The actress Heydy González turned to shared memories to bid farewell to her colleague and friend: this Monday she posted on Instagram a video of a scene from the comedy show Punto G in which both actresses appear together, as an emotional tribute to Paula Alí, who passed away this Monday at the age of 90.
In the recording, we see the characters from Hidroelia —played by Heydy González— and Dr. Rosa Matriz —the role made famous by Paula Alí— in one of the comedic scenes that turned Punto G into the most popular show in Cuba in 2005. The chemistry between both actresses, evident in every exchange of lines, encapsulates the artistic bond that united them for years.
The death of Paula Alí at the age of 90 shocked the Cuban artistic community. The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) confirmed the passing on its Facebook account and bid farewell to her as "one of the most popular and beloved artists among the Cuban people."
The tribute from Heydy González arrived just hours after the news was announced and immediately resonated among the followers of both actresses.
For González, Punto G was a turning point in her career. "Hidroelia was an innocent, rural girl from Pinar del Río, and she was the character that opened doors for me," she stated in an interview. The show was also the space where Heydy González built her popular character Hidroelia, which propelled her into the world of humor and changed her artistic direction.
Paula Alí had received the National Television Award 2026 just three weeks before her death, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Institute of Information and Social Communication. The award, the highest honor in Cuban television, was bestowed in recognition of over six decades of work in television, film, and theatre.
Her career included more than 30 films at the ICAIC —among them Lista de espera, El cuerno de la abundancia and Cartas del parque— as well as telenovelas such as Enamoradas del mar and Los hijos de Pandora. In 2003, she won the Best Actress Award at the Cartagena de Indias Film Festival for the film Nada, directed by Juan Carlos Cremata.
In January 2026, she celebrated her 90th birthday with a tribute on the Al Mediodía program of the national channel, surrounded by the affection of the audience that has followed her for decades.
UNEAC concluded its statement with a phrase that encapsulates the magnitude of the loss: "With Paula Alí, an indispensable interpreter of the Cuban scene disappears, and her work will remain in the emotional memory of our people and in the history of the performing and audiovisual arts of the country."
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