Spanish actress Ana Obregón made global headlines in 2023 after making a deeply personal and controversial decision following the death of her son. She chose to honour what she said was his wish to become a father by using his preserved sperm through a surrogate pregnancy.
Her son, Aless Lequio, passed away in 2022 at the age of 27 after battling cancer. After his death, Ana revealed that Aless had hoped to have children one day, and she felt determined to fulfill that desire on his behalf.
A year later, she welcomed a baby girl through surrogacy in the United States. She later explained that the child, named Anita, is actually her granddaughter, as she was conceived using Aless’ stored sperm rather than being her biological daughter.
Ana has said she intends to be open with Anita about her origins, telling her that Aless was her father and sharing his story as she grows up.
Now in her seventies, Ana has spoken about the emotional complexity of raising Anita while still grieving her son. She describes her home as filled with toys and children’s items, reflecting the presence of the young child in her life.
As Anita grows, Ana has also mentioned the physical challenges of caring for a toddler and how her experience of losing Aless has shaped her feelings of fear and protectiveness.
The decision attracted significant public attention, partly because surrogacy is not legal in Spain. Anita was born in the United States, where surrogacy is permitted, and Ana later became her legal guardian through adoption.
In earlier interviews, Ana has spoken about the intense grief she experienced after her son’s death, describing it as a period where she felt emotionally empty until Anita’s birth brought a renewed sense of purpose into her life.