How Tokyo's Risk-Taking in 'Money Heist' Influenced Úrsula Corberó - Netflix Tudum

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    How Tokyo's Risk-Taking in 'Money Heist' Influenced Úrsula Corberó

    She’s not afraid to mess up.

    By Jean Bentley
    Nov. 19, 2021

Money Heist's headstrong character Tokyo frequently acts as the de facto leader of the crew at the center of Spain's biggest bank heists. Although occasionally impulsive, Tokyo commits to her decisions and stands up against members of the group with whom she disagrees. But the same trait that makes her such an inspiring figure to follow is also perhaps her biggest flaw: "Even when she's wrong, she does it anyway," Úrsula Corberó, who plays Tokyo, tells Netflix ahead of the Part 5 premiere. 

Corberó explains that this is an essential part of life, though: "Doing what you believe in, what you trust to be right and following your own intuition," she says. "If you mess up because of a decision you made in the moment, fine. But if you mess up because of someone else's decision, that's really horrible. You think, 'I should've gone with my gut.' "

Of all the Money Heist crew, Tokyo takes some of the biggest risks — like leaving her island paradise with Rio (Miguel Herrán) to explore Panama, leading to her lover's capture, or the wild motorcycle ride that led to another crew member’s shooting. And those risks also led to the most dire consequences — like having to plan another heist. 

But it's that willingness to be true to herself, even if she messes up — and her willingness to get up and keep going — that’s so admirable to Corberó. In fact, it’s this very strength that’s made the biggest impact of all on the actor.

"The strength that she has to confront any adversity that life puts in her path, I think that's something that's hard to have all the time," Corberó says. "I'm a bit more like that now, thanks to Tokyo, I have to say. I wasn't always like that. Yeah, I'd like to keep that — her courage, her tenacity."

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