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The Élite star has finally addressed the prosthetic question in his new queer film, and his answer has only made fans more curious.
Miguel Bernardeau is making headlines for his full-frontal scene in La Bola Negra, and apparently, everyone has the same question: was it really all him? The Spanish actor, best known for playing Guzmán in Netflix’s Élite, has addressed the speculation surrounding his nude appearance in the new queer historical drama from Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, better known as Los Javis. His rather cheeky response has only added to the curiosity.
But while the internet is busy discussing what Bernardeau may or may not have been wearing, the actor would quite like everyone to remember that there is an actual film involved. And, darling, it happens to be a rather important one.
Did Miguel Bernardeau Use a Prosthetic in La Bola Negra?
The conversation began during Bernardeau’s appearance on the Spanish television programme Al cielo con ella, hosted by Henar Álvarez. When asked whether prosthetics had been used during filming, the actor initially said no before immediately correcting himself and explaining that prosthetic effects had been used to create his character’s injuries.
The exchange was delivered with humour, but it left one particularly popular question unanswered: whether a prosthetic was used specifically for the full-frontal scene.
As reported by Out and PinkNews, some viewers have interpreted his initial response as a suggestion that the nudity was real. However, Bernardeau did not explicitly confirm that interpretation.
And perhaps that little mystery is part of the fun.
The Shower Scene That Has Everyone Talking
In one of the film’s intimate sequences, Bernardeau’s character Rafael receives help showering from Sebastián, played by Spanish singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente. The sequence includes full-frontal nudity, but the emotional intimacy between the characters is just as central to the scene.
For Bernardeau, the physical vulnerability required by the role was part of portraying a complicated character. Speaking to Out, he described how the film demanded considerable emotional commitment and how nudity formed part of that creative process.
The actor has also admitted feeling uncomfortable that the discussion around his body has sometimes overshadowed the work involved in making the film. In other words, yes, he knows people are talking about the scene. But he would rather audiences discuss the performances and the story, too.
What Is La Bola Negra Actually About?
Directed by Los Javis, La Bola Negra follows three interconnected stories across different periods of Spanish history, exploring queer desire, repression, love and the lives of people whose identities were frequently forced into silence.
Bernardeau plays Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, a figure associated with the life of poet Federico García Lorca, while Guitarricadelafuente makes his film acting debut as Sebastián. The cast also includes Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close and Carlos González.
The film won the Best Director award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and has attracted attention for its ambitious treatment of LGBTQ+ history and sexuality.
As we previously explored in The Gayly Mirror’s guide to the LGBTQ+ films at the 2026 London Film Festival, La Bola Negra was already one of the most intriguing queer releases of the year.
The film’s official website also confirms its forthcoming UK cinema release on 6 November, giving British audiences another opportunity to discover the story.
More Than Just a Nude Scene
It’s easy to understand why Bernardeau’s performance has caught everyone’s attention. He’s a familiar face to millions of Élite fans, the film is unapologetically sensual, and the prosthetic question has created the kind of mystery that entertainment websites adore.
Yet La Bola Negra has something more meaningful to offer: a cinematic celebration of queer desire and the people who lived, loved and struggled long before LGBTQ+ identities could be openly discussed.
So yes, the shower scene has everybody talking. But with a film this ambitious, there is plenty more worth looking at.
