Who Is Lily Santiago? All About the Untamed Star Naya Vasquez

Lily Santiago, 29, plays rookie park ranger Naya Vasquez in Netflix’s hit murder mystery Untamed, set in Yosemite National Park. Alongside Eric Bana’s character, she investigates a grisly death that has captivated viewers. The show has drawn comparisons to Yellowstone, and fans are eagerly awaiting news of a second season.

“I am waiting for the phone call. I’m like, ‘Find me on the horse on the mountain. I’m ready to go,’” Santiago recently told Us Weekly, expressing her excitement for a potential follow-up.

Born Into a Showbiz Family

Lily Santiago was born in April 1996 to Jeannie Brittan and renowned actor, playwright, and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Her twin brother, Trey, is also an actor. Santiago grew up immersed in the theatre world and made her screen debut in her father’s 2005 film Lackawanna Blues.

She later gained recognition in the NBC series La Brea (2021) as Veronica Castillo and has appeared in projects like Screwed and the 2023 romantic drama Vineyards.

Family Support in the Industry

In a 2021 interview with Black Girl Nerds, Santiago shared how her family’s background in entertainment helped her navigate the challenges of acting.
“My family gets it. I know many actors struggle with not being able to talk to friends or family about working in the industry because they just won’t get it,” she said. “They don’t know how much energy it takes, how much love we put into this, how vulnerable it is exposing yourself.”

Learning New Skills for Untamed

For Untamed, Santiago had to learn horseback riding—something she had never done as an adult.
“I had never in my adult life ridden a horse,” she shared. “I love animals so I wasn’t scared. I was just so excited.”

She added, “I had to realise there are moments where Naya really doesn’t like the horse and I – as Lily – was like, ‘But I love him.’ So I was learning alongside the character.”

Engaged to Sam Nix

Lily Santiago is engaged to her partner Sam Nix. The couple got engaged in September 2024. She announced the news on Instagram with a carousel of photos and the simple caption: “Betrothed.” Nix first appeared on her Instagram feed in early 2022.