Netflix’s El secreto del río—or The Secret of the River for those of us watching with English subs—is one of those rare shows that just sticks to your ribs. It isn't just the sweaty, vibrant landscape of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or the heavy mystery at its core. It’s the faces. The cast of The Secret of the River carries a weight that feels way too authentic for a standard streaming drama. Honestly, if you felt like you were watching real people rather than actors hitting marks, there’s a good reason for that.
The show jumps between two timelines, which is always a risky move. Usually, one half of the cast is great and the other feels like a filler episode. Not here. Whether we are in the past following the young Erik and Manuel or in the present with their adult counterparts, the emotional continuity is seamless. It’s a story about a dark secret, yeah, but it’s actually about identity, Muxe culture, and how the dirt we bury as kids grows into a forest when we’re older.
The Heart of the Show: Who Plays Erik and Manuel?
Diego Calva. You probably recognize him from Babylon or Narcos: Mexico. He plays the adult Erik with this sort of frayed, nervous energy that makes you want to reach through the screen and give him a Xanax. Erik is the one who stayed behind in the village, and Calva plays that "stuck" feeling perfectly. He’s a massive talent, and seeing him transition from big Hollywood sets back to this intimate, gritty Mexican production is a testament to the script's quality.
Then there’s Trinidad González. She plays Sicarú, who was Manuel as a child. This is a breakout performance if I’ve ever seen one. Sicarú returns to her hometown as a trans woman, re-entering a world that remembers her as the little boy who left. González, who is a trans woman herself and a celebrated model and artist, brings a level of lived-in grace to the role that an outsider just couldn't fake. The chemistry between her and Calva is the spine of the entire series. It’s awkward. It’s tense. It’s deeply loving.
The Kids Who Started It All
We have to talk about the younger cast of The Secret of the River. Mauro Guzmán (young Erik) and Frida Sofía Cruz (young Manuel) are incredible. Finding child actors who can handle themes of accidental death, trauma, and gender non-conformity without looking like they’re just reading lines is a miracle.
Frida Sofía Cruz, in particular, is a revelation. She captures Manuel’s early realization that he doesn't fit the mold of the other boys in the village. It’s subtle work. A look, a way of holding her shoulders—it’s all there. Mauro Guzmán plays the young Erik as a protector, a kid forced to grow up in a heartbeat because of a single, terrible moment by the river.
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Representing Muxe Culture Authentically
One thing that makes this cast stand out is the inclusion of the Muxe community. For those who aren't familiar, Muxes are a third gender in Zapotec culture, largely found in Oaxaca. They aren't "men dressed as women" in the Western sense; they occupy their own distinct social and cultural space.
The show didn’t just hire actors to "play" Muxe. They cast real members of the community. Look at someone like Yoshira Escárrega, who plays Paulina. Or the various Muxe elders we see throughout the village scenes. This isn't just "diversity" for a checklist. It's the environment. It's the air the characters breathe. When you see the Vela festivals or the way the Muxes interact with the town’s matriarchs, it feels documented, not staged.
The casting director, Luis Rosales—who also worked on Roma and Chupa—clearly spent time in Juchitán. You can tell. There’s a specific "look" to the people of the Isthmus that you can’t get by just casting extras in Mexico City and busing them in.
Supporting Players You’ll Recognize (And Some You Won't)
- Mercedes Hernández (Erick's Mother): She is a titan of Mexican cinema. If you haven't seen Identifying Features (Sin señas particulares), stop what you’re doing and go watch it. She brings a grounded, earthy authority to every scene.
- Iazua Larios: Playing the role of Manuel’s mother, her performance is the catalyst for much of the early tension. She represents the struggle of a parent trying to protect a child who the world isn't ready for.
- Jorge A. Jimenez: Often seen in tough-guy roles, he brings a different kind of intensity here.
The ensemble is massive. It covers the whole town. But even the smaller roles, like the local police or the shopkeepers, feel like they have lives outside of the 45 minutes we see them each episode. That’s the hallmark of a well-cast show.
Why the Acting Style Feels Different
Mexican "telenovelas" have a reputation for being over-the-top. Big gestures. Crying fits. Shouting matches. The Secret of the River avoids this entirely. The acting style is hyper-naturalistic. Director Ernesto Contreras (who did Párpados azules) clearly pushed the actors toward silence.
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A lot of the story is told in what isn't said. It’s in the way Diego Calva avoids eye contact. It’s in the way Trinidad González stands tall even when the townspeople are whispering. This "show, don't tell" approach is why the cast of The Secret of the River is being praised by critics globally. They aren't spoon-feeding us the emotion. They’re letting us feel the heat and the guilt along with them.
Addressing the "Secret" of the Casting Success
People often ask if the chemistry between the leads was manufactured. From various interviews with the cast, it sounds like they spent a significant amount of time in Oaxaca before cameras even rolled. They lived in the climate. They ate the food. They listened to the stories of the local Muxes.
This immersion is visible. When you see Sicarú walking through the market, the way she interacts with the vendors feels like someone returning home, not an actor on a set. That’s the difference between a good show and a great one.
Misconceptions About the Show
A lot of people go into this thinking it’s a standard "Whodunnit." It isn't. While there is a mystery involving a death by the river, the show is a character study. If you’re watching just for the plot twists, you’re missing the point. The "secret" isn't just the event itself; it’s the secret of who these people actually are under the surface.
Some viewers were surprised by the casting of Sicarú, wondering if the show would handle the transition of the character from Manuel with sensitivity. Having Trinidad González in the role silenced those concerns immediately. Her performance isn't a caricature; it's a deeply human portrayal of a woman reclaiming her space in a world that tried to erase her.
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What to Watch Next if You Loved This Cast
If you’re now a fan of this specific brand of Mexican prestige drama, you should definitely track down the other works of these actors. Diego Calva is obviously a rising star, but look for Mercedes Hernández in literally anything she does.
Also, check out other projects filmed in Oaxaca. The region has a cinematic quality that is hard to replicate. The way the light hits the river in this show isn't just cinematography; it's the soul of the location.
Actionable Steps for Fans of the Series
If you want to dive deeper into the world the cast of The Secret of the River created, don't just stop at the credits.
- Research the Muxe of Juchitán: Understanding that this isn't a fictional "third gender" created for TV adds a massive layer of depth to Sicarú’s journey. There are several great documentaries on YouTube about the Muxes of Oaxaca.
- Follow the Cast on Socials: Many of the actors, particularly Trinidad González and Diego Calva, shared behind-the-scenes looks at the filming process in Oaxaca. It gives you a sense of the community atmosphere on set.
- Watch "I’m No Longer Here" (Ya no estoy aquí): While not the same cast, it shares that same commitment to authentic, non-professional casting and regional realism that makes The Secret of the River so compelling.
- Explore the Soundtrack: The music is heavily influenced by the Isthmus region. Look for "Son Istmeño" playlists to get a feel for the local culture that the actors were immersed in.
The real triumph of this show isn't just the writing. It’s the fact that the producers had the guts to cast the right people instead of just the most famous people. By letting the Muxe community represent themselves and giving actors like Calva and González the room to breathe, they created something that feels like a landmark in Latin American television.
Watch it for the mystery, sure. But stay for the performances. They’re the real secret.