The life philosophy of Miguel Ángel Muñoz (Madrid, 1983) is inspiring: every year he sets himself the challenge of learning something new. Thanks to this, knowing just enough about cooking to make an omelette or a summer salad, he decided to set his sights on the kitchen and won the first edition of MasterChef Celebrity. From that experience, the actor took away a facet to add to his personal baggage and the intimate friendship of Jero Mateos: “From the moment I started until I finished, the evolution was stratospheric. Jero was my coach, my friend and my teacher, we cooked five hours a day, six days a week,” says Muñoz.
This week he also accompanied him in the preparation of a Christmas menu whose main hand was that of another talent winner, Marta Varona, winner of MasterChef 6: together they prepared a sumptuous three-course meal (which included shrimp and sirloin) and dessert for less than 12 euros based on Spanish products from an assortment with more than 600 references that Lidl has selected for this Christmas.
His challenge this year that is now ending has been motorsports. He has been training with karts almost daily and has competed in the Mini Cooper Racer Cup: “I took it very, very seriously, because this year I was determined to become a racing driver. Like with MasterChef, before I didn't know anything and now I already have a lot of knowledge (laughs). After the Jerez circuit, this weekend I have my last race, in Estoril. This is exciting and since the adventure began we have been filming a documentary with Paciencia Films. I was surprised by everything that is happening at the plot level, as much or more than the races themselves: the most interesting thing that will be seen in the documentary is what happens around a team. “I thought these things could only happen in Formula 1”, he advances, avoiding spoilers.
Precisely, it was at the Jerez circuit where the press identified his first girlfriend after the breakup with the singer Ana Guerra, three years ago, very peacefully. And no one has ever said a bad word about Michelangelo. In any case, asking him what he likes most about Laura, that's her name, is as useless as an umbrella under the sea.
Miguel Ángel plays Julio Iglesias in the series Bosé (Paramount) and to live up to it he worked hard: “He is one of the most iconic characters on the national scene, if not the most. He is the Guinness Record man. I have read and seen countless interviews (some I know by heart) and performances to be able to capture his energy, charisma and gestures as representative as the hand on the chest, the way he holds the microphone... It has been very fun to go with him. Dark-skinned for filming and with prosthetic teeth to imitate his smile, he was joking with his colleagues every day. "I didn't get rid of the character until the end of the recording."
In addition, he has repeated as presenter of the premiere of the Latin Grammy gala: last year in Las Vegas and this edition, in Seville, the first edition outside of America. At this rate, he will finish drinks and confessions with Shakira: “(Laughs) In this edition we have not seen each other as much but the nominees and those of us who participated in the gala are in the same framework, from Karol G or Sebastián Yatra, with whom I have shared stylist, Maluma and everyone he saw at the gala. It is already very exceptional that they have an actor and although I have a musical background and certain awards linked to music, that was 15 years ago. That they have counted on me for two years, and also in a row, is an honor. If there is a third time, I would love it,” he admits.
The worst of the year, something that was expected to be no less painful, was the death this summer of Luisa Cantero, the woman who took care of him all his life while his parents worked abroad and to whom he dedicated the best tribute in the world with the documentary 100 days with the dad. “I am still living a very delicate moment. And the grief will last, I think, forever, but in different ways. Having been able to train at a therapeutic level for years, trying to prepare myself for this moment by doing training on end-of-life support, including practices and palliative care, has helped me somewhat. But when it happens to you firsthand, when you lose someone very, very important, it is not easy.”
