The glamorous, sexually frustrated teens of Elite have really gone through it over the seasons, haven’t they? At this point, nearly every character has been involved in (or at least privy to) a spontaneous murder, a forbidden affair or a drug deal gone wrong. And with a trio of new troublemaking students — not to mention, the inevitable ramifications of Armando’s (Andrés Velencoso) death — the chaos isn’t slowing down anytime soon. 

We bid farewell to a few Elite OGs last season, but there are still some very familiar faces this semester. Here’s a guide to everyone left at Las Encinas — for now, of course, since only time will tell who makes it out alive. Buena suerte, estudiantes [some spoilers for Season 5 below].

Samuel García (Itzan Escamilla)

From underdog scholarship student to missing person to murder accomplice, Samuel has gone through quite the transformation since Elite’s first season. When we last saw him, he was helping Guzmán (Miguel Bernardeau) dispose of Armando’s body (as one does). 

Escamilla has also appeared in Spanish shows like Cable Girls and El ministerio del tempo. Elsewhere on Netflix, you can hear him voice the character of Jack in the Spanish anime series The Idhun Chronicles.

You can follow Escamilla on Instagram.

Omar Shanaa (Omar Ayuso)

Along with Samu, Omar is one of the last original cast members to make it to Season 5. He’s had a journey, too: When we met him in Season 1, he was hiding his sexuality from his family and dealing drugs to the students of Las Encinas. Now, he’s in his final year at the school and newly single after saying goodbye to his long-term, on-off boyfriend, Ander (Arón Piper).

Since his breakout role on Elite, Ayuso’s appeared in several short films and a Rosalía music video. Most recently, he starred in the JD Alcazar–directed film 8 años.

You can follow Ayuso on Instagram.

Rebeka Parrilla (Claudia Salas)

Rebeka (or Rebe, if you’re cool) has been a mainstay in the halls of Las Encinas since Season 2. She’s known for her impeccable ability to accessorize and for not giving a crap what anyone thinks of her. Throughout most of Season 4, she navigates a complicated romance with new girl Mencía, but by the season’s end, at least, their feelings are as strong as ever.

Salas guest-starred in numerous Spanish shows, like Seis Hermanas and Centro médico, and played a recurring role in the historical crime drama La peste. Soon, she’ll star in the Spanish coming-of-age series La Ruta.

You can follow Salas on Instagram.

Cayetana Grajera (Georgina Amorós)

After faking familial wealth and eventually coming to terms with her humble upbringing, budding fashion designer Cayetana decides to stay at Las Encinas and work as a janitor while attending university. She has a short-lived romance with Prince Philippe before realizing that the rumors about his behavior are grounded in truth. She ends Season 4 single.

Amorós got her start in shows like the Spanish-language soap Seis Hermanas and crime drama Bajo sospecha. Before joining the cast of Elite, she starred in the critically acclaimed Catalan series Welcome to the Family.

You can follow Amorós on Instagram and Twitter.

Mencía Blanco (Martina Cariddi)

Mencía is one of the three Blanco kids who enroll at Las Encinas in Season 4, but don’t let that fool you: She couldn’t be less enthusiastic about her headmaster father’s totalitarian reign at the school. She falls hard and fast for Rebeka, and after an onslaught of drama and roadblocks — including tensions with Rebe’s mom and Armando’s ongoing abuse and blackmail — they decide to continue their romance.

Before her star turn on Elite, Cariddi appeared in the 2017 film The Invisible Guardian and 2019’s Mientras dure la guerra.

You can follow Cariddi on Instagram.

Ari Blanco (Carla Díaz)

After juggling two of Las Encinas’ hottest repeat seniors, Guzmán and Samu, Ari narrowly escapes death at the hands of her sister’s wannabe pimp, Armando, at the end of Season 4. In Season 5, she’s got the chance at a fresh new start — in life and in her relationships.

Díaz is a Spanish TV actor who has been working since she was 10. She earned her first IMDB credit as “Margarita niña” in a 2009 episode of Águila Roja and hasn’t stopped acting since. She recently starred in the TV show Madres. Amor y vida and has two movies coming up.

You can follow Díaz on Instagram and Twitter.

Patrick Blanco (Manu Ríos)

Patrick, Ari’s twin brother, spent his first few months at Las Encinas seducing both Ander and his boyfriend Omar and building a reputation as one of the school’s most sexually adventurous students — all while struggling to fit in at home, where his father, Benjamín, demands perfection. In Season 5, Patrick’s rebellion against his father and search for love continue. 

Like his character, Manu Ríos is a man of many talents and interests. He started his career as a child, competing in the Spanish singing show Cántame cómo pasó in 2010 at 11 years old. He kept up his fanbase on YouTube, releasing covers of popular songs like Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” and later transitioned to modeling and acting. In 2021, when he wasn’t filming Elite, he launched a jewelry line called Love Me, Love Me Not and continued to post covers on Instagram. 

You can follow Ríos on Instagram and Twitter.

Benjamín Blanco (Diego Martín)

As one of the lone adults at Las Encinas, principal Benjamín has a lot on his plate. Not only is he trying to rally the students, he also has his own three kids to take care of. After the near-death of his daughter, Ari, he’s not giving up control anytime soon — at home or at Las Encinas.

Martín has been working in front of the camera for over 20 years. In his career, he’s played in every genre, from horror in [REC] 3: Genesis to comedy in Hermanos y detectives. When he’s not starring in Elite, he’s currently also appearing in the Spanish family sitcom Supernormal. 

You can follow Martín on Instagram.

Philippe von Triesenberg (Pol Granch)

It’s not easy being a French prince, especially when you’re running away from accusations of sexual assault. At the end of Season 4, Philippe is finally ready to face his past and confront the fact that he might not have always been the perfect gentleman he believed himself to be. But it’s one thing to admit you did something wrong; it’s another to change your behavior.

Granch actually got his start as a singer when he competed on Factor X in 2018. Elite is his first big acting role, and when he’s not playing a French rapist looking for redemption, he’s busy releasing music. 

You can follow Granch on Instagram and Twitter.

Isadora (Valentina Zenere)

Las Encinas is getting some new students this season, and they’re ready to shake things up — especially Isadora, a famous DJ who has a crush on Philippe.

Zenere might be new to the halls of Elite, but she’s no stranger to the small screen. The Argentinean actor got her start in a popular Disney Channel series called Soy Luna and recently appeared in Cable Girls. She’s also a model and influencer.

You can follow Zenere on Instagram and Twitter.

Iván (André Lamoglia)

There’s always room for another heartbreaker at Las Encinas. Enter Iván, the son of a famous football player who’s hoping to make lasting friendships at his new prep school — if only he could stop flirting with everyone. 

Originally from Brazil, Lamoglia got his big break playing a budding surfer, Rafa, in the show Juacas. He currently stars in an Argentinean Disney Channel show called Bia and, like his new co-stars, also works as a model and influencer. 

You can follow Lamoglia on Instagram and Twitter.

Bilal (Adam Nourou)

Elite’s final new addition of the season is Bilal, who has an unconventional relationship with the kids at Las Encinas. 

French actor Nourou recently had his big break in the Spanish film Adú, for which he won a Goya Award (the Spanish national film awards). 

You can follow Nourou on Instagram.

By Olivia Truffaut-Wong and Lydia Wang