Finding the right faces for a story as heavy as The Dead Girls (Las Muertas) wasn’t just about picking big names. It was about finding people who could carry the weight of Mexico’s most notorious true-crime history without making it feel like a cheap soap opera. If you’ve been doom-scrolling through Netflix trying to figure out where you recognize that one sister from, you’re definitely not alone. The cast of The Dead Girls is a massive, sprawling ensemble that manages to ground a truly horrific story in something that feels painfully human.
The series, directed by Luis Estrada, isn’t your typical "true crime" fluff. It’s based on the Jorge Ibargüengoitia novel, which itself is a fictionalized (but terrifyingly accurate) account of the González Valenzuela sisters—better known as Las Poquianchis. These women ran a human trafficking ring and a "brothel from hell" in the middle of the 20th century.
To pull this off, Estrada needed actors who could play both the banality of evil and the desperation of survival. He didn't just go for the usual suspects. He went for a mix of legends and rising stars.
The Sisters: Arcelia Ramírez and Paulina Gaitán
At the center of everything are the Baladro sisters. They are the engine of this nightmare. Arcelia Ramírez plays Arcángela Baladro, and honestly, she’s terrifying. Ramírez is a titan of Mexican cinema. You might know her from La Civil or Like Water for Chocolate. Here, she’s cold. Calculated. She plays Arcángela as a woman who truly believes she’s doing what’s necessary to survive in a world that doesn’t want her to. It's a masterclass in subtlety. She doesn't scream to be scary. She just... exists.
Then you have Paulina Gaitán as Serafina. Gaitán is basically royalty in the gritty drama world now. If you watched Narcos, she was Tata Escobar. In The Dead Girls, she’s the "softer" sister, though "soft" is a very relative term when you're talking about a serial killer. Gaitán brings this weirdly relatable vulnerability to a character who is doing monstrous things. It makes the viewer feel icky. You almost want to root for her, and then you remember what’s happening in the backyard of their ranch. That’s the power of the cast of The Dead Girls—they make the monsters feel like people you might know.
🔗 Read more: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Joaquin Cosío and the Estrada Regulars
If you’ve seen a Luis Estrada movie before—think El Infierno or The Perfect Dictatorship—you knew Joaquín Cosío was going to show up. He’s basically the director's muse. Cosío has this incredible ability to be the funniest person on screen and the most dangerous person on screen at the exact same time. In this series, he plays Captain Bedoya. He’s the personification of the corrupt system that allowed the Baladro sisters to operate for so long.
He’s not alone, though. The cast is filled out by:
- Alfonso Herrera: Yes, Poncho Herrera. He’s come a long way since his RBD days. He plays a photographer who gets caught up in the sisters' web. His character is loosely based on the real-life photographer who documented the crime scene in 1964.
- Joaquín Manuel: Playing a pivotal role in the investigation.
- Karina Gidi: Another powerhouse of Mexican acting who adds a layer of moral complexity to the surrounding townspeople.
Why the Casting Matters for This Story
Most true crime shows fail because they glamorize the killers. They make them look like geniuses. The Dead Girls doesn't do that. The cast was chosen to look like "ordinary" people from rural Mexico in the 50s and 60s. There’s a grittiness to the costuming and the acting that feels like a documentary. When you look at the cast of The Dead Girls, you aren't seeing Hollywood glam. You’re seeing sweat, dirt, and the toll of poverty.
The "dead girls" themselves—the victims—are played by a group of mostly younger, less-known actresses. This was a smart move. It makes their plight feel more anonymous and tragic, reflecting how the real victims were often ignored by the authorities and the public until it was too late. Their performances are the heartbeat of the show. Without them, the Baladro sisters are just caricatures. With them, the story is a tragedy.
💡 You might also like: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
The Reality Behind the Fiction
It's easy to forget while watching such a talented cast that this actually happened. The real-life Poquianchis (the González Valenzuela sisters) were arrested in 1964 in Guanajuato. They had killed at least 91 people—mostly women they had forced into prostitution, but also babies and even some of their clients.
The series handles this by using a "mockumentary" style at times. You’ll see the cast of The Dead Girls breaking the fourth wall or being "interviewed" as if it’s a news report from the era. This requires a specific kind of acting—one that feels unscripted. It’s a testament to the cast's range that they can pivot from high drama to this dry, almost satirical tone without it feeling jarring.
Spotlighting the Supporting Players
You can't talk about this ensemble without mentioning the smaller roles that build the world of San Pedro de las Almas.
The corruption is deep.
The silence is loud.
Every actor playing a townsperson or a low-level cop adds to the feeling of a trapped community.
You see the complicity in their eyes.
It’s not just the sisters who are guilty; it’s the whole town.
How to Follow the Cast Beyond the Show
If you’re impressed by the acting, there’s plenty more to dig into. Arcelia Ramírez has a filmography that spans decades—check out her work in La Civil for a more modern look at justice in Mexico. Paulina Gaitán is everywhere right now, but her performance in Diablo Guardián is probably her best work outside of this.
📖 Related: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
For those interested in the directorial style, watching Joaquín Cosío in The Thin Yellow Line or Matando Cabos shows why he’s one of the most respected actors in the country. He’s not just a "tough guy"; he’s a character actor with insane range.
Essential Context for Viewers
To really appreciate what the cast of The Dead Girls is doing, you have to understand the tone Luis Estrada was going for. It’s "Black Comedy," but the comedy is so dark it’s almost pitch black. It’s meant to make you uncomfortable. If you find yourself laughing and then immediately feeling bad about it, the actors have done their job.
They are portraying a period of Mexican history known as the "Mexican Miracle," a time of supposed economic growth and stability. The show uses the cast to peel back that shiny veneer and show the rot underneath. The sisters aren't just outliers; they are a product of their environment.
Actionable Steps for Deep Diving into the Series:
- Watch the Original Source Material: Read The Dead Girls by Jorge Ibargüengoitia. It’s a short, punchy novel that explains the "mock-reportage" style used in the show.
- Research the 1964 Trial: Look up the original newspaper archives from El Universal regarding the Poquianchis. Seeing the real photos of the sisters helps you appreciate the transformation Arcelia Ramírez and Paulina Gaitán underwent.
- Explore Luis Estrada’s Trilogy: To understand the vibe, watch La Ley de Herodes, El Infierno, and La Dictadura Perfecta. You’ll see many familiar faces from the cast of The Dead Girls playing different versions of corrupt officials and desperate citizens.
- Follow the Soundscapes: Pay attention to the music. The series uses period-accurate boleros and rancheras to contrast the horror on screen, which is a classic Estrada move that the actors lean into with their physical performances.
The series is a brutal look at a dark chapter of history, but the performances make it impossible to look away. By choosing actors who prioritize realism over vanity, the production ensures that the victims are remembered and the villains are understood, if not forgiven. Keep an eye on the younger cast members—many are theatre-trained actors from Mexico City who are likely to become the next generation of international stars.