Ana de Armas turned 38 on April 30 and celebrated the occasion surrounded by loved ones in Madrid. She shared glimpses of the celebration on her Instagram, highlighting a special photo with her brother, Cuban photographer and activist Javier Caso.
The Spanish capital, which has become one of her main European hubs, provided the backdrop for an intimate gathering that the actress, originally from Santa Cruz del Norte, Havana, wanted to share with her followers.
Symbolic Reunion with Javier Caso
Among all the celebration's moments, the image with Javier Caso held the most symbolic weight.
Javier, based in New York, is renowned for both his work as a photographer and filmmaker and his activism against the Cuban dictatorship. His Facebook profile, inactive for some years, carries a clear message: “No more kidnappings and imprisonments. No more torture. No more deaths. No more dictatorship.”
Back in January 2020, during a visit to Havana, he was interrogated by State Security agents at a Ministry of the Interior facility and warned to cease his connections with actress Lynn Cruz and filmmaker Miguel Coyula, independent artists under surveillance by the regime. "If you travel frequently and visit Lynn, you might be someone bringing that funding, and that's concerning for us," agents told him. Javier recorded the interrogation audio, which was later edited and publicly released.
Activism and Personal Struggles
In May 2021, Javier Caso went on a hunger and thirst strike in solidarity with Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, the coordinator of the San Isidro Movement. On May 2, he ended the thirst strike following the activist's hospitalization but continued the hunger strike: "Not trusting the regime's statement, I remain on hunger strike until proof of life and health status from reliable sources is provided," he declared at the time.
A Year of Public Turbulence
This photo of Ana with her brother comes after one of the most tumultuous years of her public life.
In late 2024, the actress was spotted in Madrid with Manuel Anido Cuesta, stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and son of First Lady Lis Cuesta Peraza. The pair were seen dining at upscale restaurants, strolling through Madrid's streets, and traveling together to Gstaad, Switzerland, sparking strong reactions from the Cuban exile community, who accused her of legitimizing the regime. At the 2025 Oscars, she was labeled a "communist" on social media.
From March 2025 onward, the couple stopped making public appearances together. That same month, Ana was photographed in London with Tom Cruise, igniting romance rumors she neither confirmed nor denied: "I have nothing to say," she responded when questioned. The romance lasted approximately nine months, ending in October 2025.
Now, with her 38th birthday just celebrated and the filming of Sweat—a psychological drama where she portrays a fitness influencer—underway since March 30, Ana de Armas seems to have found a familial anchor in Madrid and her brother's company, away from the media frenzy that has characterized the recent months of her career.
Insights into Ana de Armas and Javier Caso
Who is Javier Caso?
Javier Caso is Ana de Armas' brother, known for his work as a photographer and filmmaker, as well as his activism against the Cuban dictatorship.
Why was Ana de Armas criticized by the Cuban exile community?
Ana de Armas faced criticism for being seen with Manuel Anido Cuesta, stepson of the Cuban president, which led to accusations of her legitimizing the regime.
What is Ana de Armas currently working on?
Ana de Armas is currently filming Sweat, a psychological drama where she plays a fitness influencer.