Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Juan Pablo Yepez.

Diego was introduced as a new love interest of established character Myra McQueen (Nicole Barber-Lane) following a chance meeting in Alicante, Spain.

Yepez auditioned for the role then met with Barber-Lane and after a successful screen test was offered the part.

The character's first scenes proved controversial due to his ownership of a Confederate flag at a time it was deemed socially unacceptable.

Diego is also a Venezuelan national and he is characterised as a romantic person, with honest values and a fresh outlook on life.

The character and Yepez's casting were announced on 4 October 2015 via an interview with actress Nicole Barber-Lane published by Digital Spy.

[3] "This red-blooded Latin lover is cheeky, charming, bursting with energy... and the last man you’d expect to find on the arm of Myra McQueen!

A Confederate flag was displayed on his van while conversing with fellow character Holly Cunningham (Amanda Clapham).

Barber-Lane revealed that her scenes with Yepez would add fun to the McQueen family at a time they were playing out dark storylines.

Producer Bryan Kirkwood had planned to use their relationship to reintroduce some light fun and excitement back into Hollyoaks.

The actress added that viewers would learn much more about Diego's past and that would ultimately decide whether his and Myra's relationship can survive.

Myra offers to give Nathan Nightingale (Jared Garfield) Spanish lessons despite not knowing the language.

[10] He refuses to believe her, but her scheming has the desired outcome when Diego misinterprets an interaction between Myra and Nathan as being an affair.

Diego later witnesses Nathan showing Myra underwear he has purchased for his girlfriend Rachel Hardy (Jennifer Brooke).

[2] Yepez told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that it is "normal progression" for Diego as he views their relationship as being stable.

Myra viewed Diego as "young and hot" and decided to pretend she was ten years younger to gain his interest.

[15] In July 2016, Kilkelly (Digital Spy) reported that Fernanda Dinez had been cast as Diego's sister Maria.

[16] The show managed to keep a secret storyline involving Diego and Maria concealed until a revelation episode was broadcast.

[17] Jacey Sallés was then cast as Diego's mother Juanita Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz.

A publicist from Hollyoaks told Amy Duncan from Metro that Juanita had "very high hopes" for Diego and even made monetary promises if she approved of his choice of partner.

[18] On 8 March 2017, the character made "a shock exit" when he left the village, following the end of his relationship with Myra.

When Myra learns the truth, she decides to "turn a blind eye" and move to Spain with him and their young daughter.

[20] A Soaplife writer predicted that all of the McQueen family would find themselves vulnerable to succumbing to "toyboy" Diego's good looks.

[23] Sarah Ellis (Inside Soap) said "call us cynics, but when Myra first returned with toy boy Diego, we couldn't help being suspicious.