Mayrín Villanueva is a Mexican actress and model best known for playing Silvia Olvera in the long-running Televisa comedy series Vecinos and for starring in several acclaimed telenovelas over a career spanning nearly three decades.
She built her name through standout lead roles in telenovelas such as Mentir para vivir and Una familia con suerte, earning multiple nominations at the TVyNovelas Awards along the way.
Mayrín Villanueva Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mayrín Villanueva Ulloa |
| Born | October 8, 1970 — Mexico City, Mexico |
| Age | 56 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Known For | Vecinos, Mentir para vivir, Corazón de Oro |
| Spouse | Eduardo Santamarina (m. 2009) |
| Children | 3 (Sebastián Poza, Romina Poza, Julia Santamarina) |
| Net Worth | $1.5 million (as of 2026) |
Who is Mayrín Villanueva?
Mayrín Villanueva is one of Mexico’s most recognizable television actresses.
Her work in telenovelas for Televisa and TelevisaUnivision has made her a familiar face across Latin America and among Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States.
She built a reputation for range, moving comfortably between comedic and dramatic roles.
Her performance in Niña amada mía earned her the Best Female Revelation prize at the TVyNovelas Awards in 2003, launching her into leading-lady status.
Since then, she has taken main roles in more than twenty television productions. In 2026, she leads the TelevisaUnivision telenovela Corazón de Oro, airing on Univision opposite Gabriel Soto.
Villanueva is also known to fans for her active social media presence, where she shares her family life and work with millions of followers.
Early Life of Mayrín Villanueva
Mayrín Villanueva Ulloa was born on October 8, 1970, in Mexico City, Mexico. She grew up with a passion for the arts from a young age, drawn early to performance and the stage.
Her upbringing in Mexico City put her close to the heart of the country’s entertainment industry.
This environment helped shape her ambitions and gave her early exposure to the world of television and film.
Details about her parents and siblings have not been publicly confirmed. She has kept that part of her background private throughout her career.
Mayrín Villanueva Age / Birthday
Mayrín Villanueva is 56 years old as of 2026, born on October 8, 1970.
Her zodiac sign is Libra, a sign often associated with balance, creativity, and a strong sense of justice.
By 2026, she is actively leading one of TelevisaUnivision’s flagship telenovelas, Corazón de Oro.
Mayrín Villanueva Ethnicity and Nationality
Mayrín Villanueva is Mexican by nationality, born and raised in Mexico City. Her ethnic background is Mexican.
Her work in telenovelas has made her a cultural figure not only in Mexico but across Spanish-speaking communities throughout the Americas.
Mayrín Villanueva Height and Weight
Mayrín Villanueva stands at 5 feet 7.5 inches (1.71 m) tall. Her weight has not been publicly confirmed by her or her representatives.
She is known for her statuesque presence and photogenic look, qualities that launched her early modeling work and supported her long career on screen.
Mayrín Villanueva Career
Mayrín Villanueva began her professional career in the mid-1990s as a model, posing for a number of Mexican magazines.
That work gave her a public profile and eventually opened doors to television.
Her acting career started in 1998 with a role in the Televisa telenovela Preciosa, where she played Claudia Ortiz.
That same year she appeared in La mentira, taking on 32 episodes as Nicole Belot.
Career Start and Early Telenovelas (1998–2004)
After her debut in Preciosa, Villanueva continued building her résumé through the early 2000s. In 1999, she appeared in Alma rebelde, followed by Siempre te amaré in 2000 and Amigas y rivales in 2001.
Her true breakthrough came in 2003 with Niña amada mía, where she played Diana Soriano.
That role earned her the Best Female Revelation prize at the TVyNovelas Awards, the first major industry recognition of her career.
By 2003, she was also a mother of newborn twins, yet she maintained her momentum in the industry.
In 2004, she played Mariana Rodríguez in Mujer de madera, continuing to take on leading parts.
Breakthrough Role and the Vecinos Era (2005–2012)
From 2005 onward, Villanueva took on the recurring role of Silvia Olvera in the Televisa comedy series Vecinos.
That part became one of the most beloved of her career, running for well over a hundred episodes and turning Silvia into a household name across Mexico.
In 2007, she starred as Paula Dávila Escobar in Yo amo a Juan Querendón, a main role that ran for a full season.
That same year she also appeared in the spinoff Amor sin maquillaje in the same character.
Una familia con suerte (2011–2012) gave her another major platform. She played Rebeca Treviño across 266 episodes, earning a TVyNovelas nomination for Best Lead Actress in 2012.
Notable Telenovelas and Recent Work (2013–2026)
In 2013, Villanueva took the lead in Mentir para vivir, playing Oriana Caligaris across 102 episodes.
The telenovela was one of her most praised performances, earning her a Best Lead Actress nomination at the TVyNovelas Awards in 2014.
From 2014 to 2015 she starred in Mi corazón es tuyo as Isabela Vázquez de Castro (176 episodes), followed by Mujeres de negro in 2016. Between 2017 and 2018 she led Me declaro culpable as Alba Castillo.
More recently, she starred in Soltero con hijas (2019–2020), Si nos dejan (2021–2022), and Vencer la ausencia (2022).
In 2023, she appeared in both ¿Es neta, Eva? and Golpe de suerte, keeping a steady pace of main roles.
In 2025 she joined the cast of Juegos de amor y poder on Univision alongside her husband, Eduardo Santamarina.
By late 2025 she had begun filming Corazón de Oro, a TelevisaUnivision adaptation of the Portuguese hit Coração d’Ouro, produced by Pedro Ortiz de Pinedo.
The 80-episode telenovela premiered on Las Estrellas on March 2, 2026, and on Univision on July 14, 2026, with Villanueva starring as Luz, a devoted mother navigating impossible choices to protect her daughter.
Mayrín Villanueva Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Preciosa | Claudia Ortiz | Television |
| 1998 | La mentira | Nicole Belot | 32 episodes |
| 1999 | Alma rebelde | Paula | Television |
| 2000 | Siempre te amaré | Berenice Castellanos | Television |
| 2001 | Amigas y rivales | Georgina Sánchez | Television |
| 2003 | Niña amada mía | Diana Soriano | Television |
| 2004 | Mujer de madera | Mariana Rodríguez | Television |
| 2005–present | Vecinos | Silvia Olvera | Main role; 119+ episodes |
| 2007 | Yo amo a Juan Querendón | Paula Dávila Escobar | Main role |
| 2011–2012 | Una familia con suerte | Rebeca Treviño | 266 episodes |
| 2013 | Mentir para vivir | Oriana Caligaris | 102 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Mi corazón es tuyo | Isabela Vázquez de Castro | 176 episodes |
| 2016 | Mujeres de negro | Vanessa Leal | Main role; 52 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Me declaro culpable | Alba Castillo | 62 episodes |
| 2019–2020 | Soltero con hijas | Gabriela García | Main role |
| 2021–2022 | Si nos dejan | Alicia Montiel | Main role |
| 2022 | Vencer la ausencia | Esther Noriega | Main role |
| 2023 | ¿Es neta, Eva? | Eva Cordero | Main role |
| 2023 | Golpe de suerte | Lupita Flores | Main role |
| 2025 | Juegos de amor y poder | Inés Avendaño | Television |
| 2026 | Corazón de Oro | Luz | Main role |
Mayrín Villanueva Awards and Recognition
Villanueva won the Best Female Revelation prize at the TVyNovelas Awards in 2003 for her work in Niña amada mía.
That win established her as a serious presence in Mexican television drama.
Since that first award, she has received five additional TVyNovelas nominations across multiple categories.
These include Best Comedic Performance in 2007 for Vecinos, Best Lead Actress in 2008 for Yo amo a Juan Querendón, Best Lead Actress in 2012 for Una familia con suerte, and Best Lead Actress in 2014 for Mentir para vivir.
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Female Revelation (2003) — Won
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Comedic Performance (2007) — Nominated
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Lead Actress (2008) — Nominated
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Lead Actress (2012) — Nominated
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Lead Actress (2014) — Nominated
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Female Antagonist (2015) — Nominated
- TVyNovelas Award — Best Actress in Series (2017) — Nominated
Mayrín Villanueva Husband
Mayrín Villanueva married actor Eduardo Santamarina in 2009.
The two met while working together on the Televisa telenovela Yo amo a Juan Querendón in 2007 and developed a relationship that led to their wedding two years later.
Santamarina is a well-known Mexican actor, recognized for his long career in telenovelas and series.
Their relationship has been widely covered in Mexican entertainment media, and the couple remains married as of 2026.
Before Eduardo, Villanueva was married to actor Jorge Poza. That marriage lasted from 1997 to 2008 and produced two children together.
The divorce was reported publicly at the time.
Mayrín Villanueva Children
Mayrín Villanueva is the mother of three children.
In August 2003, she gave birth to twins: a son named Sebastián Poza and a daughter named Romina Poza. Both are her children with first husband Jorge Poza.
With her second husband, Eduardo Santamarina, she had a daughter named Julia Santamarina, born on July 18, 2009. Julia is the youngest of her three children.
Villanueva has spoken openly in Mexican media about her pride in all three of her children.
Her daughter Romina has also drawn public attention in her own right, appearing in her mother’s social media posts.
Mayrín Villanueva Net Worth
Mayrín Villanueva’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million as of 2026.
Her income comes mainly from her long-running career in Mexican television, where she has held main roles in more than twenty telenovelas and series.
Her steady work with Televisa and TelevisaUnivision has kept her among the busiest actresses in Mexican primetime for nearly three decades.
That consistent output across drama, comedy, and telenovela formats forms the foundation of her earnings.
Alongside her acting work, Villanueva has also modeled for Mexican magazines and maintained brand visibility through social media, areas that supplement her acting income.
Her husband Eduardo Santamarina is also an active actor, and the couple’s combined profile has attracted media attention and endorsement interest over the years.
Mayrín Villanueva Social Media
Mayrín Villanueva is active on Instagram under the handle @mayrinvillaneva, where she has built a following of several million fans.
She posts regularly about her professional projects, family life, and personal moments.
She also maintains a presence on IMDb, where her full filmography is documented.
Fans can follow her work across past and current Televisa and TelevisaUnivision productions through her verified accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mayrín Villanueva?
Mayrín Villanueva turned 56 on October 8, 2026. She was born on October 8, 1970, in Mexico City.
What is Mayrín Villanueva’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is $1.5 million as of 2026, accumulated primarily through her career in Mexican television and modeling.
Who is Mayrín Villanueva married to?
She is married to Mexican actor Eduardo Santamarina. The couple wed in 2009 and remain together as of 2026.
How many children does Mayrín Villanueva have?
She has three children: twins Sebastián and Romina Poza (born August 2003, with former husband Jorge Poza) and daughter Julia Santamarina (born July 18, 2009, with Eduardo Santamarina).
What is Mayrín Villanueva most famous for?
She is best known for playing Silvia Olvera in Vecinos and for leading roles in telenovelas including Mentir para vivir, Una familia con suerte, and Corazón de Oro.
What is Mayrín Villanueva’s latest project?
Her most recent project is Corazón de Oro, a TelevisaUnivision telenovela in which she plays Luz, a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter. The series premiered on Univision in July 2026.
Conclusion
Mayrín Villanueva has built one of the most durable careers in Mexican television, moving from early telenovela appearances in the late 1990s to leading TelevisaUnivision’s flagship 2026 production Corazón de Oro.
Her TVyNovelas win, seven total nominations, and decades of main roles across drama and comedy make her one of the most consistently employed actresses in the country’s entertainment industry.