Veteran Cuban Actress Natasha Díaz Recalls Cleaning Houses During a Lean Period in Her Career

August 25, 2026

Veteran Cuban actress Natasha Díaz, a fixture of the island's stage, radio, film and television for more than five decades, recently shared a little-known chapter of her career: a stretch when work on television dried up and she took a job cleaning houses in Havana's Vedado neighborhood to make ends meet. She described the episode in a conversation with fellow actress Maikel Amelia, recalling how a neighbor running a rental business was short-staffed and she volunteered on the spot, telling her: "The person you're looking for is me."

The job paid 10 CUC a week, money Díaz says allowed her to repair a broken refrigerator and get through a difficult financial stretch. "I was a millionaire with that," she said of the modest weekly pay, framing the period not as a source of embarrassment but of pride. "That's why I have dignity from here to Hong Kong," she added, describing the experience as part of the resilience that has carried her through a long career.

Born in Havana on December 25, 1949, Díaz trained at the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television's actor formation school and has worked continuously since 1969, appearing in telenovelas including "El año que viene" and "Añorado encuentro," films such as "Plaff" and "Aunque estés lejos," and stage productions ranging from "La casa de Bernarda Alba" to "Macbeth." Her career has been recognized with Cuba's National Television Award, the Distinción por la Cultura Nacional, and multiple Caricato and Caracol acting honors.