Jacqueline Arenal Reveals How She Met Her Husband Alfredo and Their Reunion 25 Years Later: "The Sequel Was Even Better"

Cuban actress Jacqueline Arenal has opened up about the intimate details of how she first met her husband, Alfredo, and how, after 25 years apart, they were unexpectedly brought back together.

In an interview with La Familia Cubana, Arenal reminisced about their early relationship, which began when they were both quite young. "We dated when we were very young. He was studying medicine, and I was studying acting. It was a beautiful relationship, one of those that end because life takes you in different directions, but without any hard feelings," she shared.

After their breakup, each pursued their own paths. Alfredo became a cardiovascular surgeon and worked at the Cardiocentro, while Arenal focused on building her acting career. Although they were aware of each other's lives — he occasionally saw her work, and she knew he had married and had two children — they never crossed paths.

"We didn't see each other for 25 years. We didn't even run into each other on a corner in Havana, which could have happened," she recounted.

Their paths crossed again during the pandemic, on the day when health restrictions started to ease. Arenal decided to attend a book launch by writer Leonardo Padura at a Havana restaurant.

Arriving late, she couldn't sit at the main table and instead found herself with a group of doctors. Among them was Alfredo's best friend, who was familiar with the couple's youthful romance.

"He asked for a photo to send to a friend. I assumed it was because I am a public figure. Then he showed me the phone, and I saw it was Alfredo," the actress narrated.

At that moment, she learned that he had divorced and had nearly attended the same event. Shortly thereafter, Alfredo reached out, and they began reconnecting.

"The sequel was even better," Arenal confessed, summarizing this new chapter in their love story.