Actor

Meet Bruno Núñez Arjona: The Young Star of Sirāt — Age, Parents, and Movies

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1 week ago

April 9, 2026

Meet Bruno Núñez Arjona: The Young Star of Sirāt — Age, Parents, and Movies

Bruno Núñez Arjona, aka Bruno Núñez, is a young Spanish actor who captured international attention with his moving performance in the acclaimed drama Sirāt (2025).

He plays Esteban, the young son of a desperate father searching for his missing daughter in the Moroccan desert. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film.

At just 14 years old, Núñez has already worked with veteran actor Sergi López and earned praise for his naturalistic performance. Here is everything you need to know about Bruno Núñez Arjona’s age, parents, nationality, movies, and his breakout role in Sirāt.

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s age and biography

Bruno Núñez Arjona was approximately 12 years old when he auditioned for and filmed Sirāt. As of 2026, he is 14 years old. His exact birth date has not been publicly disclosed. The young actor was born and raised in Spain.

Bruno Núñez Arjona as Esteban in ‘Sirāt’ (Photo: Instagram)

He attended school while balancing his acting career. In interviews, he has mentioned that his classmates and friends have seen the film and reacted with surprise at its intense moments. Despite his young age, he has shown a maturity beyond his years in handling the emotional demands of his role.

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s parents

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s father is Pablo Núñez. He accompanied his son during the filming of Sirāt and has been a supportive presence throughout his acting journey. Bruno’s mother’s name has not been publicly disclosed.

In a 2026 interview with 3Cat, Pablo Núñez revealed that he and his wife were present on set for the more challenging scenes. “We asked everything. They assured us everything and rehearsed it beforehand; we saw the repetitions. And we saw that everything was controlled,” he said.

The family kept the film’s intensity a secret from Bruno’s grandmother. When she finally saw it, she was reportedly upset, not having been warned about the film’s harsh content. However, the family appears to be close-knit and supportive of Bruno’s burgeoning acting career.

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s nationality

Bruno Núñez Arjona is Spanish. Multiple sources confirm his Spanish nationality. He was born and raised in Spain, and his breakthrough film Sirāt is a Spanish-French co-production.

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s movies and career

Bruno Núñez Arjona’s acting career began with small roles before his breakthrough in Sirāt.

Bruno Núñez Arjona as Esteban in the film ‘Sirāt’ (Photo: Instagram)

His filmography includes the following projects:

The Messiah or La Mesías (2023)

Before Sirāt, Núñez appeared in the Spanish television miniseries The Messiah (La Mesías), directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo. The series, which aired on Movistar+, was a critical success and helped Núñez gain initial experience on camera.

Como antes (2025)

In the same year as Sirāt, Núñez also starred in the short film Como antes. Short films have been a common starting point for young actors in Spain, allowing them to develop their craft in a more intimate setting.

Sirāt (2025)

His feature film debut and career-defining role. The film has been screened at major festivals including Cannes, Toronto, and Chicago, bringing Núñez international recognition.

As of 2026, Núñez has not announced any upcoming projects. However, his performance in Sirāt has opened doors, and he has expressed interest in continuing to act. He has noted that casting directors often still see him as “the boy from Sirāt,” even as he grows older.

“I think the main problem is that they’re looking for the boy from Sirāt. And I’m no longer the boy from Sirāt,” the child actor said in a 2026 interview.

Sirāt: His breakthrough role

Sirāt is a 2025 drama road film directed by Óliver Laxe. The film’s title comes from an Arabic word meaning “bridge over Hell” that all spirits must cross on Judgment Day, described as “thinner than a strand of hair and sharper than a sword.” This spiritual metaphor hangs over the entire film.

Plot and synopsis

The film follows Luis (Sergi López), a heavyset, middle-aged father, and his young son Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona), who are traveling through the Moroccan desert with their dog Pipa.

They are searching for Luis’s adult daughter, Mar, who disappeared months ago after becoming entangled in the underground rave scene. Their only clue is that she might be at a desert rave. They arrive at a massive, illegal rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco.

The gathering has the vibe of a pilgrimage, with enormous speakers arranged on a dance floor of sand, and the music is played at ear-splitting volumes. Luis and Esteban wander through the crowd, handing out flyers with Mar’s picture, but most of the dancers are too blissed out to help.

Bruno Núñez Arjona (as Esteban) with his on-screen father Sergi López (as Luis) in Sirāt

Bruno Núñez Arjona (as Esteban) with his on-screen father Luis (played by Sergi López) in Sirāt (Photo: X)

Before they can find any answers, a military caravan arrives. World War III is on the brink of breaking out, and the soldiers have a directive to evacuate all E.U. citizens. Amid the chaos, Luis and Esteban meet a ragtag group of five techno lifers who mention they’re heading to another rave deeper in the Sahara, near the Mauritanian border.

Desperate, Luis and Esteban impulsively follow their convoy in their much smaller truck. What follows is a long, perilous road trip across the harsh desert landscape. The group forms a gradual kinship, sharing food, resources, and their unique, lived-in philosophies.

The audition and casting

Bruno was cast in Sirāt after a rigorous audition process. Director Óliver Laxe tested several children for the role of Esteban. According to lead actor Sergi López, the connection with Bruno was immediate.

“I did tests with different children, but we connected with him right away,” López told the Associated Press. For a 12-year-old, the audition process was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

Bruno has described the experience of working with director Laxe as intense. “Oliver is a person who wants to get the best out of the actors, and sometimes he’s not very expressive. So, maybe until the end of the shoot, I was thinking: ‘Am I doing it right? Am I doing it wrong?’ I think it wasn’t until Cannes that he told me: ‘Thank you for your work,'” he recalled.

Working with Sergi López

Veteran Spanish actor Sergi López, known for his role as Captain Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth, played Bruno’s on-screen father, Luis. The two developed a close working relationship during filming. López praised his young co-star’s natural talent and enthusiasm.

“Bruno and I were walking around the set. I think he had a blast. Especially during the scenes where cars are moving and falling — it was like he was in an amusement park,” López stated.

The action scenes, involving moving vehicles and stunts, were thrilling for the young actor. Despite the intensity of the subject matter, Bruno has said that working with López made the experience enjoyable.

Critical reception of his performance

While much of the critical attention for Sirāt focused on Sergi López’s powerful performance and director Laxe’s visionary style, Bruno’s naturalistic portrayal of Esteban was noted as an essential anchor for the film’s emotional core.

The boy’s wide-eyed innocence contrasts with the harsh, apocalyptic landscape, and his relationship with his father provides the film’s emotional heartbeat. Critics have praised the casting choice, noting that Bruno’s authenticity could not have been achieved with a trained child actor.

The film premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2025, where it won the Jury Prize. It was later nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and for Best Sound. Bruno attended the Cannes premiere with his family, marking his first major red carpet event.

Fun facts about Bruno Núñez Arjona

A challenging audition process

Bruno was one of several children tested for the role of Esteban. His natural connection with lead actor Sergi López ultimately won him the part.

Growing up on set

The filming of Sirāt took place in the Moroccan desert, as well as in Zaragoza and Teruel, Spain. For a 12-year-old, the experience was both thrilling and demanding. Bruno has said that the action scenes, involving moving cars and stunts, felt like being in an amusement park.

His private social media presence

Bruno Núñez Arjona maintains a private Instagram account (@brunonunezarjona), which is not publicly accessible. He keeps his personal life away from the public eye.

Life after Sirāt

Since Sirāt, Bruno has continued to act, though he has not announced major new projects. He is eager to take on more roles, but he has noted the challenge of being typecast. “I think the main problem is that they’re looking for the boy from Sirāt. And I’m no longer the boy from Sirāt,” he said.

Conclusion

Bruno Núñez Arjona is a 14-year-old Spanish actor best known for playing Esteban in the Oscar-nominated film Sirāt. His father is Pablo Núñez. He has also appeared in La Mesías (The Messiah in English) and the short film Como antes.