Itziar Ituño Martínez professionally known as Itziar Ituno is a Spanish actor and a theatre artist. She is best known for her role as Inspector Raquel Murillo in the Spanish television series Money Heist (La casa de papel).

Birth & Early Life

Itziar Ituño was born on 18 June 1974 in Basauri, Spain. She studied acting at the Basauri Theater School and graduated in urban-industrial and political sociology from the University of the Basque Country.

Bio

Real Name	Itziar Ituño Martínez
Nickname	Itziar
Profession	Actress and Theatre Artist
Date of Birth	18 June 1974
Age (as in 2021)	47 Years
Birth Place	Basauri, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Home Town	Basauri, Spain
Family	Mother : Not Available Father : Not Available Sister : Not Available Brother : Not Available Husband : Not Available
Religion	Christian
Address	Madrid, Spain

Career

Itziar made her first appearance in the Basque film Agur Olentzero, Agur (Goodbye Olentzero, Goodbye) in 1997.She later starred in soap opera Goenkale and played Nekane Beitia, a lesbian policewoman from the fictional village of Arralde. Itziar was also part of many like films Loreak and Igelak, Hil Kanpaiak, Ilargi guztiak and Morir etc. In 2017, she starred in the television series La casa de papel (Money Heist) as Inpector Raquel Murillo.

She has also worked as a singer in three bands: Dangiliske, EZ3, and INGO. It was announced in May 2020 that she will make her English language debut in the British animated short film Salvation Has No Name.

Education Details and More

School	Not Known
College	University of the Basque Country
Educational Qualification	Graduate
Debut	Television : Goenkale (1999) Film : Agur Olentzero, Agur (1997; TV Movie) El final de la noche (2003)
Awards	Not Available

Physical Stats and More

Height	5′ 5″ Feet
Weight	65 Kg
Figure Measurement	36-29-36
Eye Colour	Brown
Hair Colour	Light Brown
Hobbies	Travelling and Dancing

Personal Life

Itziar Ituño is single and not dating anyone currently but there were rumors that she was married to Juan Fernandez, who plays the role of Colonel Prieto in the series but they have now parted ways.

Marital Status and More

Social Media Presence

Facebook	Not Available
Twitter	Not Available
Instagram	Itziar Ituño
Wikipedia	Itziar Ituño

Some Facts About Itziar Ituño

• Itziar Ituño was born and brought up in Basauri, Spain.
• She has worked in more than 1,500 episodes of a Basque soap-opera Goenkale as Nekane Beitia.
• Her first acting project was a short film Sex machine in 1995.
• On 26 September 2017, she was a presenter of the Basque Film Gala and the EITB Gala for the 65th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
• Her stage works include Lapurzuola/Cueva de ladrones (2007),Grönholm Metodoa (2008),AURIAURI (2010),Ilunpetan/ElApagón (2010).AmantalareAhotsa (2011).Desoxirribonucleico (2017).Funak (2017).YosoyPichichi (2018)Herioa eta Dontzeila (2012) etc.

---

Itziar Ituño: Beyond the Uniform—Facts, Biography, Career, and Net Worth of the ‘Money Heist’ Star

Itziar Ituño Martínez is an acclaimed Spanish actress and singer whose career spans over two decades of dedicated work in the Basque and Spanish film and television industry. While a celebrated figure in her native Basque Country for years, it was her role as the formidable Inspector Raquel Murillo—who later transforms into the defiant and passionate ‘Lisbon’—in the global phenomenon Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) that catapulted her to international stardom.

Known for her striking intensity on-screen and her deep commitment to cultural and social issues off-screen, Ituño represents a unique blend of global celebrity and grounded regional identity.

---

Itziar Ituño at a Glance: Quick Facts

Category	Detail
Full Name	Itziar Ituño Martínez
Date of Birth	June 18, 1974
Age (as of 2025)	51 Years Old
Birthplace	Basauri, Biscay, Spain
Nationality	Spanish (Basque)
Height	1.64 m (5 feet 4 inches)
Weight	Approx. 57 kg (126 lbs)
Profession	Actress, Singer, Theatre Artist
Known For	Inspector Raquel Murillo / ‘Lisbon’ in Money Heist
Estimated Net Worth	$1 Million – $1.5 Million (Approx.)
Education	Basauri Theater School; University of the Basque Country (Sociology)
Marital Status	Private (Reports vary between single and married)

---

The Road to Fame: Early Life and Basque Roots

Itziar Ituño was born on June 18, 1974, in Basauri, a municipality in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, Spain. She grew up deeply connected to her Basque heritage, which has remained a central element of her personal and professional identity throughout her life.

Her early passion for the performing arts led her to pursue formal training at a young age.

• Formal Education: Ituño studied acting at the Basauri Theater School, laying the groundwork for her career on stage and screen.
• Academic Background: Demonstrating a profound interest in society beyond the arts, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in urban-industrial and political sociology from the University of the Basque Country. This academic background is often cited as influencing her later work as a social and cultural activist.
• Early Career Start: Her professional journey began in 1997 with her first screen appearance in the Basque-language film Agur Olentzero, agur (Goodbye Olentzero, Goodbye).

Career Breakthrough: From Goenkale to Lisbon

Before achieving worldwide fame, Ituño was already a household name in the Basque Country, thanks to a remarkable 14-year run on a regional television mainstay.

The Long-Running Role in Goenkale

From 2001 until its final episode in 2015, Ituño starred in the Basque-language soap opera Goenkale. Her performance as Nekane Beitia, a courageous and pioneering bisexual policewoman, earned her significant visibility and recognition in the region. The longevity of the show and the cultural impact of her character established her as one of the most respected actresses in the Basque Country’s entertainment scene.

International Stardom: Money Heist

In 2017, Ituño’s career reached an unprecedented level of international recognition when she was cast in the role of Inspector Raquel Murillo in the Spanish crime drama La Casa de Papel (later known globally as Money Heist).

• The Character’s Arc: Raquel Murillo begins as the lead police negotiator tasked with capturing the heist crew. Over the course of the series, her professional rivalry with ‘The Professor’ (Álvaro Morte) turns into a romantic relationship, leading her to abandon her former life and join the robbers as ‘Lisbon,’ transforming from a law enforcer to an integral part of the resistance.
• Critical Acclaim: Her portrayal of a strong, complex woman in a male-dominated environment—a character she described as “a strong and powerful woman in a world of men, but also sensitive in her private life”—won her widespread acclaim.
• Global Phenomenon: When Netflix acquired the series, it became the most-watched non-English-language series on the platform, turning Ituño into a global icon.

Significant Film and Television Work

In addition to her iconic role, Ituño has maintained a diverse acting portfolio:

• Film: She starred in the 2015 film Loreak (Flowers), which was Spain’s submission for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Other films include Igelak (2016) and Hil Kanpaiak (2020).
• Post-Heist Success: Following the success of Money Heist, she continued her collaboration with Netflix, starring in the 2022 Spanish drama series Intimacy.
• Spin-off Reprisal: She reprised her role as Raquel Murillo/Lisbon for the 2023 spin-off series, Berlin, further cementing her character’s place in the fictional universe.
• Awards Recognition: Her compelling work has been recognized with awards, including a Besarkada Award (2020) and a Serantes Award (2021) for her performance in Money Heist. In 2023, she won a Fotogramas de Plata for Best TV Actress. She was also part of the cast that won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in 2018.

A Life Beyond Acting: Music, Theatre, and Activism

Itziar Ituño is a multifaceted artist whose professional endeavors extend far beyond the acting world.

The Singer and Musician

Ituño is an accomplished singer with a mezzo-soprano voice and is actively involved in the music scene. She is a member of multiple musical projects, which showcase her deep connection to Basque music and culture:

• Bands: She is a vocalist for the bands Dangiliske, EZ3, and INGOT.
• Discography: Her music discography includes collaborative works with her bands and other artists, with notable songs like Sorgina Kaskarina (2019) and Zeugaz (2018) with the band INGOT.

Cultural and Social Activism

A vocal proponent of the Basque language and cultural identity, Ituño uses her international platform to promote her roots. She has stated she is “leveraging the impact she gained from the series to promote and spread Basque culture and language”.

• Basque Culture Ambassador: In 2023, she was named the 125th-anniversary ambassador for the Athletic Club, a prominent football team deeply rooted in Basque identity.
• Social Causes: Ituño is not afraid to speak out on social and political issues. She has supported various movements, including one advocating for the human rights of all Basque prisoners, fugitives, and deportees, which sparked controversy in the Spanish media. She has also shown support for international causes, such as the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement for the women of Rojhilat and Iran.

Personal Life and Relationships

Itziar Ituño is known for maintaining a private personal life, especially regarding her relationships, which has led to conflicting reports in the media.

• Relationship Status: Her official relationship status is often reported as single, though there have been frequent, yet unconfirmed, reports that she was married to actor Juan Fernandez, who played Colonel Prieto in Money Heist. Other sources mention a separation or a more recent relationship with Peruvian singer Roberto Awanari.
• Privacy: Due to the private nature of her life, Itziar Ituño has neither confirmed nor publicly denied many of these claims, preferring to keep her focus on her work. There is no widely available public information confirming that she has any children.

Net Worth and Earnings

Following the massive global success of Money Heist, Itziar Ituño’s financial standing has significantly increased.

• Net Worth Estimate: Her estimated net worth is generally reported to be between $1 million and $1.5 million.
• Sources of Income: Her income is primarily derived from her acting roles in highly successful television series and films, as well as her work as a singer and stage actress.

Itziar Ituño’s career is a testament to the fact that global success can be built on a foundation of strong cultural identity and local dedication. She has successfully balanced an international blockbuster career with a deep and meaningful commitment to her own heritage and social change.

---

AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: Who is Itziar Ituño best known for playing?

A: Itziar Ituño is best known for her globally acclaimed role as Inspector Raquel Murillo, who later becomes the heist member Lisbon, in the Netflix hit series Money Heist (La Casa de Papel).

Q2: Is Itziar Ituño married, and who is her husband?

A: Itziar Ituño maintains a very private personal life, leading to conflicting reports. While some sources suggest she is single, others have reported a marriage to actor Juan Fernandez, who was also a cast member in Money Heist (playing Colonel Prieto). She has not publicly confirmed her current marital status.

Q3: What is Itziar Ituño’s height and age?

A: Itziar Ituño’s height is approximately 1.64 meters (5 feet 4 inches). Born on June 18, 1974, she will be 51 years old in 2025.

Q4: Does Itziar Ituño speak Basque?

A: Yes, Itziar Ituño is a native Basque speaker who acts in both the Basque and Spanish languages. She is an active promoter of Basque culture and language, leveraging her international fame to support the region.

Q5: What is Itziar Ituño’s net worth?

A: While estimates vary, Itziar Ituño’s estimated net worth is generally reported to be in the range of $1 million to $1.5 million, primarily earned through her acting career in popular international projects like Money Heist.