Cosimo Fusco

From “Paolo” in Friends to the devil in Álex de la Iglesia’s films

You probably recognize Cosimo Fusco, and not just because he was the Italian who stole Rachel Green's heart in the nineties. He has aged like a fine wine, becoming one of those luxury supporting actors who command the screen just by walking into frame. Although many people remember him as Paolo in Friends, the actor from Matera left that “international heartthrob” label behind a long time ago to take on much darker and more complex roles, proving he has range that goes far beyond a charming smile and an appealing accent.

His career is a perfect example of how to move between Hollywood and Europe without losing your identity along the way. He has worked on sets of every kind, from big productions like Angels & Demons directed by Ron Howard to cult series that put him back on the map of the most intense headlines. What's great about Cosimo is that he never settles, and that shows in the intensity he brings to every job, whether he's speaking English, Italian or the Spanish he handles with an ease many would envy.

The phenomenon of 30 Coins and his love affair with Spain

If anyone has known how to make the most of Fusco's magnetism in recent years, it's Álex de la Iglesia. The Bilbao-born director cast him in 30 Coins and gave him the role of Angelo, a character who is pure presence and quickly became the best part of the HBO series. Watching him embody that demonic entity with as much elegance as wickedness was a real gift for those of us who love genre cinema, because Cosimo has a gaze that chills you to the bone without needing to shout or make a fuss.

That connection with Spanish cinema wasn't a one-time fluke, because he worked with De la Iglesia again on Veneciafrenia, where he proved once more that he moves like a fish in water within suffocating, twisted atmospheres. He seems to have found a second professional home in our country, where he's free to explore his darker side, which suits him perfectly and has made Spanish audiences feel he's really one of their own, finally leaving behind that nineties stereotype that followed him around.

The leap to big-budget productions: Shogun and recent projects

But don't think he's stuck here, because his international profile took a major leap with his role in Shogun, the ambitious Disney+ and FX adaptation. In this series, which was a hit with both critics and audiences, he plays Captain Ferreyra, a role that lets him shine in a brutal and sophisticated period setting. It's one of those productions where every detail matters, and Cosimo's presence brings the historical weight and seasoned gravitas the story needed to feel believable.

In addition to exploring feudal Japan, he has dived into projects such as Stags, a series for Paramount+ filmed in locations in Tenerife that blends thriller with the rawest prison drama. Here he brings to life Nero, a character who promises to make waves and confirms that Cosimo is in a sweet spot, choosing stories that break from convention. He keeps racking up miles and powerful projects, proving that at his age he is in better shape than ever and still has plenty of material to work with in international fiction.