Ana Ortiz (born January 25, 1971)[1] is an American actress and singer. Having pursued a career in ballet and singing from a young age, she eventually attended University of the Arts. Ortiz began her acting career in theatre, in early 2000s starred in the short-lived NBC sitcoms Kristin (2001) and A.U.S.A. (2003), and had recurring roles on Over There and Boston Legal.
Ana Ortiz | |
|---|---|
 Ortiz in 2014 | |
| Born | January 25, 1971 New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Ana Lebenzon |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse |
Noah Lebenzon (m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Ortiz garnered widespread attention for her role as Hilda Suarez in the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty from 2006 to 2010. She also appeared in such films like Labor Pains (2009) and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011), and starred in Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (2008). From 2013 to 2016, Ortiz starred as Marisol Suarez in the Lifetime television comedy-drama series Devious Maids, for which she received the Imagen Award for Best Actress - Television. In 2020, Ortiz began starring in the Hulu series Love, Victor as Isabel Salazar, mother of the title character Victor.[2]
Life and career
editEarly life and career in theatre
editOrtiz was born in New York City,[1] and is the daughter of Angel Ortiz, a former Philadelphia City Council member of Puerto Rican descent, and an Irish-American mother,[3][4] Kathleen Kuhlman.[5] As a child, Ortiz studied ballet for eight years, until the pain of dancing en pointe forced her to pursue a different artistic discipline. Ortiz graduated from University of the Arts in Philadelphia.[1]
Switching to singing, Ortiz attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City and later the University of the Arts in Philadelphia before making her professional stage debut in a regional theater production of Dangerous Liaisons. Her additional stage credits include portraying Chrissy in a European touring production of Hair, regional theater productions such as Dog Lady and the Cuban Swimmer and in the South Coast Repertory Theater's production of References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot. After joining LAByrinth Theatre Company,[6] she appeared Off-Broadway in In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, directed by Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and named one of the 10-best plays of 1999 by the magazine Time Out New York.
Ortiz appeared in several television shows including NYPD Blue, Everybody Loves Raymond, Commander In Chief, ER, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. She had her first series regular role in short-lived NBC comedy series Kristin (2001). She later starred in another short-lived sitcom, called A.U.S.A. in 2003, and later had recurring roles in the FX drama Over There, and ABC series Boston Legal.[1]
2006–2010: Ugly Betty and other roles
edit
In 2006, Ortiz was cast as Hilda Suarez, the lead character's sister, in the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty. Originally, Ortiz had auditioned for the Betty Suarez role, saying in 2008, "I was super plain. I just put on some glasses and kept my hair kind of flat and layered on the clothing", describing what she wore when auditioning for the role of Betty. "I just wanted them to remember me, so that I could be involved in the future".[7]
In addition to her role on Ugly Betty, Ortiz was active in films, which include starring roles in Tortilla Heaven and Labor Pains. She also had a voice role in Batman: Gotham Knight, and starred in the made-for-television movie Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story in 2008. Ortiz also had a guest-starring role on Army Wives during its second season, playing a waitress named Sandi.[8] She also appeared in the 2010 music video for Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra's "Cuando me enamoro".[9]
2010–present: Devious Maids and later
edit
After Ugly Betty ended in 2010, Ortiz was cast as the lead character in the ABC drama pilot True Blue about San Francisco homicide detectives reunited to solve the murder of one of their own.[10] The pilot was not picked up to series. The following year she appeared in the comedy film Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, and starred in another pilot, called Outnumbered for Fox,[11] her second pilot not picked up to series. She later had a recurring role on the HBO comedy series Hung.[12] Ortiz also starred in the independent films Sleeping with the Fishes, and Such Good People.[13][14]
In 2012, Ortiz was cast as a lead character on the ABC comedy drama pilot Devious Maids.[15] While ABC chose not to pick it up to series,[16] Lifetime picked up the pilot with a thirteen-episode order.[17] The series premiered June 23, 2013, on Lifetime with positive reviews from critics.[18] In the show, she plays the lead role of Marisol Duarte (the alias of Professor Marisol Suarez). Also in 2013, Ortiz was special guest star in the ABC primetime soap opera, Revenge, as Bizzy Preston.[19][20] In 2014, Ortiz guest-starred in episodes of two ABC shows: How to Get Away with Murder[21] and Black-ish.[22]
In 2014 Ortiz was cast in the gay-drama film Love is All You Need? (2016), based on the 2011 short film with the same name.[23][24] She did voice over work in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet.[25]
Devious Maids was canceled after four seasons, in 2016. The following year, Ortiz starred in her third unsold pilot, a comedy called Charlie Foxtrot.[26] Since 2019, Ortiz appears in the main cast of the comedy drama Whiskey Cavalier, playing FBI profiler Susan Sampson.[27]
In 2020, Ortiz starred in the acclaimed Hulu series Love, Victor as Isabel Salazar, mother of the title character Victor Salazar. Her role is acclaimed by critics.[2]
Personal life
editOrtiz married musician Noah Lebenzon on June 7, 2007, in Rincón, Puerto Rico.[28] Their daughter Paloma was born June 25, 2009.[29] Their second child, son Rafael, was born on September 24, 2011.[30]
Ortiz is active in raising awareness against domestic abuse, citing her own experiences when she was in her 20s and involved in a romantic relationship that turned physically abusive. In an article for USA Today, Ortiz notes that the final scene from the Ugly Betty episode "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back", in which Hilda sat on her bed staring at the bathroom after realizing that Santos had died, was drawn from that experience: "I used some of that subconsciously ... It's something that is always with me".[31]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Condition Red | C Block Inmate | |
| 2000 | King of the Korner | Isabel | |
| 2002 | Mr. St. Nick | Lorena | |
| 2002 | Lehi's Wife | Kelly | Short film |
| 2003 | Carolina | Christen | |
| 2007 | Tortilla Heaven | Chicana | |
| 2008 | The Winged Man | Wanda | Short film |
| 2008 | Batman: Gotham Knight | Anna Ramirez (voice) | |
| 2009 | Labor Pains | Donna | |
| 2011 | Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son | Gail Fletcher | |
| 2011 | The Last Generation | Diner Chick | Short film |
| 2012 | Noah's Ark: The New Beginning | Tier (voice) | |
| 2013 | Sleeping with the Fishes | Kayla Fish | |
| 2014 | Such Good People | Detective Diane Kershman | |
| 2016 | Love is All You Need? | Susan Miller | |
| 2017 | The Keeping Hours | Janice | |
| 2017 | Trust Fund | Meredith | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Ballet Mom (voice) | |
| 2019 | Princess of the Row | Magdalene Rodriguez |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie | Pregnant Woman | Television film |
| 2001 | Kristin | Santa Clemente | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2001 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Natasha | Episode: "Raybert" |
| 2000 | NYPD Blue | Luisa Lopez | Episode: "A Hole in Juan" |
| 2002 | NYPD Blue | Maria Alvarez | Episode: "Dead Meat in New Deli" |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine | Elena Delgado | Episode: "Family History" |
| 2002 | Do Over | Mrs. Rice | Episode: "Rock 'n' Roll Parking Lot" |
| 2002 | ER | Laura | Episode: "Hindsight" |
| 2003 | A.U.S.A. | Ana Rivera | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2003 | Greetings from Tucson | Angela | Episode: "Eegee's vs. Hardee's" |
| 2003 | Life on Parole | Loretta | TV pilot |
| 2004 | North Shore | Ana Green | Episode: "Secret Service" |
| 2004 | Foster Hall | TV pilot | |
| 2005 | Blind Justice | Letitia Barreras | Episode: "Past Imperfect" |
| 2005 | Freddie | Gina | Episode: "Rich Man, Poor Girl" |
| 2005 | Over There | Anna | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2006 | Commander in Chief | Isabelle Rios | Episode: "Wind Beneath My Wing" |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | A.D.A. Holly Raines | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Belinda | Episode: "Some of My Best Friends Are Portuguese" |
| 2008 | Army Wives | Sandy | Episode: "Loyalties" |
| 2008 | Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story | Valerie Valleja | Television film |
| 2006–10 | Ugly Betty | Hilda Suarez | Series regular, 84 episodes |
| 2010 | True Blue | Maureen Minillo | TV pilot |
| 2011 | Outnumbered | Sue Tulley | TV pilot |
| 2011 | Hung | Lydia | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2013–16 | Devious Maids | Marisol Suarez | Lead role, 49 episodes |
| 2013 | Revenge | Bizzy Preston | Episode: "Resurgence" |
| 2014 | How to Get Away with Murder | Paula Murphy / Elena Aguilar | Episode: "Smile, or Go to Jail" |
| 2014–17 | Family Guy | Cinnamon (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Black-ish | Angelica Rodriguez | Episode: "Black Santa/White Christmas" |
| 2015 | Marry Me | Hailey | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2016-18 | Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Lucy Tucci (voice) | Main role |
| 2016-19 | Elena of Avalor | Rafa (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Elena and the Secret of Avalor | Rafa (voice) | Television film |
| 2017 | Charlie Foxtrot | Angelina Torres | TV pilot |
| 2017 | Angie Tribeca | Betty Crocker | Episode: "If You See Something, Solve Something" |
| 2017 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Mary Hernandez | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Whiskey Cavalier | Susan Sampson | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2019 | Superstore | Claudia Lankow | Episode: "Sandra's Fight" |
| 2020–22 | Love, Victor | Isabel Salazar | Series regular, 28 episodes |
| 2019 | Special | Susan | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Undone | Tia Monse (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Monster High 2 | Zamara Prue | Television film |
| 2024 | Futurama | Marquita (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2025 | Goosebumps | Jen | Main cast (season 2); Upcoming |
Awards and nominations
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (April 2018) |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Ana Ortiz". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (June 13, 2019). "'Love, Simon': Ana Ortiz To Star In Disney+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ Ryan, Maureen (November 16, 2006). "Ana Ortiz on 'Ugly Betty': 'I definitely have a Queens connection'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 20, 2006.
- ^ Gray, Ellen (January 16, 2007). "'Betty's' Ortiz relishes show's hit status". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008.
- ^ "Win Ana Ortiz's Baby Shower Gift! (A $599 Value!)". People. April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ LAByrinth Theatre Company Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Claustro, Lisa, "Ortiz Went 'Super Plain' for 'Ugly Betty' Audition, BuddyTV.com, January 5, 2008, reprinting quotes from Sheridan, Patricia, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article (no date or title given)
- ^ "Exclusive: Army Wives Enlists Ugly Betty's Sister - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com". Archived from the original on 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "Ana Ortiz: Enrique Iglesias is a Total, Juicy Hunk". Latina.com. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ "'Ugly Betty's' Ana Ortiz joins 'True Blue'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (5 November 2010). "Ana Ortiz To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'Outnumbered'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 May 2011). "HBO Castings: Alice Eve To Recur On 'Entourage', Ana Ortiz On 'Hung' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ "Gina Rodriguez Lands Lead Role in Indie Pic 'Sleeping With the Fishes' (Exclusive)". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ "Gay Comedy Such Good People Wraps Production". Indie It Press. 2013-08-19. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (17 February 2012). "Ana Ortiz To Lead The Cast Of Marc Cherry's ABC Pilot 'Devious Maids'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Palomares, Sugey (May 16, 2012). "'Devious Maids' Never Maes It on the Air — Would It Have Hurt Latinos?". Latina. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ "Marc Cherry's 'Devious Maids' comes to Lifetime this summer". Entertainment Weekly. April 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
- ^ "Devious Maids - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ + data.results.personName + (2013-09-27). "'Revenge': 'Devious Maids' Ana Ortiz will guest-star - Zap2it". Blog.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Michael Ausiello (2013-09-26). "'Revenge' Season 3: Ana Ortiz to Guest Star". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ Vlada Gelman (August 8, 2014). "TVLine Items: Ana Ortiz Takes Stab at Murder, Helix Adds Matt Long & More". TVLine. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ Philiana Ng (22 October 2014). "'Black-ish': Ana Ortiz to Guest Star - Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Jeremy Sisto & More Join 'Love Is All You Need,' Kea Ho Gets 'Urge'". Deadline. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Casting Net: Meg Ryan boards 'Fan Girl,' Jacki Weaver signs on for 'Zeroville;' more". EW.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ ""Ugly Betty" Star Ana Ortiz Joins Voice Cast of Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" Sequel (Exclusive)". Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 23, 2017). "Ana Ortiz To Star In 'Charlie Foxtrot' ABC Comedy Pilot". Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 22, 2018). "'Whiskey Cavalier': Ana Ortiz To Co-Star In ABC Pilot". Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ "Actress Ana Ortiz married in Puerto Rico". UPI. June 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007.
- ^ "Ana Ortiz Introduces Paloma Louise!". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ^ Hernandez, Lee. "Exclusive: Ana Ortiz Gives Birth to a Son Named Rafael!". Latina. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
- ^ "Ana Ortiz of 'Ugly Betty' let her pain fuel Hilda's". USA Today. September 24, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ "13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations". Screen Actors Guild. 4 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ Bruno, Mike (2007-12-20). "The 14th Annual SAG Award Nominations". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- ^ "Nominees for 39th NAACP Image Awards Announced Live at Press Conference By Mara Brock Akil, Richard T. Jone, "Entertainment Tonight's" Kevin Frazier and NAACP Executives" (PDF). NAACP (Press release). January 8, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
- ^ "Nominees for the 29th Annual Imagen Awards Announced". imagen.org/. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
External links
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