Unbeknownst to del Castillo, Guzman was a longtime fan who harbored romantic feelings for her. Authorities found DVDs of "La Reina del Sur" at the safe house stormed during Guzman's initial capture. Del Castillo was contacted by Guzman's lawyer to discuss producing a biographical film about Guzman in 2014. As a result of the meetings, she obtained the rights to his life and was unknowingly placed under CISEN surveillance. Communication increased following Guzman's escape from prison in July 2015. She received a cell phone and the code names "Hermosa" and "Dama" from Guzman. She brokered an interview between American actor Sean Penn and Guzmán in October 2015, shortly before Mexican Marines recaptured him (del Castillo claims in her that she did not know Penn intended to interview the drug lord during the meeting). CISEN later released photographs of del Castillo at the meetings with Guzman's lawyer and of the arrival of the actress and Penn to Mexico.