Yalitza Aparicio has transitioned from early childhood educator to Academy Award-nominated actress and advocate for social inclusion. After gaining international recognition for her screen debut as Cleo in Alfonso Cuarón’s 2018 drama film, Roma, Yalitza Aparicio went on to earn a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2019, making her the first Indigenous American woman to receive such an honor. Her performance garnered widespread critical acclaim, with Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian describing her as bringing ‘something gentle, delicate, stoic and selfless’ to the role. Beyond the Academy Award nomination, Aparicio received nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Gotham Awards, San Francisco Film Critics Circle, and Satellite Awards, and notably won the New Hollywood Award at the Hollywood Film Awards for her impactful debut.

She starred in Midnight Family, released in 2024, and is set to appear in Cometierra in 2025. Additionally, she has an upcoming role in the film Dead Letters, which is currently in post-production. Yalitza Aparicio remains a powerful voice for indigenous communities and social change, embodying a commitment to both her craft and her advocacy.