Adriana Barraza


Adriana Barraza is a Mexican actress, acting teacher, and director.
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 recollaborated with Iñárritu 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.

Personal life

Barraza was born in Toluca, Estado de Mexico, the daughter of Celia 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 Maria Eugenia Barraza and three brothers, Eduardo, Porfirio, and Jose.
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.

Career

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, 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. 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.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Los cosas simplesTV movie
1994-1995Imperio de CristalFloraTelenovela, antagonist
1995Bajo un mismo rostroElviraTelenovela, supporting role
1995La palomaMadre ClaraTelenovela, supporting role
1996La culpaTrabajadora SocialTelenovela, special appearance
1997Alguna vez tendremos alasClara DomínguezTelenovela, antagonist
1998Vivo por ElenaHilda 'La Machín'Telenovela, antagonist
1998The First NightBruno's motherFilm
1999La paloma de MarsellaFilm
2000Locura de amorSoledad RetanaTelenovela, supporting role
2000Amores perrosOctavio's motherFilm
2001La segunda nocheLulú and Laura's motherFilm
1985–2003Mujer, Casos de la Vida RealLupeAppeared in 8 episodes from 1985–2006
2003Clase 406MabelTelenovela, special appearance
2006BabelAmeliaFilm
2007...Y solo humoToñaShort film
2007ERDolores SalazarEpisode: "Skye's the Limit"
2008Henry Poole Is HereEsperanza MartinezFilm
2008Tiempo FinalEpisode: "Reality Show"
2008'Carmen DelkoEpisode: "The DeLuca Motel"
2009RageAnita de Los ÁngelesFilm
2009Drag Me to HellShaun San DenaFilm
2009Tres piezas de amor en un fin de semanaSofíaFilm
2010RevoluciónChayoFilm
2010And Soon the DarknessRosamaríaFilm
2010Sucedió en un díaMadreFilm
2010Burning PalmsLouisa ÁlvarezFilm
2010Cerro BayoMartaFilm
2010Te presento a LauraConchitaFilm
2011From Prada to NadaAurelia Jimenez
2011ThorIsabella ÁlvarezFilm, deleted scenes
2012El Cartel de los SaposLa abuelaFilm
2012Mariachi GringoMagdalenaFilm
2013Buen Día, RamónEsperanzaFilm
2014The StrainGuadalupe ElizaldeRecurring role
2014CakeSilvanaFilm
2015Dueños del paraíso Irene MedranoTelenovela, co-protagonist
2015Wild HorsesMrs. DavisFilm
2016-2017Silvana sin lana Trinidad "Trini" Altamirano de RivapalaciosTelenovela, supporting role
2018Al otro lado del muro (On The Other Side Of The WallCarmen Rosales de RomeroTelenovela, supporting role
2019Dora and the Lost City of GoldAbuelita ValerieFilm
2019'Maria BeltranFilm
2019Maria VegaTelevision
TBAWe Can Be Heroes''
riverdale		Film, filming

Awards and nominations