Jaina Lee Ortiz (born Jessica Ortiz; November 20, 1986) is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her starring role as Detective Annalise Villa on the Fox police drama Rosewood from 2015 to 2017. From 2018 to 2024, starred as lead in the ABC drama series Station 19.

Jaina Lee Ortiz
Ortiz in 2019
Born
Jessica Ortiz

(1986-11-20) November 20, 1986 (age 38)
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer
Years active2004–present

Early life

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Ortiz was born November 20, 1986[1][2] in California and raised in The Bronx, New York.[3] Ortiz's father, Joe Ortiz, is Puerto Rican and a retired NYPD first grade detective. She began her dance training at the age of nine by taking salsa/mambo classes; and, at the age of 15, she began teaching. By the next year, Ortiz was traveling internationally as a professional instructor and performer.[3][4]

Ortiz started acting by appearing in student films.[4] She studied for two years at Maggie Flanigan Studios, where she learned the Meisner technique.[3][4]

Career

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In 2009, Ortiz auditioned and was cast on the second season of VH1's reality show Scream Queens,[5] where she and nine other aspiring actresses competed in challenges based on acting for the opportunity to win the prize of a role in Saw 3D.[3][5] The show premiered on August 2, 2010[3][5] and on the season finale, Ortiz was named first runner-up.[6]

In 2012, Ortiz was in a photo used in the Modern Family episode Yard Sale where she was beauty pageant contestant Miss Galapa.[7]

In 2013, Ortiz landed the role as a series regular in The After, produced by The X-Files creator, Chris Carter.[8] The pilot, which began airing via Amazon Video in February 2014,[9] received positive feedback and was ordered to series.[10][11] However, on January 5, 2015, Amazon Studios canceled the show.[12][13] Two months later, Ortiz was cast as the female lead in Rosewood on Fox. Rosewood ran for two seasons.[14][15] In 2017, she had a recurring role during the second season of USA Network drama series, Shooter.[16] Ortiz appeared in the comedy film Girls Trip, playing herself.

In 2017, Ortiz was cast in a leading role on the spin-off to ABC's longest-running drama series Grey's Anatomy, titled Station 19.[17][18][19] In 2023, Ortiz starred in the thriller film Righteous Thieves[20] and in the historical drama film The Long Game.[21][22]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
2004 Sad Spanish Song Spanish Rice
2008 High Voltage Dancer Short film
2012 Misfire I.C.
2013 Laid Out Daniela Short film
2017 Girls Trip Herself
2023 Righteous Thieves Lucille
The Long Game Lucy Pena
TBA The Vortex Ginny Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Scream Queens Herself Contestant, credited as Jessica Ortiz (8 episodes)
2012 The Shop Petrona 6 episodes
Modern Family Pageant Contestant 1 episode
2014 The After Officer Marly Muñoz Pilot
2015–2017 Rosewood Detective Annalise Villa Main role, 44 episodes
Nominated — Imagen Award for Best Actress – Television
2017 Shooter Angela Tio Recurring role, 4 episodes
2018–2022 Grey's Anatomy Captain Andrea "Andy" Herrera Recurring role, 4 episodes
2018–2024 Station 19 Series regular (Lead role), 105 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "Jaina Lee Ortiz on Instagram: 'Thank u tt for the cutest Birthday dressing room door decoration. 😘🌷💋'". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Ortiz, Jaina Lee. "Tears of happiness. Blessed to live another year, celebrating a new chapter with people I adore.... https://www.instagram.com/p/BNDhjkmhrLS/". Twitter. Retrieved February 12, 2018. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e "Jessica Ortiz NALIPster competing on vh1's "Scream Queens 2"". The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (June 23, 2015). "CAA Signs 'Rosewood' Female Lead Jaina Lee Ortiz". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Larsen, Peter (July 23, 2010). "Comic-Con: This O.C. 'Scream Queen' has Hollywood dreams". The Orange County Register. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Suarez, Jessica (September 28, 2010). "Scream Queens 2 Recap – Finale – The Final Girl". VH1. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  7. ^ Ortiz, Jaina [@jainaleeortiz] (September 26, 2012). "I was so excited to stand next to Sofia Vergara for a still photo". Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via Instagram.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 7, 2013). "Quartet Join Amazon Drama Pilot 'The After'". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 6, 2014). "Amazon Studios Launches 10 Pilots, in Hunt for Second Wave of Series". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  10. ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (March 11, 2014). "Amazon to Order Four Series Including Drama From 'X-Files' Creator (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  11. ^ Spangler, Todd (March 31, 2014). "Amazon Greenlights 6 Series, Including Chris Carter's 'The After,' and Renews 'Alpha House'". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 5, 2015). "Chris Carter Drama Series 'The After' Not Going Forward At Amazon Studios". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 5, 2015). "Amazon Studios Scraps Series Order for Chris Carter's 'The After' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2015). "Fox Fall 2015 Schedule: 'Minority Report' On Monday, 'New Girl' Held For Midseason". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 25, 2015). "Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates 'Scream Queens' Gets Two Hour Debut". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (April 27, 2017). "'Shooter': Patrick Sabongui, Troy Garity & Jaina Lee Ortiz Set To Recur In Season 2". Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  17. ^ "Jaina Lee Ortiz to Star in "Grey's Anatomy" Spinoff Set in Firehouse". July 27, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  18. ^ Roots, Kimberly (July 26, 2017). "Grey's Anatomy Spinoff Casts Rosewood's Jaina Lee Ortiz". Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "'Grey's Anatomy' Spinoff Enlists Jaina Lee Ortiz". The Hollywood Reporter. July 26, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  20. ^ Harvey, Dennis (March 10, 2023). "'Righteous Thieves' Review: An Unconvincing Crew Targets Nazi Art Thieves in Lowbrow Heist Movie".
  21. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 20, 2023). "'Flamin' Hot', 'Mustache', 'The Luckiest Guy In The World' Among SXSW Audience Award Winners".
  22. ^ Linden, Sheri (March 12, 2023). "'The Long Game' Review: Mexican Americans' Struggle for Acceptance Unfolds on the Golf Course in a Gently Rousing Family-Friendly Drama". The Hollywood Reporter.
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