Tamar Novas

Overview

Tamar Novas has moved between Galician productions, Spanish television and internationally distributed films throughout a career that began with Butterfly’s Tongue in 1999. Born in Santiago de Compostela in 1986, the actor earned an early breakthrough playing Javi in The Sea Inside. That performance won him the 2005 Goya for best new actor.

Another significant film credit came in Pedro Almodóvar’s Broken Embraces, in which he played Diego. His later film work includes Elisa & Marcela, the Christmas comedy 1000 Miles from Christmas, The Open Body and the survival thriller Nowhere. His credits range from historical drama to contemporary crime stories and romantic comedy.

On television, Novas appeared in Acusados and Bandolera before taking roles in Carlos, rey emperador, La zona and Cocaine Coast. He also played Sebastián in High Seas and Germán Araujo in The Mess You Leave Behind. The Patients of Dr. García added another period production to that record, while Gangs of Galicia cast him as Daniel Padín. Netflix identifies both Gangs of Galicia and The Sea Inside when introducing him as the lead of Chapapote.

Announced in November 2026, Chapapote reunites his screen work with filmmaker Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, whose Band Together also features Novas. The new project is a comedy about a Galician village caught on the margins of the Prestige oil-spill response. Netflix has confirmed that filming has begun, but has not announced its release date.

Last updated November 9, 2026