Jaina Lee Ortiz
Jaina Lee Ortiz | |
---|---|
Born | Jessica Ortiz (1986-11-20) November 20, 1986 California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Actress, dancer |
Home town | The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
Jaina Lee Ortiz, born Jessica Ortiz, is an American actress and dancer.
Contents
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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]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Scream Queens | Herself | Contestant, credited as Jessica Ortiz (8 episodes) |
2012 | The Shop | Petrona | 6 episodes |
2014 | The After | Officer Marly Muñoz | Pilot |
2015–present | Rosewood | Detective Annalise Villa | 42 episodes |