Adriana Barraza

Adriana Barraza González (born 5 March 1956) is a Mexican actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Babel.

Early life Barraza was born in Toluca, Estado de Mexico, the daughter of Celia González Flores and Eduardo Barraza Carral, a farmer. Her mother died when she was ten years old from myocarditis, a heart condition. Barraza herself has experienced two heart attacks. She has a sister named María Eugenia Barraza and three brothers, Eduardo, Porfirio and José.

Career In 1999 director Alejandro González Iñárritu cast her as the mother of Gael García Bernal's character in Amores perros, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2006, she collaborated with Iñárritu again in Babel, for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Barraza is known in Mexico as Master Barraza from her partnership with Mexican director Sergio Jiménez, known as El Profe. They created the Actors Workshop in Mexico City, teaching and developing their own version of Method acting. Barraza began her career directing telenovela episodes, the actors in which she would also coach. In the 1990s she decided to step in front of the camera.

She currently operates her own acting school located in Miami, Florida titled Adriana Barraza's Black Box. Instructors at the school include her husband Arnaldo and daughter Carolina.

In 1985, Barraza moved to Mexico City, to work as a theatre director. Since 1985, Barraza has guest starred and directed the Mexican television show Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real, alongside host Silvia Pinal. She has also been a part of the telenovela ensembles of Bajo un Mismo Rostro playing Elvira, La Paloma as Madre Clara and Imperio de Cristal as Flora. In 1997 she took on the role of Nurse Clara Dominguez in Alguna Vez Tendremos Alas.

Barraza directed Locura de Amor (in which she also starred), Nunca Te Olvidare and El Manantial.

Barraza appeared in the films Henry Poole Is Here, Drag Me to Hell, And Soon the Darkness. In 2011, Barraza's latest films included From Prada to Nada and Thor (in which her part was cut down). She had a recurring role as Guadalupe Elizalde, on the FX television series The Strain. In 2014 she starred in the film Cake opposite Jennifer Aniston.

She is also a professional acting coach and has worked with actors for a number of films and television shows, including the American film Spanglish. Barraza worked for Telemundo as an acting instructor, teaching accents to actors and actresses from all over Latin America, giving them a more Mexican lilt and sound appropriate for their character.

Personal life She became pregnant at age 18 with her daughter, actress Carolina Valsagna (b. 1975). The father of her daughter is not known, as he abandoned her. Her first husband was Carlos Valsagna, whom she married in 1978, and he adopted her daughter and gave her his name. Her second husband is Arnaldo Pipke. Barraza studied acting through the Fine Arts School at Autonomous University of Chihuahua.

Filmography

+ Year Title Role Notes 1998 The First Night Bruno's mother 1999 La paloma de Marsella Felicia 2000 Amores perros Octavio's mother 2001 La segunda noche Lulú and Laura's mother 2006 Babel Amelia 2007 ...Y solo humo Toña Short film 2008 Henry Poole Is Here Esperanza Martinez 2009 Rage Anita de Los Ángeles Drag Me to Hell Shaun San Dena Tres piezas de amor en un fin de semana Sofía 2010 Revolución Chayo And Soon the Darkness Rosamaría Sucedió en un día Madre Burning Palms Louisa Álvarez Cerro Bayo Marta Te presento a Laura Conchita 2011 From Prada to Nada Aurelia Jimenez Thor Isabella Álvarez Deleted scenes 2012 El Cartel de los Sapos La abuela Mariachi Gringo Magdalena 2013 Guten Tag, Ramón Esperanza 2014 Cake Silvana 2015 Wild Horses Mrs. Davis 2016 Todo lo Demás Doña Flor 2019 Dora and the Lost City of Gold Abuelita Valerie Coyote Lake Teresa Rambo: Last Blood Maria Beltran 2020 We Can Be Heroes Anita Moreno 2021 Koati Amaya Voice role 2022 Monica Leticia 2023 Dark Obsession Camila Blue Beetle Nana Where the Tracks End Teacher Georgina 2024 My Penguin Friend Maria 2025 The Follies Irene 2026 Donna Zaldívar Post-production TBA Post-production

+ Year Title Role Notes 1985–2003 Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real Lupe Appeared in 8 episodes from 1985 to 2003 1993 1994–1995 Imperio de cristal Flora 34 episodes 1995 Bajo un mismo rostro Elvira 100 episodes La paloma Madre Clara 3 episodes 1996 La culpa Trabajadora Social Special appearance 1997 Alguna vez tendremos alas Clara Domínguez 4 episodes 1998 Vivo por Elena Hilda 'La Machín' Episode: "#1.1" 1999 Nunca te olvidaré 92 episodes; Also director 2000 Locura de amor Soledad Retana Episode: "#1.1"; Also director 2001 Aventuras en el tiempo 104 episodes; Also director El Manantial 94 episodes; Also director 2002 Cómplices Al Rescate 128 episodes; Also director 2003 Clase 406 Mabel 3 episodes; special appearance 2007 ER Dolores Salazar Episode: "Skye's the Limit"2008 Tiempo Final Episode: "Reality Show" CSI: Miami Carmen Delko Episode: "The DeLuca Motel" 2014–2016 The Strain Guadalupe Elizalde 8 episodes 2015 Dueños del paraíso Irene Medrano 61 episodes 2016–2017 Silvana sin lana Trinidad "Trini" Altamirano de Rivapalacios 116 episodes 2018 Al otro lado del muro Carmen Rosales de Romero 60 episodes The Inmate Guadelupe Mendoza Episode: "#1.8" 2019 Snowfall Mariela Villanueva 3 episodes 2020 Penny Dreadful: City of Angels Maria Vega 10 episodes 2021 Bingo Hell Lupita Television film 2022 Diary of a Gigolo Minou 10 episodes 2026 Telma Alma Post-production

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2006 About.com Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Babel Academy Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Chicago Film Critics Association Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Palm Springs International Film Festival Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast San Francisco Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2007 ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 2011 Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress From Prada to Nada 2017 Ariel Awards Best Actress Todo lo Demás