Dania Ramirez

Dania Ramirez is a Dominican actress known for her work in television and film, with a career that spans drama, action, and comedy. Discovered by a modeling scout while working at a convenience store at age 15, Ramirez pursued acting by studying at New York City's Actor's Workshop under Flo Greenberg before relocating to Los Angeles. Her early life was shaped by her family's immigration to the United States, leaving her in the care of her grandmother, and by overcoming family resistance to her chosen career path. These experiences have influenced the authenticity she brings to her roles.

Ramirez gained recognition through television appearances, including her role as Blanca in the final season of HBO's "The Sopranos" and as Maya Herrera in NBC's "Heroes." Her performance in "Heroes" earned her an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television. In film, she made her action debut as Callisto in "X-Men: The Last Stand," performing most of her own stunts. Additional film credits include "She Hate Me" and "American Reunion," part of the "American Pie" franchise.

A defining role for Ramirez came as Rosie Falta in Lifetime's "Devious Maids," a series that explored themes of immigration and identity. Her work on the show earned multiple Imagen Award nominations and a NAMIC Vision Award for Best Performance in Comedy. Ramirez has spoken about how the character's immigrant story reflected her own family's experience, contributing to the emotional depth of her performance.

Ramirez continued to diversify her roles by joining ABC's "Once Upon a Time" as Cinderella, starring in CBS All Access's psychological thriller "Tell Me a Story," and appearing in the sequel "Jumanji: The Next Level." She also played FBI agent Nikki Batista in the Fox procedural drama "Alert: Missing Persons Unit." Beyond acting, Ramirez co-directed the documentary "An American Alien," which explores her family's immigrant experience in the United States, highlighting her commitment to storytelling and representation in the entertainment industry.