Karla Souza
A Mexican actress whose steely portrayal of Laurel on 'How to Get Away with Murder' broke ground and won her an International Emmy.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Mexican actress·Birthday: December 11·Millennials
Biography
Karla Souza carved a path from Mexico City to Hollywood with a blend of sharp intelligence and compelling screen presence. After studying acting in Paris and London, she returned to Mexico, landing roles in telenovelas and films that showcased her range. Her big international break came as the complex law student (and later lawyer) Laurel Castillo on Shonda Rhimes's 'How to Get Away with Murder,' a role she inhabited for six seasons, bringing depth to a character entangled in love, crime, and moral ambiguity. Souza didn't just play an ambitious professional; she became one, producing projects through her company. Her performance in the Mexican limited series 'La Caída' as a businesswoman fighting a corrupt system earned her the 2023 International Emmy for Best Actress, cementing her status as a formidable talent crossing borders and genres.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Karla was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Karla Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Karla's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the International Emmy Award for Best Actress in 2023 for her role in 'La Caída'.
- Starred as a series regular for six seasons on the hit ABC drama 'How to Get Away with Murder'.
- Co-founded the production company Chicle Films to develop content for Latin American and global audiences.
- Named one of *Variety*'s '10 Latinxs to Watch' in television.
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.
Souza is a trained dancer in classical ballet and flamenco.
She studied at the prestigious Cours Florent drama school in Paris.
She is married to Mexican TV producer and writer Jay Anania.
“I choose roles that challenge the easy narrative about who a woman from Mexico can be.”
