Eduard Fernández took home his fourth Goya Award for Best Actor at the 2025 ceremony, held this year in Granada, for his powerful performance as Enric Marco, the man who falsely claimed to be a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, in the film Marco, directed by Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi.
Receiving the award from his daughter, actress Greta Fernández, was especially poignant. The actor used the moment to issue a stark warning against the resurgence of fascism, stating, "Be careful, they come on horseback. Difficult times are coming," highlighting the relevance of historical atrocities to today's society.
Fernández's role as Marco has been described as one of the most complex of his career. He competed against notable nominees, including Alberto San Juan for Casa en llamas, Alfredo Castro for Polvo serán, Urko Olazábal for Soy Nevenka, and Vito Sanz for Volveréis. This year marks the culmination of more than two decades of accolades; he originally won his first Goya for Best Actor in 2001 for Fausto 5.0.
During his acceptance speech, Fernández expressed heartfelt thanks to his colleagues and the film's team. "I want to share this with my fellow nominees. Thank you to everyone on the team, especially Nathalie Poza, who took on such a small role just to be beside me on this adventure. I’m also dedicacing this award to Fermí Reixach, who sadly passed away last June," he said.
The film Marco tells the real-life story of Enric Marco, the Spanish impostor who deceived many by claiming he had survived the Holocaust. Fernández emphasizes the importance of remembering the truth about historical events, underlining, "We should never forget: the danger of fascism. The concentration camps... Let’s remain vigilant as ambiguous gestures can lead to dark places as we have seen throughout history."
He fondly remembered his late parents during his speech, jokingly saying they were watching from the "red velvet seats" of the ceremony. He dedicated his award to his daughter Greta, stating his pride and love, adding, "And also to my partner, Ainhoa, for always being by my side, and to the daughters of Enric Marco, this Goya is for you." He concluded with humor, quoting, "Let's be happy as long as we can," reflecting the emotional resonance of the night.
The night was filled with tributes and ceremonies, with Pedro Almodóvar among the nominees, along with other key figures of Spanish cinema who graced the red carpet at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Granada. Almodóvar's film La habitación de al lado received accolades including nominations for its lead actors, Carolina Yuste and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, with the latter receiving the honorary Goya.
Fernández's win encapsulates not only personal success but also the collective memory of Spanish history and the importance of honoring it through art. The Goya Awards continue to serve as both recognition of cinematic achievement and as a platform for highlighting pressing social issues.