Hoy por Hoy — “Amigos Alegres”

Episode Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Àngels Barceló, with Luis Alegre
Guest: Fran Perea
Main Theme: Friendship, family, and the extraordinary journey of Fran Perea — from unique childhood experiences and cinematic baptism to the complexities of fame and public life in Spain.

Episode Overview

This episode brings Fran Perea, the well-known Spanish actor and musician, into an intimate, humorous, and thoughtful conversation about the formative moments of his life and career. Through anecdotes and reflections, Perea discusses his unique family setup, his cinematic “baptism” as a baby in a Sean Connery film, the joys and pitfalls of fame, resilience through controversy, and the central role of family and friendship. The tone is warm, candid, and often self-deprecating, with host Luis Alegre and Àngels Barceló providing a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anecdotes from Los Angeles and Celebrity Interactions

• Recap of a story involving Antonio Banderas:
  • Antonio personally invited María Danez to his Oscar party after cooking her paella with Salma Hayek (00:24).
  • Humorous recollection of getting lost en route to Madonna’s party, missing the event despite eager anticipation (01:19).

2. First Encounters and the Start of Friendship

• How Fran and Luis met:
  • They met through mutual friend and actress Verónica Sánchez during the era of “Los Serrano” (03:39).
  • “Empecé a darme cuenta quién era ese personaje, del poder que tenía de convocatoria y otros poderes.” — Fran Perea on Luis Alegre (04:11).

3. Fran Perea’s ‘Cinematic Baptism’ as a Baby

• Unique on-screen baptism:
  • Although not baptized in real life, as a 6-month-old baby, Fran appeared (sleeping) in the film “Cuba” being baptized on camera for a scene shot by helicopter — a story involving his father acting as an extra (05:09–06:32).
  • “Mi único bautismo es en el cine.” — Fran Perea (06:48).

4. Schooling, Faith, and Outsider Experience

• Family was atheist, but Fran attended a religious school for practical reasons:
  • “Éramos como raros, los raros del cole.” — Fran Perea (07:03).
  • Humorous envy of classmates making Communion; once lied to participate just to see what it was like (09:22).
  • “Mentí al cura, pero ese año es que me confesé todo, hice todo, lo probé todo y digo: ¿Por qué no voy a hacer yo por saber que se siente?” — Fran Perea (09:44).

5. Extraordinary Family Structure

• Two sisters married two brothers:
  • “Tuvimos dos padres y dos madres,” with Fran and his sister raised by both couples almost interchangeably (10:21–11:31).
  • “Siempre había alguien que se ponía de tu parte, por mucha trastada que hicieras.” — Fran Perea (11:31).
  • Family togetherness after an earthquake led to all living under one roof for a period.

6. Reflections on Parents and Loss

• Father’s passing and last conversations:
  • Moving account of how his father (initially hesitant about showbiz) became his biggest fan (12:14).
  • Difficult experience when his ill father couldn’t attend a premiere, leading to an emotional final video call.
    • “De ahí la importancia de las cosas, de las pequeñas cosas. Tu hijo estrena, quieres estar ahí. Y él no estar.” — Fran Perea (13:22).

7. Navigating Fame and Social Media

• Danger of rumors and false information:
  • Incident where a fake tweet claimed Fran had died in a car accident, causing panic among friends and family (14:29–15:33).
  • “Es curioso, ¿no? Vivir este tipo de mierdas.” — Fran Perea (15:33).

8. Political Backlash and Cost of Public Support

• Backlash over supporting Zapatero in 2008:
  • Led to professional and even personal consequences for him and his family, with lost work opportunities and defamatory press coverage (15:44–17:02).
  • “Pensaba entonces que vivíamos en un país donde tú podías dar tu opinión sin que eso significase que alguien te pusiera la cruz... Pero no fue así.” — Fran Perea (16:12).
  • “Eso le costó el trabajo a mis padres. De hecho nos echaron.” — Fran Perea (17:02).

9. Family and Music as Anchors

• Importance of family traditions:
  • Every New Year’s, the family plays “Get Back” (by The Beatles) as a reminder of their roots (17:18).
  • “Para no olvidarnos de dónde venimos.” — Fran Perea (17:18).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of family:

  • “Siempre había alguien que se ponía de tu parte, por mucho que hicieras.” — Fran Perea (11:31)

• On faith, truth, and adolescent rebellion:

  • “Mentí al cura... lo probé todo y ya no volví nunca más porque dije, para ese viaje no hacían tanta alforja.” — Fran Perea (09:44)

• On fame and false rumors:

  • “Es curioso, ¿no? Vivir este tipo de mierdas.” — Fran Perea (15:33)

• On the emotional bond with his father:

  • “Lo recuerdo con cierta alegría, porque de ahí la importancia de las cosas, de las pequeñas cosas.” — Fran Perea (13:22)

Key Timestamps

• 00:24 — Humorous Oscar party anecdote with Antonio Banderas.
• 05:09–06:48 — Fran’s story of being “baptized” as a baby in a Sean Connery film.
• 07:03–09:44 — Experiences as a non-religious child in a Catholic school, including first (and only) Communion.
• 10:21–11:31 — Description of his dual-family upbringing.
• 12:14–13:22 — Emotional account of final conversations with his father.
• 14:29–15:33 — The Twitter death hoax and its personal impact.
• 15:44–17:02 — Political fallout and the cost to his family after supporting Zapatero.
• 17:18 — Family tradition of playing “Get Back” each New Year’s.

Overall Tone & Final Thoughts

Warm, open, and often witty, with heartfelt reflections on family, belonging, and the constant surprises of public life. The episode is marked by honesty, a sense of humor about adversity, and a profound appreciation for kinship and personal roots.

Perfect For:
Those curious about the human side of fame, Spanish cultural nuances, or insightful life stories packed with vulnerability and a smile.