Lauren Vélez

Luna Lauren Vélez (born November 2, 1964) is an American actress. Her most notable television roles are as María LaGuerta on Showtime's Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO's prison drama Oz, and Elena on ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty. She also starred as Rio Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

Early life and education In the early 1950s, Vélez's parents moved from Puerto Rico to Brooklyn, New York City, where she and her identical twin sister, Lorraine Vélez, were born. The twins have five other sisters and one brother. Vélez's father, a New York City Police Department officer, eventually bought a house in Far Rockaway, Queens, and moved the family there. The twins staged improvised plays and acting for the family and participated in nearly all their high school drama productions, such as Fiddler on the Roof. After graduating from Beach Channel High School in 1982, they received scholarships to attend the Alvin Ailey Dance School. They went on to study acting at The Acting Studio - New York with its founding artistic director James Price, protégé and personal friend of Sanford Meisner. Lauren also studied Shakespeare with Michael Howard.

Career

Vélez landed her first performing job in the national touring company of the musical Dreamgirls. She was also an understudy for actress Phylicia Rashad in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, and performed Off-Broadway in productions of Much Ado About Nothing.

In 1994, Vélez made her film debut as Lisette Linares in the movie I Like It Like That alongside Rita Moreno and Jon Seda. She was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award and The Desi Award for Best Lead Actress. The movie was nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards and won an NYFCCA award. In 1995, Vélez landed her first major television role as Nina Moreno, a policewoman, in the TV series New York Undercover. Another TV series in which she performed was HBO's jail drama Oz. She also acted in the feature film City Hall (1996) with Al Pacino. In 1997, she starred in Buscando un Sueño (In Search of a Dream), the first Spanish-language film sanctioned by SAG. She played police lieutenant María LaGuerta, in a major supporting role on Showtime's series Dexter.

On June 24, 2006, Vélez won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2006 Long Island International Film Expo for her performance as Roseanne Crystal in the independent feature film Serial.

In 2010, she received the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).

Filmography +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film Year Title Role Notes 1994I Like It Like ThatLisette LinaresIndependent Spirit Awards for Best Female Lead 1996City HallElaine SantosNominated – NCLR Bravo Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 1997I Think I DoCarolNominated — ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film 2000Prince of Central ParkRosa Sanchez 2001Prison SongPrison Counselor 2007SerialRoseanne CrystalLong Island International Film Expo for Best Supporting Actress 2011Rosewood LanePaula Crenshaw 2016Officer DowneChief BerringerAmerica AdriftCecilia Fernandez 2018The First PurgeLuisaSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseRio Morales (voice) 2019SwallowLucyShaftBennieWindows on the WorldEva 2020AnaCamila 2021Rogue HostageSunshine 2023Spider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseRio Morales (voice)Transformers: Rise of the BeastsBreanna Diaz 2027 Rio Morales (voice) In production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995The Cosby MysteriesClaudine Palmeri"The Hit Parade" 1995–1999New York UndercoverLourdes / Det. Nina MorenoGuest role (season 1); Main role (seasons 2–4) 1997–2003OzDr. Gloria NathanGuest (season 1), recurring role (seasons 2–6) 1998Thicker Than BloodCamilla LopezTelevision filmNominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in Made-for Television Movie or Mini-Series 1999Strange WorldDet. Arias"Azrael's Breed"St. Michael's CrossingVicki SoleraTV seriesLaw & OrderMs. Torres"Marathon" 2000The PretenderEmily Sadler"Spin Doctor"ProfilerEmily Sadler"Clean Sweep" 2001Love and TreasonAgent Susan MestreTelevision film 2003DragnetDet. Denise Beltran"Redemption," "For Whom the Whistle Blows" 2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAttorney Shamal"Home", "Obscene" 2005Strong MedicineDr. Vanessa Burke"First Response"WantedFaye Templeton"The Last Templeton" 2006MediumElena Cabrera"Knowing Her" 2006–2007NumbersClaudia Gomez"Undercurrents", "Hardball", "Contenders" 2006–2012DexterMaría LaGuertaMain role (seasons 1–7) 2008Law & Order: Criminal IntentOfficer Lois Melago"Purgatory" 2009–2010Ugly BettyElenaRecurring role (seasons 3–4) 2011Breakout KingsCarmen Vega"Where in the World Is Carmen Vega"HawthorneDr. Kat"For Better or Worse" 2014UnforgettableAisha Conway"Fire and Ice" 2015South of HellTetraMain role 2016ElementaryZoe Mercado"Art Imitates Art" 2016–2017How to Get Away with MurderSoraya HargroveRecurring role (season 3), guest (season 4) 2017Madam SecretaryNatalia Moreno"Labor of Love" 2017–2018Blue BloodsSpecial Agent Veronica Molina"The Thin Blue Line," "By Hook or by Crook" 2017MacGyverCassandra Glover"Packing Peanuts + Fire", "CD-ROM + Hoagie Foil", "War Room + Ship" 2018MurderCapt. Lili AlvarezTV film, pre-production 2022–2023Power Book II: GhostEvelyn CastilloGuest (season 2), recurring (season 3)East New YorkTamika MartinRecurring 2024American RustDetective Angela BurgosMain role (season 2)

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1983–84DreamgirlsStepp Sister/EnsembleTour 1985–87Stepp Sister/Sweetheart/EnsembleMichelle Morris (u/s) 1988–89Into the WoodsThe Witch (u/s)Broadway 2024The Other AmericansPattiArena Stage, Washington, D.C.

Lauren Vélez

Bron en licentie