Piper y Manu Ríos {{!}} RPP Noticias |url=https://rpp.pe/tv/netflix/el-silencio-la-nueva-pelicula-de-netflix-protagonizada-por-aron-piper-y-manu-rios-noticia-1469623 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=rpp.pe |language=es}} He also played the lead role of Marcos in La edad de la ira, an adaptation of the novel by Nando López. He portrays an introverted teenager who is accused of murdering his father.{{Cite web |last=Álvarez |first=Inés |date=2022-03-11 |title='La edad de la ira', una historia de adolescentes que tienen que ver los adultos |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/series/20220311/edad-ira-serie-atresplayer-premium-manu-rios-resumen-13289371 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=elperiodico |language=es}} In 2022, Ríos was cast as a balladeer in the short film Strange Way of Life, directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=EXTRAÑA FORMA DE VIDA |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/extrana-forma-de-vida/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Festival de Cannes |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a44013399/pedro-almodovar-manu-rios-extrana-forma-de-vida/|website=Fotogramas|title=De nacer en el mismo pueblo a rodar juntos ‘Extraña forma de vida’: la increíble historia de Pedro Almodóvar y Manu Ríos|first=Juan|last=Silvestre|first2=Manuel|last2=D'Ocon|date=27 May 2023}}
In October 2023, Ríos and stylist Marc Forné founded the unisex fashion brand Carrer, with Ríos serving as its creative director.{{Cite web |last=Campuzano |first=Luis |date=2024-03-08 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Marc Forné and Manu Rios Launch Second Capsule for Carrer |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/manu-rios-marc-forne-carrer-fashion-1236252848/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-20 |title=Manu Ríos nous parle de sa nouvelle marque de mode Carrer |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/article/manu-rios-marc-forne-marque-mode-carrer |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=GQ France |language=fr-FR}}
In 2024, he was cast in the medical drama series Breathless for Netflix.{{cite web |last=Lang |first=Jamie |date=May 9, 2024 |title=‘Elite’ Creator Carlos Montero Shares First Images of New Netflix Medical Drama ‘Breathless’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/breathless-netflix-carlos-montero-first-images-1235996862/ |accessdate=27 August 2024 |website=Variety}}
Personal life
Filmography
= Film =
{{pending films key}}
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! Ref. |
| 2014
| Mauricio Martínez |Recurring cast (season 1); 6 episodes |
| 2021–2022
| Elite | Patrick Blanco Commerford | Main cast (seasons 4–6); 24 episodes |
| 2021
| Elite Short Stories: Patrick | Patrick Blanco Commerford | Lead role; 3 episodes |
| 2022
| Marcos |Lead role; 4 episodes |
| 2023
| Muted | Eneko | Main cast; 6 episodes |
| 2024
| Respira | Biel de Felipe | Main cast; 8 episodes |
= TV appearances =
Theatre
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! Ref. |
| 2010
| Gavroche Thénardier | Musical, Lope de Vega Theatre (Madrid) |
| 2012–2013
| Don Pepito | Don Pepito | Musical, Lope de Vega Theatre (Madrid) | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope="row"| Year
! scope="row"| Award ! scope="row"| Category ! scope="row"| Nominated work ! scope="row"| Result |
|---|
| 2022
| Best TV Actor |{{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1951309|name=Manu Rios}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rios, Manu}}
Category:Male actors from Castilla–La Mancha
Category:Singers from Castilla–La Mancha
Category:Spanish television actors
Category:21st-century Spanish male actors
Category:21st-century Spanish male singers