Introduction
Diego Calva Hernández (born 16 March 1992) is a Mexican actor best known for starring in the crime drama television series Narcos: Mexico (2021) and the black comedy drama film Babylon (2022). For the latter, he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Biography
Calva was born on 16 March 1992, in Mexico City. He attended the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica and studied directing and screenwriting. During his time in film school, he worked as a caterer, set dresser, boom mic operator, and production assistant. He directed a few short films before fully getting into acting.
Calva landed his first lead role in 2015 in the independent film I Promise You Anarchy by filmmaker Julio Hernández Cordón, which premiered at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival and screened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. He won Best Lead Actor with his co-star Eduardo Eliseo Martínez at the 2015 Havana Film Festival for his role in this film. In 2021, he joined the cast of the television series Narcos: Mexico, playing Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
In 2022, he played the role of Manny Torres in Damien Chazelle's 2022 film Babylon, co-starring alongside Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | I Promise You Anarchy | Miguel | |
| 2022 | Babylon | Manuel "Manny" Torres | |
| 2023 | Bird Box Barcelona | Octavio | |
| 2024 | City of Dreams | Carlitos | |
| 2024 | On Swift Horses | Henry |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Inmate | El Rubio | 12 episodes |
| 2020 | Unstoppable | Joshua | 8 episodes |
| 2021 | Narcos: Mexico | Arturo Beltrán Leyva | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Midnight Family | Marcus | Apple TV+ |
| 2024 | The Secret of the River | Erik | Netflix |
| TBA | The Night Manager | TBA | Main cast (Season 2) |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Havana Film Festival | Best Actor | I Promise You Anarchy | Won | |
| 2022 | Greater Western New York Film Critics Association | Best Lead Actor | Babylon | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated |