Kate del Castillo

Kate del Castillo is a Mexican-American actress best known for her commanding leading roles in Spanish-language television, most famously as Teresa Mendoza in the hit narco-drama “La Reina del Sur.” Born on 23 October 1972 in Mexico City, she is the daughter of the legendary Mexican actor Eric del Castillo and grew up immersed in the country’s film and telenovela world.

She made her screen debut as a child and broke through as a young leading lady with the telenovela “Muchachitas” (1991). Over the following decades she became one of Mexico’s most prominent actresses, headlining series and films on both sides of the border.

Her portrayal of the drug-trafficker-turned-kingpin Teresa Mendoza in “La Reina del Sur” (from 2011) made her a Spanish-language television icon, and she went on to lead the Netflix political thriller “Ingobernable” as a Mexican first lady on the run. Her Hollywood credits include the acclaimed drama “Under the Same Moon” (2007).

More recently she joined the American series “The Cleaning Lady” as Ramona Sanchez, extending a career that moves fluidly between Mexican and US productions and between the Spanish and English languages.

Beyond acting, del Castillo is a prominent public figure who has co-founded the tequila brand Honor del Castillo and been outspoken on social and human-rights issues. She holds dual Mexican and American citizenship.

With a lineage rooted in Mexican cinema and a career that has made her a household name across Latin America and the US Latino market, del Castillo is regarded as one of the most influential Mexican actresses of her generation.

A frequent subject of media attention, del Castillo has also drawn headlines for her advocacy and her outspoken public persona. Her ability to carry both sprawling Spanish-language dramas and English-language projects has kept her among the most sought-after Latina leads working today, bridging audiences across Mexico, the United States and the wider Spanish-speaking world.