Del Castillo, who helped to set up meeting between Sean Penn and drug kingpin in 2015, also says Penn betrayed her

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Mexican actor Kate del Castillo said she is suing former officials for $60m in “moral and material damages” because of what she calls “political persecution” against her.

Soap actor Kate del Castillo: from Mexican starlet to drug lord's sweetheart Read more

Mexican authorities investigated Del Castillo following the secret meeting she arranged with Sean Penn and former fugitive drug boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán in 2015. She was never charged, but claims that prosecutors leaked information that damaged her reputation.

Del Castillo arranged the meeting because she was considering doing a documentary or film about Guzman’s life, but said she currently has no plans to pursue such a project.

She also said at a news conference in Mexico on Thursday that she is no longer in touch with Penn and believes he betrayed her.

“Sean Penn apparently helped in the location and detention” of Guzman, now on trial in New York, she said. “I was not aware of that situation, and that is why I have always referred to it as betrayal.”

“He behaved very badly because he didn’t protect me and put my life at risk,” said Del Castillo, who implied she would like to kick the American actor in the groin.

He behaved very badly because he didn’t protect me and put my life at risk, Del Castillo on Penn

Del Castillo accuses prosecutors in the administration of former President Enrique Pena Nieto of leaking information that suggested she might be linked to drug trafficking or sentimentally connected to Guzman, something she said cost her acting work.

She remained away from her home country of Mexico for several years because of concerns about investigations, but returned to spend Christmas with her family.

She said: “I hope that things go incredibly well for the administration headed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador.” Amlo took office on 1 December.