Diego Calva

Diego Calva Hernández (born 16 March 1992) is a Mexican actor whose career has quickly risen from modest beginnings in Mexico City to international recognition. Born and raised in the capital, he attended the renowned Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica where he studied directing and screenwriting, gaining a holistic understanding of filmmaking that would later inform his nuanced performances. While at film school he supported himself by working as a caterer, set dresser, boom‑mic operator and production assistant, roles that offered him a behind‑the‑scenes perspective on set dynamics. He also directed several short films, experimenting with narrative structure before committing fully to acting. In 2015 Calva landed his first lead role in the independent film I Promise You Anarchy, directed by Julio Hernández Cordón, a project that premiered at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival the same year. His compelling portrayal earned him the Best Lead Actor award at the 2015 Havana Film Festival alongside co‑star Eduardo Eliseo Martínez, signaling his arrival on the festival circuit. The momentum continued when he joined the cast of Narcos: Mexico in 2021, embodying the notorious drug lord Arturo Beltrán Leyva and bringing depth to the series' exploration of Mexican cartels. The following year he expanded his reach to Hollywood with Damien Chazelle’s Babylon, playing Manny Torres opposite Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie; his performance earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, cementing his status as a rising talent with trans‑national appeal. Throughout his career, Calva has demonstrated a commitment to challenging roles and a capacity to navigate both independent cinema and mainstream productions with equal skill.