Spanish actress Rocío Marín was cornered during a festival in Madrid by television fans who demanded she supply them with the prescription medication alprazolam.
Marín, who plays pharmacist Greta Garmendia in the popular comedy series La que se avecina, recounted the incident during an appearance on the Cadena SER radio program La Concursación. While participating in studio games hosted by Miguel Anómalo and Virginia Riezu, she said the encounter left her completely astonished while walking through the capital with a friend.
The event occurred during a crowded day at the La Paloma festival in Madrid. Marín admitted she is still not fully accustomed to viewers recognizing her in public following her arrival on the long-running show. As she walked through the festivities, several fans initially approached her to ask for photographs.
Surreal encounter at La Paloma festival
The situation escalated when a young man recognized the actress and began shouting to the crowd that the pharmacist had arrived, referencing her television role. The fan briefly walked away before returning with a group of people who formed a circle around Marín and her companion.
Although Marín initially believed the crowd was gathering for a collective photograph, their request proved entirely unexpected. The group asked her to please give them alprazolam, a prescription drug commonly used to treat anxiety disorders.
The fans assumed that because Marín plays a pharmacist on screen, she could also act as one in her private life. Members of the group told her they understood she might not be carrying the medication at that moment, but remarked that as a pharmacist, more doors would be open to her. Marín described the incident as very shocking, drawing laughter from the hosts in the radio studio.
History of La que se avecina
Marín joined the cast of La que se avecina in its 14th season, portraying Greta Garmendia in the new storyline set at Contubernio 49. Her character operates a neighborhood pharmacy, leading followers of the show to blur the line between fiction and reality during the festival.
The comedy series reached its 18th anniversary on April 22, marking its formal milestone since debuting on Spanish network Telecinco on that date in 2007. Created by brothers Alberto and Laura Caballero following their major hit Aquí no hay quien viva, the project carried over much of its original cast from the fictional setting of Desengaño 21.
The pilot episode, titled Mirador de Montepinar after the housing estate where the characters resided, premiered in prime time with an impressive 28.8 percent audience share. It maintained ratings leadership across most evenings during its first season. Although parent company Mediaset weighed canceling the series at various points, the show remained on air and built a devoted fanbase.
Streaming transition and syndication
In 2020, Amazon Prime Video took over production and distribution of the series. Episodes are also available to stream on Disney+ and broadcast on Spanish digital station FDF, where afternoon schedules from Monday to Sunday are dedicated almost exclusively to La que se avecina.
