Omar Ayuso (born 26 March 1998) is a Spanish actor. He is known for his role as Omar Shanaa in the television series Elite (2018–2024).
Omar Ayuso | |
|---|---|
 Ayuso in April 2023 | |
| Born | 26 March 1998 Madrid, Spain |
| Education | Charles III University of Madrid |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2018–present |
Early life and education
editAyuso was born in Madrid on 26 March 1998 and raised in Manzanares el Real.[1][2][3] His father is from Morocco.[4] After watching Bad Education (2004) as a child, he became interested in becoming an actor or filmmaker. Ayuso studies audiovisual communication at the Charles III University of Madrid.[1]
Career
editIn 2018, Ayuso was cast in the Spanish Netflix television series Elite as Omar Shanaa, a closeted gay Muslim who develops a relationship with Ander Muñoz who is played by Arón Piper.[1] In preparation for the role, Ayuso worked for two months with director Ramón Salazar to absorb his character's role.[5]
In 2019, Ayuso starred in three short films including Maras' de Salvador Calvo and Ráfagas de vida salvaje by Jorge Cantos and Disseminare by Jools Beardon.[6]
In January 2020, Ayuso was featured in the music video of "Juro Que" by Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía.[7][8]
Ayuso plays the character, David, in the upcoming film, 8 Años, a gay drama where he reflects on an eight-year relationship.[9]
Public image
editAyuso and Piper's onscreen relationship, coined "Omander", and offscreen friendship has generated a global following.[1][10] As of June 2020[update], he had over four million followers on social media.[5] The role has boosted LGBT visibility although Ayuso resists the notion that he serves as a role model.[10][2] As a gay man, Ayuso has been the subject of homophobic commentary. He believes the widespread support for his onscreen relationship with Piper is due to it being easier for homophobic people to accept gay people in fiction rather than in real life.[5]
Ayuso has had a transgressive image which includes provocative fashion choices in public appearances and social media posts.[11][9]
Personal life
editAyuso has a tattoo of a flame and an eye on his hand inspired by Spanish artist Ricardo Cavolo.[1] He is gay[5] and has stated that he is proud of his generation's social progress on topics including feminism, LGBT rights and efforts against racism.[12][5]
Ayuso cites Spanish-Mexican singer Alaska as one of his idols.[10]
As of March 2020,[update] Ayuso is in a relationship with artist Alonso Díaz.[3][13]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | 8 Años | David | J.D. Alcázar | [6] |
Short films
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Maras | Salvador Calvo | [6] |
| Ráfagas de vida salvaje | Jorge Cantos | ||
| Disseminare | Jools Beardon |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | El Continental | — | Episode: "Réquiem... mami"[6] |
| 2018–2024 | Élite | Omar Shanaa | Main cast (seasons 1–5, 7–8); 55 episodes |
| 2021 | Élite historias breves: Nadia Guzman | Main cast; 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Élite historias breves: Omar Ander Alexis | Main cast; 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Élite historias breves: Samuel Omar | Main cast; 3 episodes |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Juro Que" (Rosalía) | [8] | |
| 2021 | "Famoso en tres calles" (Carolina Durante) |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Pastor, Custodio (17 September 2019). "Meet the most sought-after young men in Madrid". El País. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b "'Omander', la pareja gay más explosiva de 'Élite' habla para 'La Vanguardia' de la tercera temporada". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 March 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b Salazar, Marco (27 March 2020). "Omar Ayuso tuvo un atípico romántico cumpleaños gracias a su novio". E! Online (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Victorian, Brande (29 October 2023). "Omar Ayuso Talks Return to 'Elite' and the Moral Responsibility He Feels Playing a Gay Muslim Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Alarcón, Anna (24 January 2020). "OMAR AYUSO: "Para un homófobo es mucho más incómodo un gay real que un gay de la ficción"". Vanidad (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Brown, Mireya (24 January 2020). "Quién es Omar Ayuso, el último fichaje de Rosalía". Nius Diario (in European Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Moreno Abellan, Adriano; Leganés Nieto, Alejando (27 February 2020). "Lo que sintió Omar Ayuso (Élite) al trabajar con Rosalía" (in Spanish). Los 40. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b "¿Qué hacen la cantante Rosalía y Omar Ayuso de 'Élite' juntos?". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 22 January 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b Street, Mikelle (3 April 2020). "'Elite's Omar Ayuso Just Posted His Whole Bush on Instagram". Out. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Urzaiz, Begoña Gómez (27 March 2020). "Omar Ayuso: "¿Que pida algo? ¡Llámame, Pedro!"". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Primo, Carlos (3 September 2019). "Omar Ayuso da una clase magistral de transgresión en la alfombra roja de 'Élite'". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Sanguino, Juan (10 January 2019). "Qué hacer cuando la fama te estalla de un día para otro: lo cuentan los siete protagonistas masculinos de 'Élite'". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Henderson, Taylor (28 May 2020). "'Elite' Star Omar Ayuso Went Instagram Official With His Boyfriend". Out. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
External links
edit- Omar Ayuso at IMDb
