Spanish fiction adds an unprecedented achievement: Oriol Pla has become the first Spanish actor to receive an International Emmy, a recognition that consecrates him among the world’s acting elite. The award came this Monday night at the gala held in New York, where the interpreter competed with Diljit Dosanjh(Amar Singh Chamkila, Netflix), David Mitchell(Ludwig) and Diego Vásquez(Cien años de soledad, Netflix).
Pla has been awarded for his powerful performance in Yo, adicto, the autobiographical series in which he plays the role of filmmaker Javier Giner, author of the book on which the fiction is based. The production, an emotional and tough journey about addiction, has connected with international critics for its rawness, sincerity and interpretative strength.
Where to watch I, Addict?
For those who want to discover or revisit the story that brought Pla an Emmy, I, Addicted can be seen in its entirety on Disney+where all six episodes are available.
The series reconstructs the detoxification process of Giner himself, who decided to turn his fall into the world of nightlife and drugs, and his subsequent recovery, into an intimate and brutal narrative exercise. Pla’s interpretation, according to critics, captures every nuance of that personal descent and resurrection.
A triumph that coincides with another Emmy for Spain:
#SeAcabó: The Champions’ Diary
Spain not only celebrated Oriol Pla’s milestone. The gala brought a second award for the country: the International Emmy for best sports documentary for #SeAcabó: Diario de las campeonas, available on Netflix.
The play explores the global impact of Luis Rubiales ‘ non-consensual kiss with Jennifer Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup victory, an episode that triggered an institutional earthquake and opened an international debate on consent and power.
Other Spanish nominations that fell just short of the mark
The edition also included other Spanish productions among the candidates. The series Valle Salvaje, available on RTVE Play and Regreso a Las Sabinas, a Disney+ production, competed in the telenovela category. Finally, none of them won the award, which ended up in the hands of the Turkish Deha.
Despite this, the Spanish presence in several categories reinforces the international perception of an increasingly competitive audiovisual industry with global projection.
Why I, Addict has become a must-see series
In addition to its international recognition, Yo, adicto continues to generate conversation for several reasons that have consolidated its impact on viewers and critics. The series stems from Javier Giner‘s autobiographical book, a story in which the filmmaker unfilteredly exposes his comings and goings with addiction, and whose brutal honesty is transferred to the screen while keeping its emotional charge intact.
In addition, Oriol Pla‘s performance is considered one of the great successes of the production. The actor had already received applause in Spain (including awards from the Actors Union and the Feroz), but the International Emmy confirms the strength of a work that has been described as one of the most impressive in recent years.
Another element that has contributed to its success is its brief but intense format. With only six episodes, the series offers an agile viewing that does not sacrifice depth or narrative power; on the contrary, it concentrates the story in an emotional journey that is as devastating as it is accessible.
Finally, Yo, adicto addresses an increasingly present social issue: addictions, stigma and recovery processes. It does so from a human perspective, direct and without glorification, which has allowed the work to connect with a wide audience and become a reference in the audiovisual treatment of this type of stories.
A historic moment for Spanish fiction
As Pla celebrated the award while hugging Giner at the ceremony, the recognition of Yo, adicto and Se acabó revalidates Spain’s growing weight at the International Emmys. Although in this edition other productions failed to win the statuette, the global visibility of the nominations marks a new point of maturity for the industry.
