María Isabel Díaz Lago is a Cuban actress born on July 4, 1964, in Havana, Cuba. She graduated from the Higher Institute of Art of Cuba, specializing in acting, and is one of the most recognized Cuban actresses for her roles in iconic films of the 80s and 90s.
His first public appearances were made during his teenage years. He was 16 or 17 years old and was already performing in the theater group at his pre-university, Antonio Guiteras, alongside the singers Tanya, Mayra de la Vega, and Carlos Varela, the actors Daysi Quintana, René de la Cruz (jr.), and the theater director Víctor Varela. His first significant role came while he was still a student at ISA: A Bride for David (1985), which became his big-screen debut.
During a period of five years from 2010 to 2015, she lived in Miami and was part of the coaching team for the program Ana María Polo Caso Cerrado for the Telemundo network.
Since 1996, she has been living in Spain where, with its ups and downs, the difficult stages inherent to emigration, and periods of 'absence,' she has continued her career as an actress on the big screen with titles such as Volver (2006), for which she became the first Cuban Almodóvar Girl for her performance in this film alongside Penélope Cruz. On television, she has appeared in series such as Aída (2008) and Vis a Vis, a Spanish television series that had 4 seasons and achieved great audience success. The series aired from 2015 to 2019, and in it, Isabel played the role of Sole. Thanks to this work, her name has definitively entered the ranks of recognized actors in Spain. She won, among others, an Ondas Award for Vis a Vis and in 2016 and 2017 was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Unión de Actores y Actrices awards.
He has appeared in music videos for Jarabe de Palo and Miguel Bosé.
In 2018, María Isabel surprised everyone with her stunning physical transformation. "The chubby one," as the Cubans affectionately called her for her portrayal of Ofelia, which catapulted her to fame in Una novia para David, had lost 42 kilograms, leaving behind the appearance that many had recognized her for over the years.
In October 2020, he received an honorary award at the Social World Film Festival, a competitive event that has been held for 10 years on the Coast of Sorrento, Italy.
In September 2020, it was announced that María Isabel was part of the cast of the series Patria, HBO Europe's first production, which premiered on September 27, 2020, and has received very positive reviews.
Filmography:
A Bride for David (1985), Supporting Roles (1989), Life in Pink (1989), Hello Hemingway (1990), Fortune, What You Wanted (1991), The Plan (1993), Melodrama (1995), Heat... and Jealousy (1996), Things I Left in Havana (1997), Until Victory, Always (1998), The Nights of Constantinople (2001), Stones (2002), Fruits in the Coffee (2003), A King in Havana (2005), Three Years in Paradise (2005), Crazy for Sex (2006), Return (2006), The Argentine (2007), The Bad One (2007), Masala (2007), Modesty (2007), Radio Love (2007), Nauralgia (2011), Crossing Moments (2012), An Autumn Without Berlin (2015), The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste García (2018)
Television Performances (lead, supporting, or guest appearances):
Red Damascus (1987, TVC Cuba), For Love (1988, TVC Cuba), The Hidden Seed (1988, Tve, Icaic), The Hour of Witches (1991-94, Children’s, TVC Cuba), Conflicts-Sinflictos (1990, TVC Cuba), Thank You, Doctor (1990, TVC Cuba), Enma, the Marked Woman (1990, TVC Cuba), Konrad, the Boy Who... (1990, TVC Cuba), Pocholo and His Gang (1993-94, Children’s, TVC Cuba), Between Partitions (1996, TVC Cuba), Gabriel in Havana (1995-96, Swiss TV, French and Cuban), Carvalho (1998, Tv3), Lawyers (2001, A3), Central Hospital (2001, Tele5), Companions (2001, A3), Journalists (2001, Tele5), Javier No Longer Lives Alone (2001-02, Tele5), Police (2002-03, A3), The Commissioner (2003-05, Tele5), Plant 25 (2007, Forta), Aida (2008, Tele5), Vis a Vis (2015, Antena 3)
Papers in Theatre:
An Inspector Calls (1983, G.T. Bertold Brecht), Where Love Grows (1983-85, National Theatre of Cuba), Galileo, Galilei (1984, G.T. Estudio), The Story of a Horse (1985, G.T. Estudio), Yerma (1985, G.T. Estudio), A Doll's House (1986, G.T. Estudio), Tales from the Decameron (1987, G.T. Estudio), Enramada's Beloved (1987, G.T. Rita Montaner), Bourgeois (1988, G.T. Rita Montaner), Those Who Are Meant to Have It, Will Have It (1989-93, G.T. Rita Montaner), Sibyl, My Love (1992, G.T. Rita Montaner), The Cave (1994, G.T. Rita Montaner), The Stags (1995, El Público Theatre Group), The Wedding (1996, El Público Theatre Group), Pancha Manteca (1998, Macorina Company), Real Women Have Curves (2003, Ados Teatroa)
