Spanish actor Mario Casas has been compared to Marlon Brando and Paul Newman in a profile by journalist Javier Menéndez Flores for La Razón. Writing in the publication's Summer Nudes series on August 8, 2026, Menéndez Flores stated that Casas is the most believable Spanish actor to portray Brando's character from A Streetcar Named Desire. He noted that no other Spanish actor wears a t-shirt with such ownership or looks at the camera with eyes resembling a child from an orphanage.
According to Menéndez Flores, behind the actor's gladiator musculature and a jaw that throbs as if about to break something is a young man who asks for a long embrace whenever he enters the frame. The journalist wrote that his article intended to challenge malicious stereotypes surrounding the performer.
Menéndez Flores stated that Casas possesses the talent to play any character, whether a hero or a villain, as proven by his extensive filmography. He wrote that Casas is not a handsome boy interested only in looking good in photographs, but an actor who seeks roles that demonstrate a pure love for cinema.
The profile noted that Casas aims to elevate every character he plays, whether a stone-faced man or a helpless, timid youth. Menéndez Flores compared him to Paul Newman, writing that Newman disregarded his own good looks to play defeated characters and losers in order to extract acting truth.
Criticism of diction and acting style
Menéndez Flores addressed critics who complain about Casas's diction and claim that he cannot be understood. The journalist disagreed with those claims, writing that detractors were enemies of other people's success.
According to the article, Casas expresses emotional states such as rage, anxiety, fear, grief, and joy through facial gestures that rank above spoken words. Menéndez Flores added that words leave the actor's mouth without difficulty.
The journalist described Casas's performance style as an open book and a wide window, free from baroque flourishes or indirect speech. He wrote that Casas goes straight to the target like a bullet, creating characters that burn with heat and convey cold to the audience.
Directorial debut and career outlook
Menéndez Flores highlighted Casas's directorial debut with the feature film Mi soledad tiene alas, a story focused on existential vertigo and raw emotions. He wrote that the movie forced critics who previously viewed Casas as an empty shell without juice to retract their opinions.
The journalist awarded Casas a high grade for his debut and praised his decision to give the full acting weight of the film to his brother Óscar Casas. Menéndez Flores called that choice an act of generosity and love that proved the actor's good character.
The profile compared Casas's transition behind the camera to Hollywood actors Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Kevin Costner, and Mel Gibson, noting that they also shed their handsome-guy labels through their initial directorial efforts.
At 40 years old, Casas stands on the crucial border between youth and maturity, Menéndez Flores wrote. He referenced singer Joan Manuel Serrat, who sang about performing in order to be loved, stating that Casas shares that same desire for affection.
Menéndez Flores concluded by urging readers to embrace, kiss, and shake hands firmly with the actor, stating that such support costs nothing and gives Casas life.
