Kate del Castillo (born October 23, 1972) is a Mexican and American actress best known for her work in telenovelas, film, and television. Del Castillo gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Teresa Mendoza in the Telemundo series La Reina del Sur (2011), a role that cemented her status as an international star. She has since starred in various notable series and films, including Ingobernable (2017), ‘Til Jail Do Us Part (2022), and The Cleaning Lady (2024).
Early Life and Career
Del Castillo was born in Mexico City to actress Kate Trillo Graham and renowned actor Eric del Castillo, who is considered a legend of Mexican cinema. Raised in a family immersed in the entertainment industry, she showed an early interest in acting. She attended the prestigious Professional Children’s School and, at age 19, she landed her breakout role in the popular telenovela Muchachitas (1991), which aired on Televisa and was followed by several other prominent roles in Latin American television, such as Alguna vez tendremos alas (1997), La Mentira (1998), and Ramona (2000).
Film and Television Breakthrough
Del Castillo’s career continued to soar throughout the 2000s. In 2003, she ventured into American television, appearing in American Family, a PBS drama starring Edward James Olmos. Her Hollywood breakthrough came in 2007 with Under the Same Moon, a film that became a box office success and marked her transition to the international film scene.
In 2011, del Castillo’s portrayal of Teresa Mendoza in La Reina del Sur earned her worldwide fame, with the telenovela becoming one of the highest-rated productions in Telemundo’s history. Her role as the powerful drug queenpin Teresa was a major turning point in her career, leading to further opportunities both in the U.S. and internationally. She reprised the role in the sequel La Reina del Sur 2 (2019), which further solidified her as one of the leading figures in Latin American television.
Later Career and Notable Roles
Following the success of La Reina del Sur, del Castillo starred in the political drama Ingobernable (2017), where she portrayed Emilia Urquiza, the First Lady of Mexico. The show garnered attention for its politically charged storyline and was streamed on Netflix. Del Castillo continued her diverse career with roles in several other television series and films, including The Cleaning Lady (2024), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and El Chicano (2019).
In 2022, she starred in the Peacock comedy-drama ‘Til Jail Do Us Part and was also cast as the legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas in the upcoming miniseries Chavela (2024).
Personal Life and Controversy
Del Castillo’s personal life has attracted considerable media attention, particularly her controversial connection with drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. In 2015, del Castillo became involved in a high-profile meeting between actor Sean Penn and Guzmán, which led to a federal investigation. Although del Castillo was briefly under investigation for potential involvement in money laundering, no evidence was found to support any wrongdoing, and the case was eventually dropped.
Del Castillo has also been active in advocacy, particularly around human rights and raising awareness of issues like human trafficking. She has been involved with various charitable causes, including working as an ambassador for the Mexican Commission on Human Rights and the Blue Heart Campaign.
Personal Life
Del Castillo has been married three times, most notably to football player Luis García, and later to actor Aarón Díaz. She was briefly romantically linked with Sean Penn, though these claims have been disputed by the actor’s representatives. Del Castillo also gained U.S. citizenship in 2015 and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Legacy
With a career spanning over three decades, Kate del Castillo is one of the most prominent and influential Latina actresses in the entertainment industry. Known for her versatile roles in both television and film, she continues to break barriers and bring attention to important social issues. Del Castillo’s portrayal of powerful women, both fictional and historical, has cemented her as a role model and a trailblazer for Latinx representation in Hollywood.
