Yalitza Aparicio became this morning the second Mexican actress to ever get an Academy Award nomination for Best Lead Actress for her role as Cleo in Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, after Salma Hayek earned her nomination for the starring role in the 2002 biopic film Frida.
Born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Aparicio had never acted before and was studying to become a school teacher. She was selected to play the leading role in Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma after participating in a cast in which she originally attended accompanying her sister.
Aparicio also became the first Latina to been nominated for Best Actress in 14 years, after the Colombian Catalina Sandino in Maria Full of Grace. The winners of the 91st annual Academy Awards will be announced on Sunday, February 24.
