Ester Expósito

The Spanish actress who broke out as Carla in Netflix's Elite is back in the spotlight in 2026, with a packed slate of new films and a high-profile romance keeping her name trending worldwide.

By Alexandre Le Hégarat · datastats · Updated June 24, 2026

Ester Expósito first reached a global audience in 2018 as Carla Rosón Caleruega in Elite, Netflix’s glossy Spanish teen drama. The role made her one of Spain’s most recognisable young actors and built a social-media following in the tens of millions, which is part of why her name resurfaces in trending searches every time she takes on a new project or appears in the headlines.

Born in Madrid on 26 January 2000, she trained in acting from her teens and moved quickly from Spanish television into film. Beyond Elite, her credits include the limited series Someone Has to Die, the horror film Venus, and The Talent (2025), and she has steadily positioned herself for international work rather than staying confined to the Spanish market.

In 2026 her professional momentum is hard to miss. She headlines the Prime Video film Enfrentados: Marfil, playing the daughter of a Spanish tycoon whose life is upended after a kidnapping, with a worldwide release scheduled for September. The same year she was honoured with the Golden Nymph Award for Most Promising Talent at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, a sign that the industry sees her as more than an Elite alumna.

Much of her 2026 visibility, though, comes from outside her filmography. Spanish and international media have widely reported a relationship with footballer Kylian Mbappé, with the two photographed together in Paris and on a summer trip to Ibiza. Neither has issued a formal confirmation, so the romance sits in the well-documented-but-unconfirmed category, the kind of celebrity story that drives a wave of curiosity searches.

Put together, it is a classic trending profile: a recognisable face from a streaming hit, a fresh slate of releases, an awards moment, and a high-profile personal storyline, all landing in the same window.

People also ask

Ester Expósito is a Spanish actress who became internationally famous playing Carla Rosón Caleruega in the Netflix teen drama Elite (2018-2021). Born in Madrid, she has since built a film and television career across Spain and Latin America and is one of the most-followed Spanish actresses on social media.

Expósito is from Madrid, Spain, where she grew up and launched her career, and she remains closely associated with the city. Like many actors, she splits her time between filming locations, and her exact current primary residence is not officially confirmed.

She is Spanish. Ester Expósito Gayoso was born in Madrid, Spain, and works mainly in Spanish-language film and television.

Ester Expósito was born on 26 January 2000, which makes her 26 years old as of 2026.

She is widely reported to stand around 5 ft 5 in (about 1.65 m). Some sources list her between 1.64 m and 1.66 m, so treat the figure as approximate.

Her breakout role was Carla in Elite, Netflix's hit Spanish teen drama, which turned her into a global name. She has since appeared in films such as Someone Has to Die, Venus, and The Talent (2025), and has several projects releasing in 2026.

Throughout 2026, multiple media outlets have reported a relationship between Expósito and French footballer Kylian Mbappé, and the pair have been photographed together in Paris and on holiday in Ibiza. Neither has made a formal public statement officially confirming the relationship, so it should be treated as widely reported rather than personally confirmed.

She has a busy 2026: the Prime Video film Enfrentados: Marfil, in which she plays the kidnapped daughter of a Spanish tycoon, is set for a worldwide release in September 2026, and she has further projects in production. She also received the Golden Nymph Award for Most Promising Talent at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

Celebrity outlets estimate her net worth in the low millions of dollars, built on acting roles and brand partnerships, but no verified, audited figure is publicly on record. Any specific number should be treated as an estimate, not a confirmed fact.

Expósito works primarily in Spanish, but she has given interviews in English and taken on international projects, indicating a working command of the language. Her exact fluency level is not something she has formally detailed.