Netflix’s Love From 9 To 5 Cast And Character Guide

Netflix’s “Love from 9 to 5” is a comfort watch where the characters escape all realistic standards, but for the sole purpose of entertaining the audience. So the workplace becomes a sensational place where people parade in lingerie and play Twister, and business deals get stolen under the table in hipster settings. While the show focuses on the rivalry between Graciela and Mateo as they compete to be the next CEO of Sofintim, it is also largely driven by the interpersonal connections between the people at the office and Graciela and Mateo’s enemies-turned-lovers chemistry running alongside their rivalry. With a little bit of family drama pulled in, the show feels like a perfect Netflix daily soap, which could soon be a standalone carousel within Netflix dramas with its increasing number! While you have already watched the show, now let’s take a look at the characters and who played them. 

Spoilers Ahead

Ana Gonzalez Belo as Graciela

Ana Gonzalez Belo has been showcased in the festivals for her talents, including Tribeca and the Cannes Short Film Corner. Not only is she an actress who we know from Netflix’s “El Club” and Amazon Prime’s “Harina,” but she is also a decorated screenwriter. Ana plays Graciela, the lead female protagonist in the show, who is a senior executive at Sofintim ready to take on the next promotion to become the director of the company. She has been with the company for eighteen years now, and it is only a matter of time before she takes over, succeeding Don Enrique, her former boss. She is also a single mother navigating challenges across both her personal and professional life, but all calculations start feeling wrong when Mateo, a guy she hooked up with, turns out to be her rival at work competing for the same position. While Mateo is the son of Enrique and stands a chance solely by his privilege, Graciela symbolizes the merit over privilege in the show. She is a people’s leader and works inclusively with her team while also navigating the consumer needs and client strategies with care. Her one “flaw”? Letting Mateo think she is too soft-hearted to lead—but then again, how many times have women had to hear this in the workplace while being considered for a promotion against a man?

Diego Por Ella as Mateo

Mexican actor Diego Por Ella, from “Mala Fortuna” and “Loco Por Ella”, plays the role of Mateo, the CEO’s hipster son trying to compete against Graciela. Mateo had lost his mother, Sophia, at an early age and ever since has had a rocky relationship with his father. He comes back to mend this and hopes to take on some responsibilities, but Graciela gives him tough competition. Her leadership skills and in-depth knowledge about the company structure as well as market trends make him feel like she is multiple steps ahead of him in this game. However, while this is a concern for Mateo to worry, this is also a reason that Mateo is attracted to Graciela. Mateo himself is charming and charismatic, but he lacks the ability to rally people and often gets carried away with bizarre hipster trends without thinking head or tail about it. 

Alexis Ayala as Don Enrique

Don Enrique is Mateo’s father and the reigning patriarch of the company. Ever since he lost his wife, Sofia, he has meddled quite a lot with women, attracting troubles. He is torn between Regina, whom he cheated on and out of pity had to give a job to; her daughter Larissa, who is leeching off the company card; and ultimately the competition between his son and Graciela to be chosen as the next CEO of the company. Enrique represents an older generation of leadership with enough moral blind spots that come in the way and send the company into huge amounts of debt.

Marco Trevino as Frank

Frank is best friends with Don Enrique but also brings on his downfall by embezzling company funds. Frank had sort of created a moral debt towards Don Enrique by stepping in to save him from difficult situations, but he has been siphoning the company on the grounds of that gratitude. Frank also skillfully lies as if to cover Don Enrique from yet another trouble, but he definitely has his self-interests in it. 

Jerry Velazquez as Pedro

Pedro is the head of HR and Graciela’s ex-boyfriend, who is still clearly very hung up on her. He grows more and more suspicious that Graciela has something going on with Mateo and tries to implement rules and systems to prevent any kind of office romance. Pedro is a thoughtful person—babysitting Graciela’s adopted daughter, Bere, and stepping up for Graciela—but his care also feels stifling sometimes in the way he turns it into hypervigilance. Pedro and Graciela is a burnt-out chapter, and on top of that, he did the unmentionable crime of cheating on Graciela with her best friend. 

Martha Reyes as Mariel

Mariel is Graciela’s high school best friend, to the extent that in freshman year they gatecrashed a One Direction concert together. They have ended up at the same workplace, where Mariel became the Head of Design. Despite her care and love for Graciela, Mariel ended up betraying her by sleeping with Pedro during a conference. While this was kept under wraps for a while, the truth ultimately comes out, shaking the ground beneath Graciela’s feet.

Paola Fernandez as Larissa

Larissa is in Mateo’s team, and the two have had some romantic connections previously. Larissa is extremely self-important and focuses on her own growth as opposed to building as a team. She also leeches off the company funds indefinitely on the grounds courtesy of her mother, Regina (who is portrayed as even more manipulative than Larissa and taking advantage of Don Enrique). Larissa is more interested in parties and aesthetics than actually focusing on work, and any time she feels let down, she jumps to take revenge.

Regina

Regina is Don Enrique’s lover; he cheated on Regina with his current wife, Ariadna, which led him to a conscientious hiring of her at the company. Although Regina has no contract in existence, she draws more benefits than the employees. Don Enrique has tried multiple times to fire her but got manipulated every time. 

Ariadna

Ariadna is Don Enrique’s wife, whom he married when he cheated on Regina. Ariadna is Russian and holds a command over Enrique. She is also the mother to their son Maximo. Ariadna, after learning that Enrique is not going to fire Regina, files for a divorce with Don Enrique. 

With its characters and their not-so-quirky quirks, “Love from 9 to 5” plays with the familiar tropes of exaggerated work politics, a glossy industry, and messy interpersonal relationships. Graciela’s rise to CEO as a single mother, Mateo’s inherited entitlement, and Don Enrique’s questionable morals keep things entertaining long enough for us to continue till the end. While the show is not a testament to how corporate life or love works in real life, it turns out to be a drama that is easy to watch and forget. Prioritizing lighthearted fun over character depth, it’s a bingeable Netflix watch while you are cooking, brushing your dogs, or simply picking up your chores around the house!

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