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Who Is Diego Luna?
Diego Luna is a versatile Mexican actor, director, and producer who first gained international recognition with his role in Y tu mamá también (2001). Before this, Luna had already made a name for himself in Mexican telenovelas and films. His Hollywood breakthrough came with roles in major films like The Terminal (2004) and Milk (2008). Luna later solidified his place in global cinema with prominent roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and the series Narcos: Mexico (2018-2020). In addition to acting, he has directed films such as Abel (2010) and Mr. Pig (2016), and has produced projects alongside his lifelong friend and frequent collaborator, Gael García Bernal.
How Old Is Diego Luna?
Diego Luna was born on December 29, 1979, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Early Life and Theater Beginnings Born into a theater family, Luna’s father, Alejandro Luna, was a prominent set designer and theater director, while his mother, Fiona Alexander, was a costume designer. He made his screen debut at the age of two in Carlos Saura’s Antonieta (1982). Tragically, his mother died in a car accident when he was young. To stay close to his father, Luna remained deeply involved in the theater, landing his first stage role at age seven and becoming financially independent by age 15.
Film and TV Roles
‘El abuelo y yo,’ ‘Before Night Falls’ Luna first gained attention in Mexico with roles in telenovelas such as El abuelo y yo (1992) and El premio mayor (1995). He also appeared in films like Un hilito de sangre (1995) and El cometa (1998) before landing a part in the internationally acclaimed film Before Night Falls (2000).
‘Y tu mamá también’ Luna’s big international break came with Y tu mamá también (2001), directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Luna and Gael García Bernal, who played best friends in the film, were praised for their chemistry and received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actors at the Venice Film Festival.
‘Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,’ ‘Milk’ Luna leveraged his rising stardom to land supporting roles in Hollywood films like Frida (2002) and The Terminal (2004). He took on his first English-language lead role in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004) and later appeared in Milk (2008), portraying the lover of Sean Penn’s character, Harvey Milk.
‘Elysium,’ ‘The Book of Life’ After reuniting with García Bernal for Rudo y Cursi (2008), Luna starred in the action-thriller Elysium (2013) alongside Matt Damon. He later showcased his vocal talents in the animated film The Book of Life (2014).
‘Star Wars: Rogue One,’ ‘Andor’ Luna’s portrayal of rebel officer Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) further expanded his international reach. His role in the film, complete with his natural Mexican accent, provided a moment of cultural representation in the Star Wars universe. He reprised this role for the Disney+ series Andor.
‘Narcos: Mexico’ Luna’s portrayal of drug lord Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo in Narcos: Mexico garnered critical acclaim. Initially hesitant about the role, Luna saw it as a way to highlight the deep-rooted corruption fueling the drug trade. He exited the series after two seasons, expressing relief at leaving the intense material behind.
‘Tales of Arcadia’ Luna continued voice acting with Guillermo del Toro’s Tales of Arcadia franchise. He voiced the character Krel Tarron in 3Below: Tales of Arcadia (2018-19) and later returned for Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021). Additionally, he voiced the character Zatz in the animated series Maya and the Three (2021).
Diego Luna’s dynamic career, spanning multiple genres and mediums, has made him a prominent figure in both Mexican and international cinema.
Director Credits
Diego Luna gained critical recognition with Abel (2010), a dark comedy exploring themes of absentee fatherhood. This followed his documentary J.C. Chávez (2007), which chronicled the life of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez. Luna’s directorial talent continued to shine in Cesar Chavez (2014), a biopic about the iconic labor leader. He further demonstrated his range with Mr. Pig (2016), starring Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph, a touching road-trip drama. In 2021, Luna ventured into television, directing the Netflix family dramedy Everything Will Be Fine.
Production Companies
In 2003, Luna, alongside longtime collaborator Gael García Bernal and producer Pablo Cruz, co-founded Cananas Films. The company supported a wave of Mexican-produced films and played a key role in creating Ambulante A.C., a nonprofit that hosts a traveling documentary film festival. In 2018, Luna and García Bernal departed from Cananas to establish a new production company, La Corriente del Golfo, focusing on both film and television projects.
Wife and Children
Luna married actress and singer Camila Sodi in February 2008, shortly after they worked together on El Búfalo de la Noche (2007). They welcomed their son, Jerónimo, in August 2008, and daughter, Fiona, in July 2010. The couple separated in 2013 after five years of marriage.
Activism
Luna has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts. In 2013, he began working with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to support refugees. Following a devastating earthquake in Puebla, Mexico, in 2017, Luna and García Bernal spearheaded a relief campaign to rebuild essential infrastructure. Through his artistic work, Luna has also advocated for social justice, such as in his 2015 Sundance short film Nana, which highlighted the sacrifices of domestic workers. In 2018, he used his role in the Mexican stage play Privacidad to critique government surveillance and advocate for privacy rights.