Jesús Mosquera Bernal[1][2] (Spanish pronunciation:[xeˈsusmosˈkeɾaβeɾˈnal]; born 23 February 1993) is a Spanish ex-footballer turned actor,[3] best known for his portrayal of Hugo Beltrán in Toy Boy.
Career as footballer
Born in the southern coastal town of
Fuengirola in the
province of Málaga,[4] Mosquera played as a
central defender and began his career at
Málaga CF, at the age of 12.[5] He was in the youth academy of the
Andalusian club, making a switch to the other side of Spain to join
Athletic Bilbao at the age of 16.[6][7] At the age of 18, Mosquera returned to Málaga, enrolling in the
reserve team of Málaga CF. He also went through
Betis B and
Antequera, his last clubs before quitting football and turning to acting.[8]
Career as actor
After being discovered at a gym in
Málaga, Mosquera auditioned for a small role in his breakout show. The producers saw in him a raw potential for stardom, which led him to being cast as the lead in Toy Boy instead of the
bit part.[9][4]