Eiza González is a Mexican actress and singer who has achieved widespread success in Hollywood. Born in Mexico City in 1990, Eiza began her career as a teenager starring in several popular Mexican telenovelas. This early exposure helped launch her career, leading to her first American role in the teen drama series Lola: Érase una vez.
Eiza had her major breakthrough playing the lead role in the action film Baby Driver in 2017. Her performance earned her critical praise and marked her transition into Hollywood blockbusters. Since then, she has starred in high-profile films like Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Ambulance.
In addition to her acting, Eiza has pursued a music career, releasing her debut album Contracorriente in 2009. She has also modeled for brands like Louis Vuitton and landed endorsements with L’Oréal Paris. With her diverse talents and ever-growing fame, Eiza has become one of the most prominent Latin American actresses in Hollywood today. She continues to take on compelling roles across both film and television.
Early Life and Career
Eiza González was born on January 30, 1990 in Mexico City, Mexico. From an early age, she knew she wanted to perform and took singing, acting, and dance lessons as a child. González landed her first acting role at the age of 14 in the telenovela Lola, érase una vez. This opened the door to several other telenovela roles throughout her teenage years, establishing González as a rising young star in Mexico. Some of her most notable early telenovela credits include Sueños y caramelos, Amores verdaderos, and Mujeres asesinas.
González worked steadily in telenovelas into her late teens, gaining invaluable acting experience. Though she found success in telenovelas, she had aspirations for Hollywood. At the age of 18, González relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in the United States. Her natural talent and drive quickly led to her breakthrough in American film and television.
Breakthrough in Hollywood
Eiza González moved from Mexico to Los Angeles in 2013 to pursue opportunities in English-language film and television. Her first major role came that same year when she was cast as Santánico Pandemonium on the TV series From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, based on the film by Robert Rodriguez.
This was González’s big break, as it marked her transition from Spanish-language telenovelas to English-language Hollywood productions. She had to learn her lines phonetically at first due to her limited English skills. Despite the challenge, her performance was praised and she gained recognition in the American entertainment industry.
The series ran for three seasons on Rodriguez’s El Rey Network until 2016. González’s captivating performance as the iconic vampire queen opened doors for her and led to more high-profile roles in Hollywood blockbusters.
Mainstream Success
Eiza González achieved mainstream success in Hollywood starting in 2016. Her breakout role was as the female lead Darling in the action film Baby Driver directed by Edgar Wright. She starred opposite Ansel Elgort as a trigger-happy criminal and love interest. Baby Driver was a critical and commercial hit, earning over $226 million worldwide.
González went on to land major supporting roles in blockbuster franchises. She played the tech expert Madam M in The Fast and the Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. She also starred as Maia in the monster action movie Godzilla vs. Kong. Both films earned over $700 million globally, cementing González’s status as a bankable star who could attract big audiences.
Other notable projects during this period include the robot boxing movie Bumblebee, a prequel in the Transformers series, and Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel. González demonstrated both her action chops and ability to play more dramatic roles across these blockbuster films. She quickly became one of the most in-demand Latinx actors in Hollywood. Her mainstream success proved she could headline and support major studio tentpoles that made hundreds of millions at the box office.
Critical Acclaim
González’s breakout performance earned her multiple nominations and awards. She won the Detroit Film Critics Society Breakthrough Award and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards. González also received nominations from the Teen Choice Awards and Imagen Awards.
The accolades affirmed González’s rising star power and ability to captivate audiences. Her nuanced performance as the bold and unpredictable Darling marked a defining point in her career.
Music Career
Eiza González pursued a career in music early on. At age 15, she was signed to EMI Televisa and released her debut album Contracorriente in 2009. The album contained pop and rock-influenced songs, mostly co-written by González. It peaked at #17 on the Mexican Albums Chart and was certified Gold.
She released two singles from Contracorriente – “Mi Destino Soy Yo” and “Te Acordarás de Mí.” The music videos showcased her singing and playing guitar. González also contributed songs to telenovela soundtracks she acted in.
In 2012, González released her second and final studio album Te Acordarás de Mí. It expanded on her pop rock sound and lyrical themes of love and heartbreak. The album reached #33 on the Mexican Albums Chart. It was led by the top 40 single “Te Acordarás de Mí,” her best performing song as a musical artist.
While González’s music career was short, she showcased vocal talent and versatility across pop, rock and Latin genres. Her albums and songs were moderately successful in Mexico. She ultimately shifted her focus back to acting full-time, leaving music behind.
Modeling and Endorsements
Eiza González kickstarted her career as a model and brand ambassador in Mexico. She landed her first job modeling for Televisa Deportes at just 16 years old. This opened doors for major campaigns and fashion shows in Latin America.
In 2007, González moved to New York to pursue modeling internationally. She signed with the modeling agency Glamour and participated in fashion weeks around the world. She modeled for designers like Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, and Roberto Cavalli.
Eiza’s stunning Latin looks have made her a coveted brand ambassador. She has represented L’Oréal Paris as their Global Brand Ambassador. She has also been the face of Bobbi Brown cosmetics, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, and other major brands.
Some of her notable campaigns include:
- TV commercials for Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Volkswagen in Latin America.
- Print ads for Barneys New York, True Religion, John Frieda hair products, and glamorous editorials in magazines like GQ, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Billboard.
González’s profile as a model led to her debut acting role in the Mexican telenovela Lola: Érase una vez. Her crossover success demonstrates her star power and ability to excel in the high-pressure world of fashion. Brands recognize Eiza González as the complete package – stunning beauty combined with professionalism and work ethic. Her modeling career shows her determination to succeed in the entertainment industry from a young age.
Activism and Charity
Eiza González has been a vocal supporter of important social causes throughout her career. She has used her platform to advocate for immigrant rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ acceptance in both the United States and Mexico.
González often speaks out about her own background as an immigrant, calling for more compassionate immigration policies. In 2018, she joined the campaign Welcome.US to support new immigrants in America. She also partnered with the National Immigration Law Center, speaking at their gala about the struggles faced by immigrant women and families.
In addition, González is an ally of the LGBTQ community. She has appeared in events for GLAAD and spoken about the importance of equal rights. During Pride Month in 2021, she shared posts affirming her support for the LGBTQ community.
The actress also champions women’s empowerment and gender equality. She mobilized her fans to register to vote leading up to the 2020 election. González frequently highlights women’s achievements and calls for an end to gender-based violence.
To support these causes, González works with and promotes several nonprofit organizations. She has collaborated with Planned Parenthood to raise awareness of women’s health care issues. She also supports the efforts of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. González uses her platform not just to advocate, but also to drive donations and volunteer efforts for these important organizations.
Personal Life
Born in Mexico City, Eiza González comes from a family of entertainers. Her parents are both models and her great-grandparents were actors.
González keeps her personal life private but has been romantically linked to several high-profile actors over the years. She dated businessman Pepe Diaz from 2013 to 2016. She was also rumored to be dating actor Liam Hemsworth in 2013 after they were spotted together multiple times.
In 2016, González began a relationship with actor Josh Duhamel after they co-starred in the film Planet Terror. The couple dated for about a year before breaking up in 2017. González was next linked to Calvin Harris in 2018, though they never confirmed their relationship.
More recently, she has been dating lacrosse player Paul Rabil since 2019. The two seem very happy together and Rabil has described González as his “ride or die.” They share a love of fitness and often post photos on social media showing their active lifestyles.
Outside of acting, González enjoys activities like boxing, yoga, and hiking. She also plays the drums and is interested in photography. She loves animals and has three rescue dogs that she adores.
González stays connected to her Mexican roots and frequently visits family in Mexico City. She speaks fondly of the culture and food from her childhood growing up in Mexico.
Future Projects
Eiza González has had a significant impact on Mexican representation in Hollywood. As one of the most prominent Mexican actresses working today, she has helped break barriers for Latinx talent. González has spoken openly about the importance of representing Mexico in a positive and empowering way through her roles.
Some of González’s most notable upcoming projects demonstrate her range and star power. She is set to star opposite Jason Momoa in the action thriller Ambulance, reteaming with Michael Bay who gave González her first big break with Transformers. She will also headline the adventure movie I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, based on the bestselling YA novel.
On the television side, González will produce and star in From Scratch, a limited series for Netflix based on the memoir by Tembi Locke. She was also recently cast in the HBO Max thriller series Idol, about the dark underbelly of the Latin American music industry. As one of the most in-demand Latinx talents in the entertainment industry today, Eiza González’s future looks very bright. She will continue breaking barriers and representing Mexico on the global stage for years to come.
