Spanish actress Ester Expósito stars in the new romantic drama film Atraídos pelo Destino, which premiered on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The 26-year-old star reflected on her career in an interview with CNN Brasil, stating that she now feels greater depth and creative freedom on set eight years after catapulting to global stardom. Expósito achieved international recognition in 2018 when she appeared in the hit Netflix teen drama series Elite.
Filming for Elite took place when Expósito was 17 years old, a role that required her to feature in numerous sex and nudity scenes. In a recent interview with GQ Spain, the actress revealed that she subsequently chose to establish strict boundaries regarding her body and image in her screen work.
Expósito, born in Madrid, Spain, became one of the country's most recognizable young performers following her breakout role in Elite, a high school thriller series produced for Netflix. Netflix operates as one of the major global subscription video-on-demand services, reaching audiences across more than 190 countries.
New York kidnapping storyline
In Atraídos pelo Destino, Expósito portrays Marfil, the daughter of a powerful businessman. The plot follows Marfil after she is kidnapped in New York City and mysteriously released, prompting her wealthy father to hire an enigmatic bodyguard named Sebastian to ensure her protection.
The production sets its story against the backdrop of New York City, the most populous city in the United States and a major center for international media and entertainment. The setting amplifies the tension as the main characters navigate the aftermath of the mysterious abduction.
Actor Hugo Diego Garcia plays Sebastian, the private bodyguard tasked with guarding Marfil. One of the primary bonding moments between the lead characters occurs during combat training, when Sebastian teaches Marfil how to defend herself.
Parallel fight training on set
Speaking to CNN Brasil, Expósito said that she had never engaged in fight training before taking on the role. Because Garcia already possessed fight experience, he taught her combat moves in real life while his character instructed hers within the storyline.
The actress explained that learning martial arts for the first time in real life mirrored Marfil's journey in the film. She told the network that this real-world parallel allowed the pair to get to know one another and helped establish genuine chemistry between the co-stars during filming.
Expósito told CNN Brasil that Atraídos pelo Destino is a romance reminiscent of The Bodyguard and cinematic classics of the 1990s. The 1992 film drama The Bodyguard, which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, popularized the story arc of a high-profile woman developing a romantic relationship with her personal security agent.
Reflecting on how her approach to acting has evolved over the past five years, Expósito said she now feels more present on set, allowing herself to play and test new ideas during production. Her new film, Atraídos pelo Destino, is now streaming on Prime Video.
