Itziar Ituno

Itziar Ituño Martínez was born on June 18, 1974, in Basauri, Spain. She pursued her education in acting at the Basauri Theater School and concurrently earned a degree in urban-industrial and political sociology from the University of the Basque Country. Maintaining her Castilian mother tongue, she further expanded her linguistic capabilities by learning Basque at the age of 19, a skill that proved instrumental in her early career, enabling her to participate in Basque public television series. Her professional acting journey commenced with her television debut in the Basque film “Agur Olentzero, agur” (Goodbye Olentzero, Goodbye), released in 1997.

Her career gained significant momentum in 2001 when she joined the cast of the Basque soap opera “Goenkale.” In this series, Ituño portrayed Nekane Beitia, a bisexual policewoman, a role she maintained until the show’s conclusion in 2015. This long-running engagement substantially increased her recognition within the Basque Country. Following her tenure on “Goenkale,” Ituño continued to expand her filmography, appearing in notable films such as “Flowers” (2014), which was Spain’s submission for the Academy Awards, and “Igelak” (2016).

A pivotal moment in Ituño’s career arrived in 2017 when she took on the role of Raquel Murillo, a police negotiator, in the television series “Money Heist.” Initially broadcast on Antena 3, the series gained international popularity after being acquired by Netflix. She reprised her role as Raquel Murillo Fuentes in the 2023 spin-off series “Berlin.” In addition to her extensive acting work, Ituño is also a singer and a member of three bands: Dangiliske, EZ3, and INGOT. She actively participates in cultural events, serving as a presenter for significant occasions such as the Basque Film Gala and the EITB Gala at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2017.