Ana de Armas: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The 'No Time To Die' Star

Ana de Armas is a Cuban-Spanish actress who stole hearts and the spotlight with her brief appearance in the latest James Bond installment, No Time To Die. She plays Paloma, a CIA agent assisting Bond. She described her character as "very irresponsible," but someone with a "bubbliness...who is excited to be on a mission, but she plays with this ambiguity — you don't really know if she's like a really trained, prepared partner for Bond." Fans have praised her performance and her character for bringing back color in the otherwise serious affair of the Bond film.

The actress turned heads with her performance in Knives Out and is only set to make more waves with a host of new projects down the line. Here are some things you probably did not know about the 33-year-old actress.

1. She was born and raised in Cuba

Ana was born on 30 April 1988 in Havana. She was raised in the small city of Santa Cruz del Norte. She has one elder brother who is a New York-based photographer. Despite growing up in Cuba during food and fuel shortages, she has described her childhood as happy. She has lived in Spain and even has Spanish citizenship because of her maternal grandparents.

2. She always wanted to be an actress

She knew at the age of 12 that she wanted to be an actress. Ana did not have access to many popular media but after watching Hollywood movies in her neighbor's apartment she decided to take up acting as a career. She auditioned for Havana's National Theater School of Cuba and got in at the age of 14. However, she left the course before completion and at the age of 18 moved to Spain to pursue a career in acting.

3. Her breakthrough role was in Hands Of Stone

Hands Of Stone was Ana's international debut. The biopic was based on famous boxer Roberto Durán and she played the role of his wife, Felicidad Iglesias. The Spanish film gave Ana her big break in the US and she credits director Jonathan Jakubowicz for discovering her. Her portrayal of Felicidad was praised for being pretty on point despite certain creative liberties taken such as her smoking and drinking.

4. She has acted in Blade Runner 2049

You may recognize Ana from Blade Runner 2049. She plays Joi, K's holographic AI girlfriend. Ryan Gosling plays the role of K and Ana revealed that she was very nervous to audition with him. Her performance was praised by viewers and critics alike but the film itself was criticized for being sexist and racist. But the film itself was nominated for the Oscars and even won Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

5. She is a dog person

Ana is a dog person and has two cute puppies. She first had a little dog named Elvis. Last year she welcomed another puppy, named Salsa into her family. The puppy is a mixture of brown, black, and white fur and has a spotted pink and black nose.

6. She learned English after moving to America

Spanish is Ana's first language and her career is based on the foundation of being in over a dozen Spanish films. When she came to America, she only spoke Spanish. English is her second language and something she started learning only after moving to the US. Ana learned English in just four months by staying in a classroom for seven hours a day. "People ask, 'How did you learn English so quickly?' I'm like, 'Because my life depended on it,'" she said.

7. She will be portraying  Marilyn Monroe in a new film

Ana is all set to play Marilyn Monroe in the new Netflix film Blonde directed by Andrew Dominik. It is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. It is a fictionalized take on the life of Marilyn Monroe. It was a much-anticipated film this year but it will now release in 2022. Dominik noticed Ana's performance in Knock Knock, and while she went through a long casting process, her role was secured after the first audition itself.

8. She was once married

Ana was married to Spanish actor Marc Clotet before they got divorced in 2013 after marrying in 2011. She was then briefly engaged to American talent agent Franklin Latt. After starring in Deep Water with Ben Affleck, the two of them were in a relationship from 2020 to 2021. Ana is currently dating tech executive Paul Boukadakis.

9. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of other successful Hollywood actresses

Ana has revealed that she looks up to many actresses in Hollywood and has said she wants to follow in their footsteps. She wants her own career to be like those of Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, and Penélope Cruz.

10. She has acted alongside other big names in Hollywood already

Ana has been gaining popularity and critical acclaim for her performances. But she has already been accumulating a repertoire with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Edgar Ramirez and Robert De Niro in Hands of Stone, Keanu Reeves in Knock Knock, Miles Teller and Jonah Hill in War Dogs, Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049, and Daniel Craig and Chris Evans in Knives Out.