Ioana Flora, Bogdan Dumitrache and Bogdan Albulescu Join the Cast of Antena 1’s Undercover Heart
The cast of Undercover Heart, the latest original series created by Ruxandra Ion and produced by Dream Film Production for Antena 1, is expanding with three prominent names from Romanian theatre and cinema. Ioana Flora, Bogdan Dumitrache and Bogdan Albulescu join a story that will take viewers into a world of hidden identities, power struggles and secrets that can change destinies. The series combines drama with powerful action elements, all woven together with a forbidden love story.
Bringing together actors with extensive experience and diverse artistic backgrounds, Undercover Heart unfolds a story in which every character has their own agenda, and the truth can become the most dangerous weapon at any moment. Ioana Flora, Bogdan Dumitrache and Bogdan Albulescu join a cast that already includes Eduard Trică, the series’ protagonist, and Andreea Vasile, who plays Clara, the woman leading the Romanian division of a major European anti-fraud agency.
A theatre and film actress, winner of ten national and international awards and a member of the European Film Academy, Ioana Flora graduated from the I. L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC). She made her leading-role debut in the first feature film from contemporary Romanian cinema to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival, in 2001, as part of the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight programme. Throughout her career, Ioana has received numerous awards, including the Best Actress Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival for her role in Pescuit Sportiv (Hooked), directed by Adrian Sitaru; the Gopo Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Acasă la tata (Back Home); the Gopo Award for Best Supporting Actress; the Best Actress Award at the Aubagne International Film Festival for her role in A Long Story, directed by Jorien van Nes; the UCIN Award for Best Female Performance in Déjà Vu, directed by Dan Chișu; and a place on the Oscars shortlist in 2020 with the film Cadoul de Crăciun (The Christmas Gift). In theatre, Ioana Flora made her debut in Piatra Neamț and has performed at state and independent theatres, as well as in unconventional venues, in productions staged in Bucharest and across Romania.
In the original series Undercover Heart, Ioana will portray Aurora Coman, a stylish, sophisticated and highly intelligent woman. Trained as an architect and heir to an impressive fortune, with connections across various circles, Aurora has built a successful real estate business alongside her husband.
“Aurora comes from a completely different world and background than mine—from a pragmatic, mercantile world, with a strong attraction to power and material possessions, which defines her. However, if we look deeper—and that is what we actors do, defending our characters to the very end—it is her way of taking care of her family. And that is precisely where the challenge lies. She is courageous, difficult to deal with and determined. She keeps her loved ones close and insists on providing them with every comfort and a good life, without negotiating the effort, the sleepless nights or, more often than not, her scruples. When dealing with business partners, she is like a bulldog—she is fearless. She is complex, and that intrigues me. That is always a wonderful thing about a role,” reveals Ioana Flora.
She adds: “I was delighted and excited to receive the offer. Until the series Ana, Mi-ai fost scrisă în ADN, I had worked extensively in film and theatre, and now having two television projects one after the other is more than an actor could wish for. Especially since I already knew some of the team members and was aware of their high professional standards. The trust Ms Ruxandra Ion has placed in me by offering me this role is invaluable. I am not only happy but also grateful.”
A theatre and film actor, Bogdan Dumitrache graduated from the I. L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in 1999 and made his stage debut at the Constantin Nottara Theatre in 2000. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Gopo Award for Best Supporting Actor for Portretul luptătorului la tinerețe (Portrait of the Fighter as a Young Man); the Best Actor Award at the Locarno International Film Festival and the Gopo Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, both for Din dragoste cu cele mai bune intenții (Best Intentions With Love); as well as the Best Actor Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and the Gopo Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Pororoca. Bogdan Dumitrache has also appeared in films selected for the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival, including Trafic, Sieranevada and Trei kilometri până la capătul lumii (Three Kilometres to the End of the World).
In Undercover Heart, Bogdan will play Bogdan Coman, Aurora’s husband, a charming man, an excellent investor and one of the most ambitious real estate developers of the moment. A health problem has forced him to slow down and has also begun to drive a wedge between him and his wife.
“Bogdan Coman strikes me as a very human character. He is not a hero, but neither is he a victim, and I think it would be unfair to reduce him to the mistakes he makes. He loves his family, he loves his wife, and yet he repeatedly does things that hurt them. He cheats on Aurora, turns to alcohol and runs away from his responsibilities. As an actor, I am interested in standing up for him and understanding why, from his point of view, these choices become possible. His relationship with Aurora is perhaps the thing I like most about the character. They are two people who have spent many years together and know each other so well. They loved each other deeply, and I believe they still do, but mistakes, frustrations, guilt and things left unsaid for too long have accumulated between them. Bogdan can be angry with Aurora, judge her and run away from her, yet when she is truly struggling, he is still the person who sits beside her and stays there. Last but not least, I really enjoy acting alongside Ioana Flora, whom I consider an exceptional actress and a partner I can rely on, someone with whom it is easy to build a character,” reveals Bogdan.
He adds: “I really like the team that has come together around this project, because the team plays an essential role. You feel safe when you see that the people around you know what they are doing, that there is trust and that everyone is trying to do their best.”
A theatre and film actor, Bogdan Albulescu graduated from the I. L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in 2005, specialising in Acting, after previously studying Law. He made his film debut in the short film Madhouse and has since played numerous roles in film and television productions. These include Cosma Anghelescu in Ilegitim (Illegitimate), directed by Adrian Sitaru; Stere Antoniade in Aniela; Cosmin in Regina; Adrian Barbu in Fructul oprit (The Forbidden Fruit); Dinu in Iubire cu parfum de lavandă (Love with a Lavender Scent); Boris in the series Spy/Master; and a role in War Dogs, directed by Todd Phillips.
Presented in the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival, Ilegitim received the C.I.C.A.E. Award and subsequently won the Grand Prix, the Prix Sauvage, at the L’Europe autour de l’Europe Festival in Paris. In theatre, Bogdan Albulescu has performed on stages including the I. L. Caragiale National Theatre in Bucharest, the Tony Bulandra Theatre in Târgoviște and Teatrul Foarte Mic, as well as with the Fără Frontiere company, in productions such as Năpasta, Revizorul, Coolöri and Autobahn.
In Undercover Heart, Bogdan Albulescu will bring Otto to life, Aurora’s brother, who lives with a mental health condition. Regarded as the family’s “madman”, Otto is the one who says whatever comes to mind, sees what others cannot and receives little attention from those around him, who rarely take what he says seriously.
“I found out I had landed the role while I was filming Iubire cu parfum de lavandă, and I was delighted that I would be continuing to work with a team I have known for years—people I greatly admire professionally and with whom I spend just as much time as I do with my own family,” says Bogdan.
Speaking about the role, he adds: “First and foremost, Otto is a character built entirely through composition. To me, he is a kind of ‘Frankenstein’s monster’, in the best possible sense, because he was created piece by piece. I brought together all sorts of reactions, mannerisms, emotions and behaviours that I have ‘borrowed’ over the years from various real people and fictional characters. Otto lives in his own world, but there are moments when he steps out of it and becomes extremely present and connected to reality. Although he has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, when you compare him with other characters in the series—who commit all kinds of appalling and monstrous acts in their pursuit of power—he becomes a benchmark for humanity. He is profoundly human, and that is what fascinated me about him.”
Nicolae Tănase, one of the project’s directors, also shares his thoughts: “Ioana Flora is a force of nature. And when faced with a force of nature, you do not try to impose yourself; you simply channel its power in the right direction. She is always impeccably prepared and knows how to delve into every scene to bring the characters’ depth to the surface. Her ability to humanise even the most monstrous actions with such subtlety makes her an exceptional collaborator. With Boogie (Bogdan Dumitrache), you know you cannot go wrong. Veni, vidi, vici—he makes everything look incredibly easy. He knows exactly what to do, with every nuance perfectly attuned to the needs of each scene and to his fellow actors. He takes on every direction instantly and applies it with such finesse that you would think he had rehearsed it hundreds of times—and he really could do it hundreds of times, with the same precision, emotion and intensity. And we laugh together at absolutely every opportunity. As for Bogdan (Albulescu), he is always astonishing. I am amazed not only by his chameleon-like ability to portray completely different characters, but also by his daily talent for intuitively grasping the intensity a scene requires. He brings a sensitivity that does justice to the characters when they find themselves in their most difficult moments. I can see that he throws himself into extremely delicate situations without hesitation and navigates the fine line between awkwardness, comedy and emotion with fascinating ease. Many times, I feel as though I am watching a child play, with joy and skill—and I share his delight in what we achieve when we play together.”
Further details about the cast, storyline, characters and premiere of Undercover Heart will be announced in the coming period.
