Jaina Lee Ortiz, born Jessica Ortiz, is an American actress and dancer.

Biography[edit]

Jaina Lee Ortiz was born November 20, 1986^[1][2] in California and raised in The Bronx, New York.^[3] Jaina’s father is an NYPD 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 got her start in acting by appearing in student films.^[4] She then studied for two years at Maggie Flanigan Studios, where she learned the Meisner technique.^[3][4] 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 an upcoming movie.^[3][5] The show premiered on August 2, 2010^[3][5] and on the season finale, Ortiz was named first runner-up.^[6]

In 2013, Ortiz landed the role as a series regular in The After, produced by The X-Files creator, Chris Carter.^[7] The pilot, which began airing via Amazon Video in February 2014,^[8] received positive feedback and was ordered to series.^[9][10] However, on January 5, 2015, Amazon Studios announced they would no longer move forward with the show.^[11][12] Two months later, Ortiz was cast as the female lead in a pilot tentatively titled Rosewood, playing opposite Morris Chestnut.^[13] The pilot was greenlit to series in May 2015.^[14] Rosewood premiered on September 23, 2015 on Fox.^[15][16]

Television[edit]