Alba Flores

Alba Flores is a Spanish actress who reached global recognition as Nairobi in the Netflix phenomenon “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”). Born Alba González Villa on 27 October 1986 in Madrid, she belongs to one of Spain’s most celebrated artistic dynasties: she is the granddaughter of the legendary singer and dancer Lola Flores, the daughter of the musician Antonio Flores, and a niece of the singers Lolita and Rosario Flores.

Her father died when she was nine, and she grew up surrounded by the family’s deep roots in Spanish music and performance. She began studying dramatic interpretation at the age of thirteen and later trained at the respected Corazza Acting Studio in Madrid, alongside studies in piano.

Flores built her reputation on Spanish television and stage before her breakout as the tough, warm-hearted inmate Saray Vargas in the prison drama “Vis a vis” (“Locked Up,” 2015–2019). International fame followed with “Money Heist” (2017–2021), in which her portrayal of the gang’s fierce, charismatic forger Nairobi became one of the series’ most beloved characters.

Her other credits include the popular time-travel series “El Ministerio del Tiempo” and a range of Spanish film and television roles that draw on both dramatic and comic registers. Away from the screen she is known as an outspoken advocate for animal rights and social causes, and she has spoken about her Romani heritage and its place in Spanish culture.

Her work has been widely honoured, with an Ondas Award in 2015, an Iris Award for best actress in 2019 and a Platino Award for best supporting television actress in 2020. Carrying forward a famous family name while establishing her own distinct identity, Flores has become one of the most recognisable Spanish actresses of her generation, equally at home in gritty drama and lighter fare.

The global success of “Money Heist” turned Flores into a familiar face far beyond the Spanish-speaking world, and Nairobi’s emotional arc across the series made the character a fan favourite. She has continued to choose projects that reflect her interest in socially engaged storytelling, balancing high-profile television with theatre and independent film.