Ana De La Reguera: The Nacho Libre Actress' 10 Best Movies & TV Shows (2024)

Mexican-born Ana de la Reguera started her acting career in telenovelas and has since gone on to work with some of the leading TV producers and filmmakers in the industry. De la Reguera first began her career in the 1996 telenovela series Azul, where she had a small role as Cecilia. From there, she continued on in small to medium roles in a variety of Mexican soaps before making her film debut in Por la Libre (released internationally as Dust to Dust), where she co-stars as Maria. But it wasn't until 2006, when de la Reguera appeared in Nacho Libre, that American audiences began to take notice.

Since then, Ana de la Reguera has steadily worked her way into bigger and bigger projects at an impressive rate; rarely a year goes by when she is not working on at least two roles. She has shown impressive range as well, acting in comedies alongside some of the biggest names in the genre and proving her skills as an action star next to actors like Pedro Pascal and Dave Bautista. De la Reguera can play quiet and introspective or loud and bombastic and everything in between. There are many projects in de la Reguera's filmography, but some in particular are indicative of her career being on the upswing.

10 Ana (2020-2023)

• Ana is available to stream on Pantaya

Ana is Ana de la Reguera's self-titled and self-made semi-autobiographical comedy-drama series. She plys Ana, an actor who grew up thinking she would be rich and famous, only to discover that her whole professional life has been controlled by those trying to use her appearance and talents for their own gain. She sets off on a journey of self-discovery that is somewhat based on de la Reguera's own life. The Spanish-language series was made available to all Latin America via Amazon Prime Video in 2020 and two more seasons quickly followed. Not very well known in the US, Ana is still a testament to de la Reguera's acting, sense of self, and show-running capabilities.

9 Capadocia (2008-2012)

• Capadocia is available to purchase on Apple TV

In Capadocia, Ana de la Reguera stars as Lorena Guerra, an inmate in an experimental prison in Mexico City. The series is an HBO Latin American production and stars a number of Mexican actors famous for their telenovela roles like Alejandro Camacho, Juan Manuel Bernal, and Cristina Umaña. Those roles are often unfairly painted as not requiring too much skill, but with its talented ensemble cast, Capdocia proves itself to be a thrilling and engrossing political drama. De la Reguera leads the series with confidence and honesty in the violent and mature series that is thematically in line with HBO's flagship shows like Oz and The Wire.

8 Army Of The Dead (2021)

• Army of the Dead is available to stream on Netflix

Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead is the director's first foray into zombies since his 2004 feature film debut, Dawn of the Dead. This film sees Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) enlist a group of mercenaries to retrieve $200 million from a zombified Las Vegas. Ana de la Reguera plays Maria Cruz, a hardened veteran of the original zombie outbreak who has a history with Scott. Army of the Dead has inspired multiple theories thanks to its jam-packed story that includes multiple spinoffs, all of which include de la Reguera. De la Reguera plays Maria with charm, wit, and ferocity, making her one of the more solid characters in an occasionally uneven film.

7 Power (2017-2019)

• Power is available to stream on Hulu and Starz

Power is the 50 Cent-produced crime drama for Starz that follows James "Ghost" St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), an intelligent but ruthless drug dealer who wants to become legitimate and open a nightclub. Ana de la Reguera plays Alicia Jiménez, who's only alluded to in seasons 2 and 3 before becoming a major antagonist in seasons 4 and 5. Alicia is the leader of the Jiménez Cartel, Ghost's rival, and a dangerous and conniving opponent. Alicia is the first female villain in the series, and she brings an enthralling villainy to the role that gives the story a much-needed jolt in its later seasons.

6 The Forever Purge (2021)

• The Forever Purge is available to stream on Max

There's a large gap between the best film in The Purge franchise and the worst, but each one always ends up offering a new angle on the astoundingly original idea. The Forever Purge lands somewhere in the middle with a 49% on Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn't give its action-packed setpieces and winning lead performance by Ana de la Reguera enough credit. In this entry, the Purgers continue killing even after the 24-hour timeline. Without the main conceit, this film simply becomes a generic action thriller. However, the story is quite strong and de la Reguera manages to inject her character Adela with a lot of heart, something often missing from the franchise.

5 Narcos (2015)

• Narcos is available to stream on Netflix

Narcos is Netflix's semi-accurate crime drama that follows the rise of drug cartels in South and Central America, starting with Pablo Escobar. Ana de la Reguera plays Elisa Álvarez in season 1, a leader of the M-19 guerrilla faction. Álvarez is part of the revolutionaries until she realizes that the leaders are working with Escobar, and she defects to the DEA. The series is an intense and intriguing blend of real-life events and drama that greatly benefits from the fantastic actors at the center. De laReguera plays the hardened Álvarez as an almost haunted figure, and when she helps the DEA, it isn't a surprise that her morals overcome her politics.

4 Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)

• Twin Peaks: The Return is available to stream on Paramount+

Twin Peaks: The Return is the long-awaited next page in David Lynch's psychological and complex Twin Peaks series. Premiering in 2017, Twin Peaks: The Return is set 25 years after the event of Twin Peaks season 2. Ana de la Reguera only appears in one episode as Natalie in episode 12. Despite her little screen time, Natalie has a memorable scene at the end of the episode, speaking with Abbie (Elizabeth Anweis). No one in the scene reappears in the show, and they almost seem to serve as audience avatars. It's totally bizarre and de la Reguera slides perfectly into Lynch's unimitable world.

3 Eastbound & Down (2010)

• Eastbound & Down is available to stream on Max

, and Ana de la Reguera gets to become a part of this legendary show in season 2 as Vida, Kenny Powers' (McBride) love interest. The series follows Kenny, a has-been MLB star who has to return to his hometown to get his life back on track. Kenny gets himself into all kinds of predicaments including getting himself stuck in Mexico where he meets Vida. Matching McBride's boisterous comedy style is a tall order, but de la Reguera wholly matches the ridiculousness of the series. She sings, fights, and rides roller coasters alongside McBride and is just as funny as he is.

2 Goliath (2018-2021)

• Goliath is available to stream on Prime Video

Ana de la Reguera plays Marisol Silva in Amazon's Goliath, a legal drama about a down-and-out lawyer Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thornton). Marisol appears in the main cast of season 2 and season 3 as a city councilwoman who aims to be the first Latina mayor of Los Angeles. The series has an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for its compelling performances. While it's a bit eye-rolling to see de la Reguera stereotyped as someone with ties to drug cartels again, her deft performance makes Marisol one of the best characters in Goliath. She's whip-smart and charming but with a distinct cunning that fools even Billy.

1 Nacho Libre (2006)

• Nacho Libre is available to stream on Paramount+

While Nacho Libre may not have high critical scores, its lasting appeal and cult appreciation cannot be denied. Starring Jack Black as a friar turned luchador, Nacho Libre is a heartwarming, hilarious, and oddball sports film that actually manages to have some spine-tingling athletic moments. De la Reguera plays Nacho's forbidden love interest, Sister Encarnación. Perfectly cast as the strong-willed nun, de la Reguera has some surprisingly emotional scenes alongside Black and is still in on the joke enough to make the awkward comedy work. It could have been a thankless part, overshadowed by Black, but Ana de la Reguera makes Sister Encarnación integral.