Lucrecia Ana Úbeda Pubillones, a Spanish-born actress and dancer, was born with striking green eyes. Her early years were marked by a nomadic lifestyle, as her parents relocated to New York when she was just two years old, only to spend much of her childhood in Spain. At the tender age of six, Lucrecia found herself in a Catholic convent in Havana, Cuba, where she spent two formative years.
As she entered her teenage years, Lucrecia's family returned to New York, where she began to pursue a career in vaudeville at the age of sixteen. Her talents soon earned her the nickname "La Flor de España," and she became a regular performer at the prestigious Roxy Theatre and in various nightclubs. Her stage name, Luana Alcañiz, was born during this period, and she soon formed a partnership with the dancer Juan Puerta, who would later become her husband.
In 1930, Luana signed a contract with Fox, and her big break arrived when she starred alongside Humphrey Bogart and Victor McLaglen in the south-of-the-border adventure film A Devil with Women. This role marked the beginning of a successful career in Hollywood, with Luana going on to star in several American-made Spanish language pictures released by Warner Brothers/First National and Columbia. Some of her notable films from this period include La dama atrevida and El pasado acusa, both released in 1931.
As the years went by, Luana's career continued to flourish, with the actress making pictures in various countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Mexico. Her most notable films from this period include It Happened in Havana, Alma llanera, and Sol y sombra. By the early 1940s, Luana had established herself as a freelance actress, working on a wide range of projects.
In the late 1940s, Luana made the decision to return to her native Spain, where she set up her permanent residence in Madrid. Although she continued to work in the film industry, her roles became less prominent, and she eventually retired from acting. However, she briefly came out of retirement in the 1960s to appear in a small role in Doctor Zhivago, her scenes filmed on a set built just outside Madrid.