If you’ve seen even five minutes of A Man Called Otto, you probably walked away thinking, "Who on earth was that woman who just out-acted Tom Hanks?"
Honestly, that’s the Mariana Treviño effect. She has this wild, kinetic energy that makes you feel like you're watching your most chaotic, loving cousin on screen. For years, she was Mexico’s best-kept secret, a theater powerhouse who could make you sob and wheeze-laugh in the same sentence. But the world is finally catching up.
Most people recognize her as Marisol, the pregnant neighbor who refuses to let a grumpy widower give up on life. But if that's all you know, you’re missing out on the meat of a career that spans from soccer boardroom brawls to 1980s musical nostalgia. Let's get into the Mariana Treviño movies and tv shows that actually matter, beyond the Hollywood headlines.
The Role That Changed Everything: Club de Cuervos
You can’t talk about her without talking about Isabel Iglesias.
Before Club de Cuervos hit Netflix in 2015, Mariana was a theater kid from Monterrey. She was great, but she wasn’t a "household name" in the streaming sense. Then came Isabel. She played the hyper-competent, perpetually frustrated sister fighting her playboy brother for control of a pro soccer team.
It was Netflix's first Spanish-language original. A big risk.
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Treviño didn't just play a "strong female lead." She played a woman who was often unlikeable, stressed, and incredibly sharp. She made us root for a billionaire heir. That takes serious skill. If you haven't seen it, go back and watch the chemistry between her and Luis Gerardo Méndez. It’s basically a masterclass in sibling rivalry.
Breaking Into Hollywood (Without Losing the Spark)
A lot of actors lose their soul when they move to English-language roles. They get cast as "The Neighbor" or "The Wife" and the nuance disappears.
Treviño didn't do that.
In A Man Called Otto (2022), she played Marisol. On paper, it’s a trope—the "feisty" immigrant neighbor. But Mariana brought a specific vulnerability to it. She wasn't just there to fix Tom Hanks; she was a real person with her own fears. Critics like Richard Valero even argued she should have been in the Oscar conversation for Best Supporting Actress. He wasn't wrong. She stole the heart of that movie and ran away with it.
Other English and Crossover Gems:
- Overboard (2018): A smaller role as Sofia, but she still managed to stand out next to Eugenio Derbez and Anna Faris.
- How the Gringo Stole Christmas (2023): She plays Gabbi in this holiday comedy with George Lopez. It’s light, it’s fun, and it shows off her comedic timing which is, frankly, elite.
The "Mentiras" Phenomenon and Her 2025-2026 Streak
If you're in Mexico right now, or following Latin American TV, you know 2025 and 2026 have been massive for her.
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She recently starred in Mentiras, la serie. For the uninitiated, Mentiras is a legendary musical in Mexico based on 80s pop hits. Mariana has played the role of Lupita on stage for years. Seeing her bring that character to a high-budget series was a total full-circle moment for her fans.
She’s also been popping up in Stick (2025) and taking on a darker, antagonistic role in Bajo juramento (2026) as Felicia Leyva de Casanova. Watching her go from the "heart of the movie" to a legitimate villain is proof that she’s not interested in being typecast.
Why She’s Different From Other Stars
Most actors have a "brand." Mariana has an energy.
She’s the actor you hire when you need someone who feels real. In 100 días para enamorarnos, she played Remedios Rivera, and it felt less like a telenovela performance and more like a documentary of a woman trying to figure out her life at 40.
She doesn't do "perfect." She does messy.
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There’s a reason she’s been nominated for Ariels (Mexico’s Oscars) for movies like La vida inmoral de la pareja ideal and Polvo. She approaches comedy with the same weight as drama. She knows that the funniest things usually come from a place of absolute desperation.
The Essential Watchlist: Where to Start?
If you want the full Mariana Treviño experience, don't just click on the first thing you see. Follow this path:
- For the Comedy Fan: Club de Cuervos. It’s her definitive work. Four seasons of pure chaos.
- For the "Feel-Good" Night: A Man Called Otto. Bring tissues.
- For Something Edgy: Perfectos Desconocidos (2018). It’s a dinner party movie where everyone has to share their phone notifications. She is brilliant in the ensemble.
- For the Musical Lovers: Mentiras, la serie. It’s colorful, loud, and peak 80s nostalgia.
What’s Next for Mariana?
She’s currently at a point where she can pick and choose. She recently returned to the stage for a limited run of Mentiras in CDMX (September 2025), proving she hasn't forgotten her theater roots despite the Hollywood calls.
We’re also seeing her name attached to more experimental projects and international collaborations for late 2026. The "secret" is officially out. Mariana Treviño isn't just a Mexican actress; she's a global force who makes every scene she's in significantly better.
If you're looking for your next binge-watch, pick anything from her filmography. Even her "bad" movies are made watchable just by her presence. Seriously.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Netflix: Search for Club de Cuervos if you haven't seen it; it's the foundation of her modern career.
- Look for "Cecilia": This Paramount+ series is one of her most underrated dramatic turns and deserves more eyes.
- Track her Theater Dates: If you're ever in Mexico City, check the Teatro Aldama schedules. Seeing her live is a completely different (and better) beast.