Seeing her appear on the small or big screen, or on a stage in a play, was enough to know, even before she had uttered a word, that the quality of her performance was guaranteed. In this way, she championed the most diverse characters, and that's why the popular saying that applies when artists move us with their work—that they can do anything they're asked to do—fitted her so well.
Of that caliber was the beloved Paula Alí, recipient of the 2026 National Television Award, who passed away this Monday. The news came from the UNEAC (National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba), in a statement that rightly recognized her as "one of the most popular, beloved, and respected figures in the island's artistic landscape," and emphasized that her passing leaves an irreparable void in the Cuban cultural scene.
Upon hearing the news, her name quickly made headlines, while institutions and social media users mourned the death of the 88-year-old actress, who until recently was seen working on television.
Her last appearance on television was when she received the National Television Award at her home. Despite her already fragile health, Paula appeared joyful and grateful, and spoke beautiful words to her audience. She expressed her immense happiness at having been able to work for the Cuban public for so many years and to have helped bring smiles to their faces. She affirmed her deep love for them, and for the country as well, and mentioned, among the most important things to her, her family, art, and Cuba.
This is the Paula we bid farewell to today, the one who could not conceal behind her masterful performances her profound humanity, a humanity that encompassed gratitude, generosity, love for her land and its people, and a deep connection to the affection received from several generations of Cubans who enjoyed her art.
"With a career spanning more than six decades, Paula Alí was much more than an actress: she was a symbol of Cuban identity, a master of the art of acting, and a woman committed to her time and her Revolution," states the UNEAC press release. It also notes that while her work was featured in unforgettable telenovelas, comedy programs, and dramatic productions that marked milestones in the history of Cuban audiovisual media, her contributions were not limited to the small screen.
Paula was a member of important theater groups, including the emblematic Teatro Estudio and the avant-garde company El Público, the text notes, also highlighting her presence in Cuban cinema, where she delivered unforgettable performances.
We have all witnessed her work, and while we admire her mastery and she earned the title of a leading actress in our hearts, she became close and dear to us, so her passing is a bitter pill to swallow. However, she is one of those people who have more than enough reasons not to be forgotten. Paula Alí will make us laugh again, or move us, every time we revisit one of her films, or when the television plays, soap operas, or comedy programs in which she left her mark are rebroadcast.
In an interview, in which she was asked about "her first forays into the arts, and specifically, into acting," she replied:
"I remember that during my childhood I dedicated my free time to playing characters I invented myself. There was a time when I even created small theater groups that performed in conjunction with certain events, like one I did for the creation of the Cuban League Against Cancer. And I organized many others for any event that occurred in Cuba."
"But it was all very difficult. First, because I lived in a rural town and I had no way of coming to live in Havana, nor did I know anyone connected to the arts world, which in those years was mostly accessible to the middle and upper classes."
In the same interview, Paula told the journalist that being an actress had always been her one and only dream. Speaking for all of us who have admired her so much, we say to her at this final moment: What a joy, dear Paula, that you have achieved those dreams, for your own good and ours, dreams that, in coming true, have also brought us happiness!
