Ana de Armas has been making the most of her summer downtime — and sharp-eyed fans spotted something new during her latest holiday photo dump: a tiny heart tattoo inked on her left ankle, matching one worn by a close friend.
The Ballerina star shared a carousel of sun-drenched snaps on Instagram this week, giving followers an intimate glimpse into a poolside getaway with her inner circle and her beloved Maltese dogs, Elvis and Salsa. The post racked up over 377,000 likes — and it wasn't hard to see why.
A New Addition to Her Ink Collection
The discreet ankle heart is the latest in a small but meaningful collection of tattoos for the 38-year-old Cuban actress. She already sports a crescent moon on her wrist, and has previously spoken about wanting to get more ink in future.
For her role in the 2025 action film Ballerina, de Armas wore an elaborate full back tattoo each day — applied by the makeup team — featuring the Latin phrase "Lux in Tenebris" alongside an eagle design. The matching ankle heart, by contrast, is entirely her own.
The Holiday Looks
De Armas turned heads throughout the photo series with her holiday wardrobe. In one poolside shot, she wore a brown patterned ribbed triangle bikini top with a halter neck and a matching thong, accessorised with a stack of brightly coloured bracelets and her hair worn naturally — damp and middle-parted in several frames.
In another, she switched into a fiery red two-piece set: a plunging bra-style crop top with white piping and high-waisted micro shorts trimmed to match. A blue paisley bandana tied through her dark hair, layered gold necklaces, and stacked gold bangles completed the look. She captioned the post with a string of cheerful emojis — no words needed.
The Work Behind the Body
De Armas has been refreshingly candid about the training that goes into her action roles — and how she approaches her health more broadly. The regime she described ahead of Ballerina was nothing short of gruelling.
"I have to prepare for action films I'm doing with really intense physical work, training, and choreography. I do it from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then I get a break," she told Vogue UK. "On the weekends, I get to go to the shooting range."
Boxing is another cornerstone of her fitness routine — and one she clearly enjoys. "It releases all of this energy, and there is nothing boring about it," she told Who What Wear. "You don't have to do the same thing every day because you don't feel the same way every day."
But when it comes to diet, de Armas takes a rather more relaxed approach. She's told People magazine that she doesn't restrict herself, with food making her "quite happy" — and her go-to comfort meal is a classic Cuban dish of rice and beans topped with a fried egg.
Mental Health Matters Too
Alongside the physical demands of her career, the Oscar nominee has also spoken openly about protecting her mental wellbeing. Meditation has become a regular practice, particularly during periods of intensive work.
"When you start doing it, and you're consistent with it, you realise how much it helps with all the things that come up for you," she explained to Vogue. "I thought it was important to figure out a way in which I could create space to take time for myself."
If this holiday is anything to go by, she's found that balance rather well. With Ballerina behind her and an adoring Instagram audience of millions, Ana de Armas looks every inch the A-list star fully in her element — dogs, tattoos, red sets and all.
