Santiago Cabrera, born May 5, 1978, in Caracas, Venezuela, is a Chilean actor known for his diverse roles in television and film. His career spans multiple genres, from historical dramas to science fiction.

      Cabrera was born to Chilean parents, with his father working as a diplomat. Due to his father’s career, he spent his childhood moving between England, Romania, Toronto, and Madrid before his family settled in Chile when he was 15. Initially passionate about soccer, he played semi-professionally before shifting his focus to acting. He trained at Drama Centre London from 2000 to 2003, where he honed his craft.

     Cabrera’s acting career began in British theater, where he played Montano in Othello at the Northampton Theatre Royal. He later starred in Romeo and Juliet at Middle Temple Hall, showcasing his classical training.

      Cabrera made his television debut with small roles in Battlefield Britain, Judge John Deed, and Spooks. His breakthrough came in 2006, when he played Isaac Mendez, a prophetic artist, in NBC’s Heroes. He later portrayed Lancelot in Merlin (2008–2010) and Aramis in The Musketeers (2014–2016).

     His film credits include Love and Other Disasters (2006), Che: Part One (2008), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), and Ema (2019). He also starred in Big Little Lies (2017) alongside Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.

     In 2019, Cabrera was cast as Captain Cristóbal "Cris" Rios in Star Trek: Picard, making him the first Latin captain in the Star Trek universe. His portrayal of Rios was praised for bringing depth and charisma to the role. He later appeared in The Flight Attendant (2022) and starred in The Land of Women (2024) alongside Eva Longoria.

     Cabrera has been married to Anna Marcea, a theater director, since 2003. The couple has one child. Fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Italian, Cabrera splits his time between London and Los Angeles.