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Adriana Barraza

Adriana Barraza

Actor, also director · Born March 5, 1956 (70) · Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico

Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Adriana Barraza González (born 5 March 1956) 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 collaborated with Iñárritu again 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 5, 1956 (70)
From
Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Works as
Actor, also director
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Adriana Barraza's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
20%
Morality
15%
Society
15%
Survival
14%
Power
10%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 13 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 15 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 15
Hero
3 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Threshold guardian
1 of 15
Herald
1 of 15
Shadow
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
16
Warm
8
Hopeful
7
Dread
6
Other
27

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Adriana Barraza's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Adriana Barraza's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

70 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Runner(2026)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Una Familia Complicada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 20 episodes · as Telma Orozco de Navarro

  • Koati: Animated Series(2025)

    Show 13 episodes · as Amaya (voice)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Follies(2025)

    as Irene

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • My Penguin Friend(2024)

    as Maria

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Clemencia Ríos

  • Dark Obsession(2023)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Blue Beetle(2023)

    as Nana Reyes

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Where the Tracks End(2023)

    as Georgina

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Monica(2022)

    as Leticia

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Diary of a Gigolo(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Minou

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Koati(2021)

    as Amaya (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Bingo Hell(2021)

    as Lupita

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Dark Blood(2021)

    as Gloria Vera

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • We Can Be Heroes(2020)

    as Grandma Moreno

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Action Director · as Maria Vega

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Rambo: Last Blood(2019)

    as María Beltrán

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dora and the Lost City of Gold(2019)

    as Abuela Valerie

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Coyote Lake(2019)

    as Teresa

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Bibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Licha Mendoza

  • Crazy About Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mercedes

  • Al Otro Lado del Muro(2018)

    Show 78 episodes · as Carmen Rosales

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • First Law(2017)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Estocolmo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Everything Else (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Doña Flor

  • Perros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Abogada

  • Silvana Sin Lana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 121 episodes · as Trini

  • Entrenando a mi papá(2015)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The 33(2015)

    as Marta

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Wild Horses(2015)

    as Mrs. Davis

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Dueños del Paraíso(2015)

    Show 69 episodes · as Irene Medrano

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Yefon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Jillian Parkman

  • Cake(2014)

    as Silvana

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Strain(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Guadalupe Elizalde

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Night Has Settled(2014)

    as Aida

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Good Day, Ramon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Esperanza

  • Mariachi Gringo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Magdalena

  • The Secret of the Jade Medallion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Cornelia

  • The Snitch Cartel(2011)

    as La Abuela

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Cerro Bayo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Marta

  • Thor(2011)

    as Isabela Alvarez

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • From Prada to Nada(2011)

    as Aurelia Jimenez

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Te presento a Laura(2010)

    as Conchita

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Revolución (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Chayo

  • Burning Palms(2010)

    as Louisa Alvarez

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • And Soon the Darkness(2010)

    as Rosamaria

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Love on a Weekend(2009)

    as Sofía

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Sucedió en un día (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Rage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Anita de Los Angeles

  • Drag Me to Hell(2009)

    as Shaun San Dena

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Henry Poole Is Here(2008)

    as Esperanza

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Capadocia(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Silvia

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Babel(2006)

    as Amelia

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Carmen Delko

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Cómplices al rescate(2002)

    Show 132 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Adventures in Time(2001)

    Show 105 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Spring(2001)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Amores Perros(2000)

    as Mama Octavio

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Locura de Amor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 115 episodes · Director

  • Nunca te olvidaré(1999)

    Show 94 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Vivo por Elena(1998)

    Show 115 episodes · as Hilda

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • La primera noche(1998)

    as Mamá Bruno

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Conversando con Cristina Pacheco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adriana Barraza · as Self

  • Alguna Vez Tendremos Alas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 235 episodes · as Clara Domínguez

  • La paloma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 50 episodes · as Madre Clara

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Dolores Salazar

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Crystal Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 120 episodes · as Flora

  • Cut Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • El Gato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Alma

  • Hágase tu voluntad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles, 66 of them dated from 1994 to 2026; peak year 2022.

Biggest box office

Babel (2006)

$135M worldwide

Highest rated

Babel (2006)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19942026

Peak 2022 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 13 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 69: 64 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thDirecting4 of 69: 4 only directing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 69: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2000s10 · 7 acting · 3 crew2010s32 · acting2020s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 7% of 28 roles
981323

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

6 major nominations and no wins, 2007.

  1. 2007
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Adriana Barraza's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 46 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Koati: Animated Series (2025)

97th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Amores Perros (2000)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Adriana Barraza's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles23–88 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles0–79 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles50–82 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles17–74 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles38–90 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Adriana Barraza work with?

People who share at least 2 of Adriana Barraza's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sergio Jiménez shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers