Hollywood is weird. One minute you're the face of every billboard in Times Square, and the next, you’re just a person trying to walk their dog in Madrid without a dozen cameras shoved in your face. That’s exactly where we find Ana de Armas right now. After years of being the center of a massive media whirlwind—mostly thanks to that very public, very "pandemic-era" romance with Ben Affleck—the Blonde star has done something radical. She left Los Angeles. She moved back to Spain. And honestly? She seems way happier for it.
But of course, the big question everyone is typing into Google is about Ana de Armas novio. Who is he? Is she still with that Tinder executive? The short answer is no. Things have changed. She's moved on to someone who exists entirely outside the Hollywood bubble, which, if you’ve followed her career for more than five minutes, makes a whole lot of sense.
The Mystery of Manuel Anido
For a long time, the name Paul Boukadakis was the one linked to Ana. They were together for about three years. He was a tech guy, a VP at Tinder, and they stayed remarkably low-key compared to her previous relationship. But lately, the Spanish press—specifically ¡HOLA!—has been buzzing about a new man in her life: Manuel Anido Cuesta.
This isn't just some random guy she met at a café.
Manuel Anido is actually quite a prominent figure in Cuba. He’s the stepson of the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel. He works as an advisor, often seen traveling with the delegation on official state business. This adds a whole different layer of complexity to her personal life. Ana, who was born in Santa Cruz del Norte and started her career in Havana, has always maintained a complicated but deep connection to her roots. Seeing her linked to someone so deeply embedded in the Cuban political infrastructure is, well, a choice that has sparked plenty of conversation among her fanbase and the Cuban diaspora.
They’ve been spotted together in Madrid. They look comfortable. They look like a couple that’s been together long enough to not care who sees them walking the dog or grabbing a bite to eat. It’s a far cry from the Dunkin’ Donuts runs with Ben Affleck that basically became a meme in 2020.
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Why Everyone Is So Obsessed With Her Love Life
It’s kinda fascinating how much we care, right? Part of it is because Ana de Armas has this "it" factor that feels classic, like a 1950s movie star transported into the digital age. When she was with Ben, the world was stuck at home. We were bored. Their daily walks in Pacific Palisades were basically our version of a reality show.
But when that ended, Ana made a conscious pivot.
She told Elle magazine that the scrutiny in Los Angeles was "horrible." She realized she didn't want to live in a place where her personal life was constant fodder for the tabloids. So, she packed up and moved to Spain. This move was huge. It wasn't just about changing zip codes; it was about reclaiming her narrative. By choosing a partner like Manuel Anido—someone who isn't an actor, someone who doesn't live for the red carpet—she’s signaling that she’s done with the Hollywood "power couple" game.
The Timeline: From Ben to Paul to Manuel
To understand where she is now, you kinda have to look at where she’s been. It’s been a wild few years for her.
- The Ben Affleck Era (2020-2021): They met on the set of Deep Water. It was intense, very public, and ended right around the time she became a massive global superstar.
- The Paul Boukadakis Years (2021-2024): This was the "quiet" period. They lived together in New York for a bit. Paul was a tech executive, which seemed like a safe bet away from the actor-dating-actor drama. They were rarely photographed together, which was clearly by design.
- The Manuel Anido Transition (Present): News broke in late 2024 via ¡HOLA! with photos of the pair in Madrid. Since then, the Ana de Armas novio searches have shifted focus from the tech world to the political world.
Manuel isn't a celebrity in the traditional sense. He doesn't have an IMDB page. He doesn't care about his "angles" when the paparazzi catch him on a street corner. For a woman who has spent the last five years being analyzed under a microscope, that must be incredibly refreshing.
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What This Relationship Says About Ana’s Future
Ana is in her mid-30s now. She’s been nominated for an Oscar. She’s been a Bond girl. She’s played Marilyn Monroe. She has nothing left to prove to the industry. Her choice to spend more time in Madrid and date someone like Anido suggests she’s prioritizing her peace over her "brand."
Madrid offers her a level of anonymity that L.A. never could. In Spain, she’s a local success story, sure, but she’s also just another person having a caña at a terrace. People there are cooler about celebrity. They let you live.
There’s also the Cuban connection. Manuel is the son of Lis Cuesta Peraza, Cuba's First Lady. This isn't just a casual romance; it’s a connection to her culture and her home country that she’s never really let go of. Even when she was the biggest thing in Hollywood, she was frequently flying back to Havana to see family and friends.
Addressing the Rumors
Is she getting married? Who knows. There’s been zero official word on that. People love to speculate every time she wears a ring, but Ana is notoriously private these days. She doesn't post her boyfriends on Instagram anymore. Her feed is mostly work, her dogs, and the occasional high-fashion shoot.
Some people find the Manuel Anido connection controversial. Given his family's position in the Cuban government, there are critics who feel her association with him is a political statement. Ana hasn't engaged with this. She’s always stayed relatively apolitical in her public life, focusing instead on her craft and her personal happiness.
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The Takeaway for Fans
If you’re looking for the latest on Ana de Armas novio, don't expect a red carpet debut anytime soon. This relationship feels different. It’s grounded in the real world—or at least, a world far removed from the glitz of the Sunset Strip.
Here is what you should actually pay attention to:
- The Madrid Shift: She is officially living her best European life. Expect fewer sightings at L.A. hotspots and more at Spanish film festivals.
- The Private Life: She has learned the hard way that "public" doesn't mean "better." She’s keeping her circle small.
- The Career Balance: She’s still working—look out for her upcoming projects like Ballerina—but she’s no longer letting the job define her entire existence.
Honestly, we should probably all take a page out of her book. Move to a beautiful city, walk your dog, and date someone who doesn't know what a "call sheet" is.
How to Follow Her Journey Respectfully
It’s tempting to want to know every detail, but Ana has made it clear she values her space. If you want to support her, focus on the work. Watch her films. Appreciate her talent. The obsession with her romantic life is exactly what drove her out of America in the first place.
If you're curious about the specifics of her life in Spain, look toward Spanish media outlets like El País or ¡HOLA!, as they tend to have the most accurate "boots on the ground" reporting without the sensationalist lean of the U.S. tabloids.
Ana de Armas has finally found a way to be a movie star on her own terms. Whether she’s with Manuel Anido or just enjoying the Spanish sun solo, she’s clearly calling the shots now. And that’s the most impressive thing she’s done yet.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out her latest film Ballerina to see her return to the John Wick universe.
- Follow her official social media for rare glimpses of her life in Madrid, but don't expect many "couple" hard-launches.
- Keep an eye on Spanish film news, as she's likely to take on more European-based projects in the coming years.