kids encyclopedia robot

Diego Luna facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Diego Luna
Diego Luna Berlinale 2017.jpg
Luna at the 2017 Berlinale
Born
Diego Dionisio Luna Alexander

(1979-12-29) 29 December 1979 (age 44)
Toluca, Mexico
Other names Alexander García
Occupation
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2008; div. 2013)
Children 2
Parent(s)
  • Alejandro Luna (father)

Diego Dionisio Luna Alexander (Spanish: [ˈdjeɣo ˈluna aleɣˈsandeɾ]; born 29 December 1979) is a Mexican actor, director, and producer. He is known for his portrayal of Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Disney+ series Andor, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama.

Following an early career in Mexican telenovelas, he had his breakthrough in the critically acclaimed 2001 film Y tu mamá también. During the 2000s, he appeared in both Mexican and American films including Frida, Open Range, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, The Terminal, Criminal, Milk, Sólo quiero caminar, and Rudo y Cursi. In the 2010s, he co-starred in a variety of films like the sci-fi Elysium, comedy Casa de mi Padre, and the animated musical The Book of Life, before starring as Andor in 2016's Rogue One, a role he reprises in the 2022 Disney+ series of the same name. .....

Throughout his career, he has appeared in Mexican theater productions and produced a number of film and television projects, many with his close collaborator Gael García Bernal. Since 2010, he has directed three feature films: Abel, Cesar Chavez, and Mr. Pig. He is the creator and director of the 2013 Fusion TV docu-series Back Home, his Amazon Studios talk show Pan y Circo, which premiered in 2020, and the 2021 Netflix scripted series Everything Will Be Fine [es].

Early life

Luna was born in Toluca and raised in Mexico City. His mother, Fiona Alexander, was a British costume designer of Scottish and English descent. She died in a car accident when Luna was two years old. His father, Alejandro Luna, is a theater, film, and opera set designer who reinforced the importance of theater and the arts in his life. Alejandro would bring Diego to the sets and mentor him in different aspects of art, cultivating a desire to become an actor and uphold the family tradition. He has an older sister. Luna and his frequent co-star Gael García Bernal have been friends from infancy. Their mothers were close friends.

Career

Acting

Diego Luna by David Shankbone
Luna at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.

Luna acted in his first play at age seven. As a child actor, he appeared in several telenovelas and films. In 1992, he had arcs on Televisa's El abuelo y yo and Ángeles sin paraíso. As a teenager, Luna was part of the main casts of El premio mayor (1995–1996) and La vida en el espejo (1999–2000), playing the main characters' son; he also starred in the films Un hilito de sangre (A Trickle of Blood; 1995), El cometa (The Comet; 1999), and Un dulce olor a muerte (A Sweet Scent of Death; 1995), all which made him a teen star. He had small roles in the films Todo el poder (Gimme the Power; 2000) and Before Night Falls (2000), Luna's first international film.

Luna starred as Tenoch Iturbide alongside Gael García Bernal in Y tu mamá también (2001), a Mexican road trip film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. A critical and box office success, the role brought him international stardom. The film was the beginning series of high-profile collaborations with childhood friend García Bernal, with whom he would costar in several films and go on to establish Canana Films. For these roles and others, the two are considered to be faces of the Nuevo Cine Mexicano film movement.

In the following two years, Luna acted in Mexican films along with English-language productions like the miniseries Fidel, Vampires: Los Muertos, the Kevin Costner western Open Range, and the Academy Award-winning Frida. He starred in the 2003 film Nicotina, which was critically and commercially successful in Mexico. 2004 was a significant year for Luna as he starred in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal alongside Tom Hanks, the film Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (a Cuban-based reimagining of Dirty Dancing), and the indie crime film Criminal opposite John C. Reilly. He subsequently had starring roles in the films Fade to Black (2006) and Harmony Korine's Mister Lonely (2007), and also appeared in the critically acclaimed biopic Milk (2008). In Spanish-language film, he starred in Sólo Dios sabe opposite Alice Braga (Only God Knows; 2006), crime thriller Solo quiero caminar (Walking Vengeance; 2008)—for which he was nominated for a Goya Award—and the soccer comedy Rudo y Cursi (2008), one of the highest grossing Mexican films of all time.

In the early 2010s, Luna co-starred in the Will Ferrell Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi Padre (2012) and appeared in the action films Contraband and Elysium. He appeared opposite Katy Perry in her music video for "The One That Got Away;" as of 2022, the music video has nearly 1 billion views on YouTube. He starred in the animated musical comedy The Book of Life (2014) whose soundtrack charted in numerous countries. In 2015, the pilot episode of the Amazon Studios series Casanova, in which Luna stars as Giacomo Casanova. The show was not picked up to series.

Rogue One- A Star Wars Story Japan Premiere Red Carpet- Diego Luna & Felicity Jones (34989492253)
Diego and Felicity Jones at the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in Japan.

In August 2015, it was announced that Luna was part of the cast of what was then known as Star Wars: Rogue One. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story premiered in 2016, and his portrayal of Cassian Andor, a captain and intelligence officer of the Rebel Alliance, brought him international attention. He reprised the role in Andor (2022–present), the Disney+ series centered around the character. The show was originally announced in 2018 but production was delayed until November 2020 by the development process and the COVID-19 pandemic. A second and final season began production in Fall 2022 and is expected to have been wrapped in August 2023; the season will be released in 2024. Luna is an executive producer of the series.

In 2017, it was announced that he would star in a Scarface remake; however, the film went through multiple rewrites and directorial changes in the following years, losing Luna as the lead in the process.

..... He appeared in the first two seasons of the show. Film roles around this time included ensemble roles in the auteur films If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and A Rainy Day in New York (2019), and a starring role in the 2020 indie drama Wander Darkly. Luna had a number of voice acting roles in children's animation, including the 2022 box office hit DC League of Super-Pets; notably, he is part of every installment of Guillermo del Toro's Tales of Arcadia television franchise: Trollhunters (2016), 3Below (2018), Wizards (2020) and the film Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021).

Producing and directing

With frequent collaborator Gael García Bernal and producer Pablo Cruz, Luna created the production company Canana Films in 2005. Together, they have produced dozens of Mexican film and television productions. Notably, they executive produced the 2009 Cary Fukunaga film Sin nombre, which was honored by the Sundance Film Festival and Independent Spirit Awards, the 2011 thriller Miss Bala which was submitted as Mexico’s foreign-language Oscar submission, and the 2015 drama The Chosen Ones. In 2015, Luna and Cruz launched the branded entertainment studio Gloria for Latin American talent.

Luna and García Bernal departed Canana in 2018, subsequently founding a new production company, La Corriente del Golfo. In October 2019, it was announced that Luna and García Bernal were joining the Creative Advisory Board for the TV and film development company EXILE Content. In 2020, they signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios.

In 2007, Luna directed his first film, a documentary about Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez. His first feature film, the dramedy Abel, premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews.

In 2012, Luna directed the biopic Cesar Chávez; the film starred Michael Peña as Cesar Chávez, the founder of the United Farm Workers, America Ferrera, and Rosario Dawson. The film premiered at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival and was awarded an Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival. The film received mixed reviews. The following year, he created and directed the docu-series Back Home, which follows celebrity guests on a journey to their family homelands. The show was broadcast on Fusion TV.

His next feature film was Mr. Pig, also known as Sr. Pig, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph whose characters travel on a road trip through Mexico.

It was announced in 2019 that Luna and García Bernal would executive produce an epic miniseries Cortes for Amazon starring Javier Bardem as conquistador Hernán Cortés, then described as "the largest Spanish-language production of all time." Two weeks into production in 2020, the production was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, Luna created the Amazon Prime Video talk show Pan y Circo, which he produced, directed, and hosts; the following year, he received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Talent in a Spanish Language Program. He created his first scripted television series, the satirical drama Everything Will Be Fine [es], which was released on Netflix in 2021. Luna is also an executive producer of his series Andor which premiered in 2022. In 2023, it was announced that Luna is set to executive produce and star in a 'The Boys: Mexico' spinoff alongside his frequent collaborator and friend, Gael García Bernal.

Other work

International Jury Berlinale 2017 3
Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Julia Jentsch at Berlinale 2017

Luna, García Bernal, and Elena Fortes co-founded Ambulante, also known as the Ambulante Documentary Film Festival, an organization and film festival whose mission is for documentary films to be used as tools for transformation. The organization received the prestigious Washington Office on Latin America's Human Rights Award in 2011. In January 2015, Luna narrated a video of theirs about the obstacles faced by children migrating from their home countries and seeking refuge in the U.S.

Luna was a repeat host of the 2000s-era MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica, hosting in 2002, 2003, and 2007; he presented an award at the 2006 ceremony. In 2004, he co-hosted the 18th Goya Awards with Cayetana Guillén Cuervo. He has also presented at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards, Premio Lo Nuestro 2014, 2014 MTV Fandom Awards, 74th Golden Globe Awards, 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, 91st Academy Awards, and 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Luna was a jury member at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. He was a member of the 2016 jury for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, he was part of the International Jury at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival.

Personal life

Luna married Camila Sodi in February 2008; they divorced in March 2013. They have two children: Jerónimo (b. August 12, 2008), and Fiona (b. July 1, 2010), named after Luna's mother. Luna has resided in Los Angeles. Since 2017, he and his family have lived in Mexico City.

Filmography

Film

Diego Luna - Lucca Comics & Games 2018 01
Luna in 2018
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 Ámbar Muni Frahabarana
1995 Morena Dos
A Trickle of Blood León
1997 The Comet [es] Victor
1999 A Sweet Scent of Death Ramón
2000 Before Night Falls Carlos
Todo el Poder Esteban
2001 Y tu mamá también Tenoch Iturbide
2002 Frida Alejandro Gonzalez Arias
Vampires: Los Muertos Sancho
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood Himself
2003 Nicotina Lolo
Carambola El Perro
Soldados de Salamina Gastón
Open Range Button
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Javier Suarez
The Terminal Enrique Cruz
Criminal Rodrigo
2006 Only God Knows Damián Executive producer
Drama/Mex [es] N/A Executive producer
Un mundo maravilloso Reportero en Estocolmo
Fade to Black Tommaso Moreno
2007 Mister Lonely Michael Jackson
Déficit N/A Producer
Cochochi N/A Executive producer
El búfalo de la noche Manuel Co-producer
J.C. Chávez [es] Himself Documentary; director and producer
2008 Just Walking Gabriel Executive producer
Voy a explotar N/A Executive producer
Milk Jack Lira
Rudo y Cursi Beto
2009 Sin nombre N/A Executive producer
2010 Abel N/A Director and producer
2011 Na Nai'a: Legend of the Dolphins Himself (narrator) Documentary
Miss Bala N/A Executive producer
2012 Contraband Gonzalo
Casa de Mi Padre Raul
Made in Mexico Himself Documentary
2013 Paraíso N/A Executive producer
Elysium Julio
2014 César Chávez N/A Director and producer
The Book of Life Manolo Sanchez (voice)
2015 The Chosen Ones N/A Executive producer
2016 Mr. Pig N/A Director and producer
Salt and Fire N/A Executive producer
Blood Father Jonah
The Bad Batch Jimmy
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cassian Andor
2017 Flatliners Ray
Crow: The Legend Moth (voice) Short film
2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Pedrocito
2019 Chicuarotes N/A Associate producer
Berlin, I Love You Drag Queen
A Rainy Day in New York Francisco Vega
2020 Wander Darkly Matteo
2021 Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Krel Tarron (voice)
2022 DC League of Super-Pets Chip (voice)
TBA Kiss of the Spider Woman Valentin Arregui Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1992 El abuelo y yo Luis
1992–1993 Ángeles sin paraíso Móises
1995 El premio mayor Quique Domínguez Recurring
1999 La vida en el espejo [es] Eugenio Román Franco
2002 Fidel Renato Guitart Television film
2010 Great Migrations Narrator Miniseries
Gritos de muerte y libertad Guadalupe Victoria Miniseries
2010–2012 Soy tu fan N/A Co-producer
2011 Niño Santo N/A Associate producer
2013 Alguien Más [es] N/A Co-producer
American Dad! Mauricio (voice) Episode: "Poltergasm"
Back Home N/A Creator, director, executive producer
2015 Casanova Giacomo Casanova Amazon Studios pilot
2018–2020 Narcos: Mexico Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo Lead role; 20 episodes
2018 Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Krel Tarron (voice) Episode: "In Good Hands"
2018–2019 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Lead role
2020 Wizards: Tales of Arcadia 3 episodes
Home Movie: The Princess Bride Inigo Montoya Miniseries
Pan y Circo Himself (host) Talk show; creator and executive producer
2021 Everything Will Be Fine [es] N/A Creator, director, and executive producer
Maya and the Three Zatz (voice) Miniseries
2022–present Andor Cassian Andor Lead role and executive producer; 12 episodes

Theater

Selected credits

  • El Cantaro Roto (1996)
  • Festen (2006–2007) – Teatro Helénico
  • The Good Canary / El buen canario (2008–2009) – Teatro de los Insurgentes
  • Howl (2012) – Teatro Helénico
  • Cada vez nos despedimos mejor (2013, 2014) – Teatro de la Sala Chopin
  • Privacy (2017–2018) – Teatro de los Insurgentes
  • Cada vez nos despedimos mejor (2022) – Las Naves del Español, Madrid

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role Ref.
2011 "The One That Got Away" Katy Perry Artist Boyfriend
2018 "El beso" Mon Laferte Man

Awards

Year Association Category Work Result
1997 Asociacion Mexicana de Criticos de Teatro Best Debutant Actor in a Play El Cantaro Roto Won
2002 Venice Film Festival Marcello Mastroianni Award (shared with Gael García Bernal) Y tu mamá también Won
MTV Movie Awards Mexico Best Insult (shared with Gael García Bernal) Won
Best Kiss (shared with Maribel Verdú and Gael García Bernal) Nominated
2004 Favorite Actor Nicotina Won
Worst Smoker Won
Best Diego Luna in a Movie Won
Hottest Scene Nominated
Premios Juventud ¡Qué Actorazo! Nominated
2005 Nominated
2007 Sólo Dios Sabe Nominated
2009 Cinema Writers Circle Awards Best Actor Just Walking Nominated
Goya Awards Best Actor Nominated
Ariel Award Best Actor Rudo y Cursi Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Best Ensemble Milk Nominated
Critics Choice Award Best Ensemble Won
2010 Morelia International Film Festival Premio Cuervo Tradicional Won
2011 Ariel Awards Best Picture (as director) Abel Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay (with Augusto Mendoza) Won
2012 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actor/Feature Film Casa de mi padre Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Latino Actor Nominated
Premios Juventud ¡Qué Actorazo! Nominated
2014 Nominated
Audience Awards Narrative Spotlight Cesar Chavez Won
2017 Imagen Award Best Actor – Feature Film Rogue One Won
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Film Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Sci-Fi Movie Actor Nominated
2018 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Ensemble If Beale Street Could Talk Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Cast Nominated
2019 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series Narcos: Mexico Nominated
Platino Awards Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV series Won
2020 Imagen Award Best Actor – Television Won
2021 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Daytime Talent in a Spanish Language Program Pan y Circo Won
Platino Awards Platino Honorary Award Won
2022 Peabody Awards Entertainment Andor Won
2024 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Diego Luna para niños

kids search engine
Diego Luna Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.