Juan Diego Botto Rota (born 29 August 1975) is an Argentine-Spanish film, stage and television actor. Born in Argentina, he moved to Spain together with his mother (the actress and acting coach Cristina Rota) in 1978. Following early film appearances as a child actor, he landed a

breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the film industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. The si ...

in the 1995 film ''

Stories from the Kronen ''Stories from the Kronen'' ( es, Historias del Kronen, links=no) is a 1995 drama film directed by Montxo Armendáriz based on the novel by José Ángel Mañas which stars Juan Diego Botto and Jordi Mollà. It was entered into the 1995 Cannes F ...

''. He has since starred in films such as ''

Martín (Hache) Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austra ...

'' (1997), '' Plenilune'' (2000), '' Broken Silence'' (2001), ''

Obaba ''Obaba'' is a 2005 Spanish-German drama film directed by Montxo Armendáriz based on Bernardo Atxaga's novel ''Obabakoak''. It features Pilar López de Ayala, Juan Diego Botto, Bárbara Lennie, Eduard Fernández, and Peter Lohmeyer. ''Obaba'' ...

'' (2005), ''

Go Away from Me ''Go Away from Me'' ( es, Vete de mí, links=no) is a 2006 Spanish film directed by Víctor García León which stars Juan Diego and Juan Diego Botto alongside Cristina Plazas, Rosa María Sardá, Esperanza Roy and José Sazatornil. It was produce ...

'' (2006) and '' Ismael'' (2013). He has also worked as a stage director and playwright and debuted as a film director with 2022 social drama-thriller ''

On the Fringe On, on, or ON may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * On (band), a solo project of Ken Andrews * ''On'' (EP), a 1993 EP by Aphex Twin * ''On'' (Echobelly album), 1995 * ''On'' (Gary Glitter album), 2001 * ''On'' (Imperial Teen album), 200 ...

''.

Early life

Juan Diego Botto Rota was born 29 August 1975 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, son of and Cristina Rota. His parents were both actors. His father (a member of the

Peronist Youth Peronism, also called justicialism,. The Justicialist Party is the main Peronist party in Argentina, it derives its name from the concept of social justice., name=, group= is an Argentine political movement based on the ideas and legacy of Ar ...

and

Montoneros Montoneros ( es, link=no, Movimiento Peronista Montonero-MPM) was an Argentine left-wing Peronist guerrilla organization, active throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The name is an allusion to the 19th-century cavalry militias called Montoner ...

) was kidnapped and murdered in 1977 during the Argentine

Dirty War The Dirty War ( es, Guerra sucia) is the name used by the military junta or civic-military dictatorship of Argentina ( es, dictadura cívico-militar de Argentina, links=no) for the period of state terrorism in Argentina from 1974 to 1983 a ...

. In 1978, together with his mother and older sister María, he moved to

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

, Spain, where his little sister, , was born. His sisters are both actresses. His mother taught acting classes out of their apartment, before creating her own academy. He attended high school in New York and lived there for two years.

Career

Botto studied acting at the school founded by his mother in

, which later became the Center for New Creators, based in the Sala Mirador. Later he moved to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

to continue his studies under the direction of

Uta Hagen Uta Thyra Hagen (12 June 1919 – 14 January 2004) was a German-American actress and theatre practitioner. She originated the role of Martha in the 1962 Broadway premiere of ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' by Edward Albee, who called her "a p ...

. His first film appearance was at the age of eight in the film ''Game of Power'', by Fausto Canel (1983). During the 1980s he played small roles in movies and appeared in the 1990 American television series ''

Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...

''. In 1992 he landed a role as the son of

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

in the film '' 1492: Conquest of Paradise'', by

Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades thr ...

. Three years later he starred in the film ''

'', by

Montxo Armendáriz Montxo Armendariz (born as Juan Ramón Armendariz Barrios; 27 January 1949 in Olleta, Navarra, Spain)Torres, '' ''Diccionario Espasa Cine Español'' p. 83 is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. His film ''Las cartas de Alou'' won at the San ...

, in which he achieved great success and popularity. His role in the 1999 film ''

Sobreviviré Sobreviviré (English: ''I Will Survive'') is a 1999 comedy-drama romantic comedy directed by Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes, starring Emma Suárez and Juan Diego Botto, playing a straight woman and a gay man who fall in love. The film and es ...

'' (''I will survive''), about a woman who falls in love with a man who, unknown to her, is homosexual, got him more national and international recognition. His career has included films such as ''

Martín (hache) Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austra ...

'', by the director

Adolfo Aristarain Adolfo Aristarain (born October 19, 1943) is an Argentina, Argentine film director and screenwriter who is famous for his filmic sophistication and subtle examination of issues of political oppression. ''Variety (magazine), Variety'' has deemed ...

; '' Broken Silence'', by Montxo Armendáriz, ''Plenilunio'', by

Imanol Uribe Imanol Uribe (born 28 February 1950) is a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He won the Goya Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay for the 1994 thriller '' Running Out of Time''. Biography Born in San Salvador on 28 February 1950 ...

, '' Asfalto'', by

Daniel Calparsoro Daniel Calparsoro López-Tapia (born 11 May 1968) is a Spanish filmmaker, considered one of Spain's most adept action film directors. Biography Daniel Calparsoro López-Tapia was born in Barcelona on 11 May 1968, although he was raised in between ...

; ''

'', by Víctor García León; ''Todo lo que tú quieras'', by

Achero Mañas Achero Mañas (born Achero Mañas Amyach, 5 September 1966) is a Spanish film director and former actor. He made three successful short films before winning recognition and several awards for his feature film debut '' El Bola''. Biography Ma� ...

; as well as several works abroad, such as ''The Dancer Upstairs'', directed by

John Malkovich John Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Aw ...

and starring

Javier Bardem Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem (; born 1 March 1969) is a Spanish actor. Known for his roles in Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and foreign films, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the psychopath, ...

; '' Bordertown'', by

Gregory Nava Gregory James Nava (born April 10, 1949) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Personal life Nava was born in San Diego, of Mexican and Basque heritage. Nava graduated from St. Augustine High School (San Diego), St. Augustine ...

, starring

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

; ''

The Anarchist's Wife ''The Anarchist's Wife'' ( es, La mujer del anarquista, links=no) is a 2008 Spanish-Franco-German film directed by Maria Noelle and . It stars María Valverde, Juan Diego Botto and Ivana Baquero. Plot The plot derives from the experience of a ch ...

'', by Marie Noëlle and Peter Sehr; and ''

El Greco Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos ( el, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El G ...

'', by

Yannis Smaragdis Yannis Smaragdis ( el, Γιάννης Σμαραγδής) is a Greek film director. Biography He was born in Crete in 1946 and studied film in Greece and Paris, France. He appeared in 1972 with his short film ''Two Three Things...'' which receive ...

, for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Cairo Film Festival in 2008. In his professional career he has always combined cinema and theater. He is the coordinator of the Sala Mirador theater. In 2005 he directed the play ''El privilegio de ser perro (The Privilege of Being a Dog)'', written by himself, about the tough life immigrants are subjected to while trying to sneak into and live in a new country. In December 2008, and after a tour throughout Spain, ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' premiered at the Theatre of María Guerrero in Madrid, directed and starring him, along with

José Coronado José María Coronado García (born 14 August 1957) is a Spanish film and television actor and former model. His performances playing (often corrupt and/or morally dubious) law enforcement officer roles have brought him some of the greatest succ ...

Marta Etura Marta Etura Palenzuela (born in 28 October, 1978) is a Spanish film and television actress. She is known for '' Your Next Life'' (2004), ''Cell 211'' (2009), '' Sleep Tight'' (2011), and '' The Invisible Guardian'' (2017). Biography Etura wa ...

and

Nieve de Medina Nieve de Medina (born 1962) is a Spanish actress and stage director. Biography Nieve de Medina was born in Madrid in 1962. She made her film debut as an actress with a small part in Carlos Saura's ''¡Dispara!'' (1993). Following an appearance ...

, among others. He is also the author of the plays ''Despertares y celebraciones'', directed by his mother Cristina Rota, and ''The Last Night of the Plague'', directed by Víctor García León. In 2012 he wrote the play ''Un trozo invisible de este mundo''. The text, which deals with immigration and exile, mixes drama and humor with commitment. In it he acted, directed by

Sergio Peris-Mencheta Luis Sergio Peris-Mencheta Barrio (born 7 April 1975), better known as Sergio Peris-Mencheta, is a Spanish theatre, cinema, and television actor, as well as a theatre director. Life and career Luis Sergio Peris-Mencheta Barrio was born on 7 Apri ...

. In 2014 Botto won the Max Theater Awards for Best Actor and Best New Author for this work, which also won the Max Award for Best Play of the year. He has received numerous cinematographic distinctions. He has been nominated for the

Goya Awards The Goya Awards ( es, Premios Goya) are Spain's main national annual film awards, commonly referred to as the Academy Awards of Spain. The awards were established in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sc ...

four times for his appearances in the films ''Historias del Kronen'', ''Plenilunio'' (2000), ''Vete de mí'' (2006) and ''Ismael'' (2013). His career in the theater has also made him the winner of a Fotograma de Plata Award for best theater actor in 2008 for his participation in Hamlet, as well as two Max Awards and a Cosmopolitan Award. In the 2010s he participated in the films ''Silencio en la Nieve'' (2012), by

Gerardo Herrero Gerardo Herrero Pérez-Gamir (born 28 January 1953) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. He is a prolific promoter of international coproductions and collaborations between Spain and Hispanic American countries. From 1993 to ...

, ''Ismael'' (2013), by

Marcelo Piñeyro Marcelo Piñeyro (born March 5, 1953) is an Argentine award-winning film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Biography Born in Buenos Aires, Piñeyro studied cinematography at the University of La Plata's School of Fine Arts. In 1980, he ...

, ''Hablar'' (2015), by

Joaquín Oristrell Joaquín Oristrell Ventura (born 15 September 1953) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. Biography Born in Barcelona on 15 September 1953, he is the cousin of actress Yolanda Ventura and nephew of trumpeter . He has written scripts ...

, and ''La ignorancia de la sangre'' (2014), by

Manuel Gómez Pereira Manuel Gómez Pereira (born 8 December 1958 in Madrid) is a Spanish screenwriter and film director of comedies. His 1999 film ''Between Your Legs'' was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival. He is the nephew of the film dire ...

. From 2016 to 2017, Botto starred in the

TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...

drama series '' Good Behavior'', playing Javier, a charming hitman with a moral code who crosses paths with Letty (

Michelle Dockery Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born 15 December 1981) is an English television and film actress. She is best known for her leading performance as Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV television period drama series ''Downton Abbey'' (2010–2015), for which ...

), a professional thief. Underneath their cold and calculating work, they both hide a harsh and dark family reality. In January 2017 he worked on the suspense series '' Pulsaciones'', on Antena 3, where he played Rodrigo Ugarte. He played General Presidente Silvio Luna in the 2021

DC Extended Universe The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that ...

film '' The Suicide Squad'', directed by

James Gunn James Francis Gunn Jr. (born August 5, 1966) is an American filmmaker and executive. He began his career as a screenwriter in the mid-1990s, starting at Troma Entertainment with ''Tromeo and Juliet'' (1997). He then began working as a director ...

. His debut as feature film director is the film ''

'', selected for screening at the

79th Venice International Film Festival The 79th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 31 August to 10 September 2022. Juries Main Competition (Venezia 79) * Julianne Moore, American actress and author (Jury President) * Mariano Cohn, Argentine director, screenw ...

's Horizons section.

Personal life

Botto currently lives in Madrid with his wife, Spanish journalist and writer Olga Rodríguez. They have a daughter, Salma. He is also active in politics, protesting the 2003 war in Iraq and taking part in a support group for fellow children of the disappeared.

Filmography

Film

Television

* ''

'' as Felipe (Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro's mute servant) * Lucrecia (1996) * ''Augustus'' (2003, TV movie) * '' Good Behavior'' (2016–2017, TV series) * '' Pulsaciones'' (2017, TV series) * Instinto(Tv series) (2019) * '' White Lines'' (2020) * Tales of the Lockdown ( Tv series) (2020) * '' Todos mienten'' (2021, TV series) * '' No me gusta conducir'' (2022, TV series) as Pablo Lopetegui

Music videos

* ''

Somos Anormales "Somos Anormales" ("We Are Abnormal") is the debut single by Puerto Rican rapper Residente, released on January 13, 2017, as the first single from his 2017 debut solo album ''Residente''. It won the 2017 Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song. Co ...

'' (2017, music video)

Director

* "Doble moral" (segment of the collective film '; 2004) * "Gourmet" (episode of the streaming series '; 2020) * '' En los márgenes'' (2022)

Theater

* ''El privilegio de ser perro'' (2008) * ''El ultimo dia de la peste'' (2010) * ''Invisibles'' (2014) * ''Una noche Sin Luna'' (2021)

Accolades

References

External links

* *
The Unofficial Juan Diego Botto Fan Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botto, Juan Diego 1975 births Living people Spanish male child actors Male actors from Buenos Aires Argentine emigrants to Spain Argentine male child actors Spanish male film actors Spanish male stage actors Spanish male television actors Male actors from Madrid Argentine male film actors Argentine male stage actors 20th-century Argentine male actors 20th-century Spanish male actors 21st-century Spanish male actors