Dania Ramirez
Ramirez at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con
Born (1979-11-08) November 8, 1979 (age 44)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Alma materMontclair State University
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Spouse
Bev Land
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Dania Ramirez (born November 8, 1979)[1] is a Dominican actress. Her credits include the roles of Maya Herrera in the NBC series Heroes, Alex in the HBO series Entourage, and Blanca during the last season of the HBO crime drama The Sopranos on television. Her film roles include Alex Guerrero in She Hate Me and Callisto in the feature film X-Men: The Last Stand. She portrayed Rosie Falta on Lifetime's Devious Maids from June 2013, until its cancellation in 2016. In July 2017, Ramirez joined the hit ABC series Once Upon a Time for its softly-rebooted seventh season in a starring role as Cinderella.[2] In 2023, she began the starring role of Captain Nikki Batista in the Fox crime drama Alert: Missing Persons Unit.

Early life

Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo.[3] At an early age, she decided to become an actress. As a young child, she would reenact telenovelas for her family. She was discovered by a modeling scout while working in a convenience store at the age of 15, and was offered a small part in a soda commercial. Later, she decided to pursue acting seriously and studied at the Actor's Workshop in New York City under Flo Greenberg.[4]

At 16 years old, Ramirez started at Montclair State University, where her volleyball talents led her to be placed among the top five in career digs, digs/game, solo blocks and total blocks.[5] She graduated in 2001. After graduation, Ramirez moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.[4]

Career

Music videos

Ramirez has appeared in several music videos, including Jay-Z's Streets is Watching (1998), De La Soul's "All Good?" feat. Chaka Khan (2000), Enrique Iglesias’ Could I Have This Kiss Forever, feat. Whitney Houston, LL Cool J's "Hush" (2005; directed by her then fiancé Jessy Terrero),[6][7] Santana's "Into the Night" (2007), as well as "Cry Baby Cry" (a collaboration of Santana and Sean Paul). Ramirez appeared in Wisin & Yandel's music video "Dime Qué Te Pasó", in which she played the main character, the wife and mother of a military man in Iraq who finds out her husband died at war. She was also featured in hip-hop group Sporty Thievz's video "Cheapskate" in 1998.[8]

Films

Ramirez appeared as an extra in the HBO film Subway Stories (1997), where she met filmmaker Spike Lee who would later cast her in the film She Hate Me (2004).[9] She played older sister Laurie in the film Fat Albert (2004).[10] She was Callisto (one of The Omegas) in the comic book film X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). She went on to star in The 5th Commandment, a film written by and starring Rick Yune, in 2008. In 2012, Ramirez appeared in two films, playing Selena in American Reunion and a bicycle messenger in Premium Rush.[11][12]

Television

Ramirez and Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere at Comic-Con, 2018.

Ramirez appeared as the minor character Caridad in the final episodes of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and as Blanca Selgado,[13] a recurring role during season six of The Sopranos.[14]

Ramirez portrayed the character of Maya Herrera on the TV series Heroes.[15]

Ramirez was a guest judge on episode five of Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model.[16]

Ramirez guest starred as Alex, an employee of Turtle's, who begins a relationship with Turtle in season seven on the TV series Entourage.[17] From 2013 to 2016, Ramirez had been part of the main cast of Devious Maids, which aired on the Lifetime network for four seasons. She portrayed Rosie Falta, one of the main characters and titular protagonists of the series.[3]

In July 2017, Ramirez was cast as a series regular in the softly-rebooted final season of Once Upon a Time. She portrayed Jacinda Vidrio, the real-world counterpart of the series' second iteration of Cinderella. In 2018, Ramirez was cast in another fairytale-themed drama, Tell Me a Story for CBS All Access. Ramirez played Hannah Perez, who is loosely based on Gretel from Hansel and Gretel.[18]

As of 2023, she stars in Alert: Missing Persons Unit, which premieres on Fox on January 8. Her casting was announced in August 2022. [19]

Other media

Dania Ramirez at the Spring 2009 collection Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Ramirez has appeared in several magazine spreads. She has also been listed in several of the world's top publications' "Sexiest Ladies of the Year" lists. In 2009, she was added to the roster of models for CoverGirl Cosmetics.[20] In January 2010, Ramirez and Queen Latifah launched the company's "Clean Makeup for Clean Water Campaign".[21]

Personal life

Dania dated Soul Plane director Jessy Terrero until 2008.[22] She became engaged in September 2011 to director John Beverly "Bev" Land.[23] The couple married on the beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on February 16, 2013.[24][25] Land has a son, Kai Miles, with former wife Sharon Leal.[26]

On July 15, 2013, Ramirez announced that she was pregnant with twins.[27] That December, she gave birth to fraternal boy-girl twins.[28][29]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 25th Hour Daphne
2004 Little Black Boot Laurie Rodriguez Short
The Ecology of Love Alila Short
Cross Bronx Mia
She Hate Me Tinotenda Kahondo
Fat Albert Lauri
2005 Romy and Michele: In the Beginning Elena Television film
2006 X-Men: The Last Stand Callisto
2007 Illegal Tender Ana
2008 Ball Don't Lie Carmen
The Fifth Commandment Angel
Quarantine Sadie
2009 The Devil's Tomb Shanae Direct-to-Video
2010 Next Big Thing The Girl Short
2012 American Reunion Selena
Premium Rush Vanessa
2013 N.Y.C. Underground Jessica Video
2015 Mojave Detective Beaumont
First Response Camilla Television film
2017 Lycan Isabella Cruz
2018 Off the Menu Javiera Torres
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Scandal Savage Voice, direct-to-video
2019 Jumanji: The Next Level NPC Seductress Flame

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Caridad Recurring Cast: Season 7
Run of the House Lucy Episode: "The Party"
2004 10-8: Officers on Duty Inez Episode: "Gypsy Road"
2005 Dr. Phil Herself Episode: "Dr. Phil & Dr. Bill"
2006-07 The Sopranos Blanca Selgado Recurring Cast: Season 6
2007-08 Heroes Maya Herrera Main Cast: Season 2-3
2010 America's Next Top Model Herself/Guest Judge 2 Episodes
Entourage Alex Main Cast: Season 7
2013-16 Devious Maids[30] Rosie Falta Main Cast
2017-18 Once Upon a Time Cinderella/Jacinda Vidrio Main Cast: Season 7
2018 Justice League Action Red Velvet Voice, episode: "She Wore Red Velvet"
2018-19 Tell Me a Story Hannah Perez Main Cast: Season 1
2021- Sweet Tooth Aimee Eden Main Cast
2023- Alert: Missing Persons Unit Nikki Batista Main Cast

Accolades

Year Association Category Work Result
2008 ALMA Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Television Series Heroes Nominated[31]
2014 Imagen Awards Best Actress –Television Devious Maids Nominated[32]
2015 Nominated
2016 NAMIC Vision Awards Best Performance–Comedy Devious Maids Won

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dania Ramirez". TV Guide. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Ausiello, Michael (July 6, 2017). "Once Upon a Time Season 7 Reset: Gabrielle Anwar, Devious Maids Alum, Reign Star Among 5 New Additions". TVLine. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Interview: Devious Maids' Dania Ramirez on making it in America". South China Morning Post. August 15, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Venable, Malcolm (December 1, 2004). "Dania Ramirez: with boundary-breaking boosters like Bill Cosby and Spike Lee, she's building a career by busting down stereotypes". Interview. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  5. ^ MSU Volleyball Records (Career) Archived May 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine from the Montclair State University website
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem (September 24, 2004). "LL Brings It Back To The 'Hood For "Hush" Video". MTV.com. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  7. ^ Sanchez, Mercedes (May 10, 2006). "Dueling Dania" (PDF). New York Post. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  8. ^ "Sporty Thievz – Cheapskate". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "Revisiting Spike Lee's Perplexing She Hate Me on Its 11th Anniversary". Indiewire. July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "5 join the cast of Fat Albert". movieweb. April 21, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (June 8, 2010). "Thesp's in a "Rush" for Columbia". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  12. ^ Sneider, Jeff (May 31, 2011). "'American Reunion' adds Dania Ramirez". Variety. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  13. ^ "Fast Facts". TV Guide. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "Dania Ramirez Biography". buddy tv. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  15. ^ Nellie Andreeva , AP (January 6, 2007). "Ramirez lands "Heroes" role | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. ^ "Andre Leon Talley Signs On To Judge 'ANTM'". Essence. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "Dania Ramirez 'loves 'Entourage' role'". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  18. ^ "'Tell Me a Story' Should Stop Telling Me Stories". Man of the Hour. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Petski, Denise (October 31, 2022). "'Alert': Scott Caan & Dania Ramirez Are On A Desperate Search For A Missing Child — Watch The Fox Series Promo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Dania Ramirez is the Newest CoverGirl". Retrieved August 6, 2019. Date Of Birth November 30, 1980
  21. ^ "Cover Girl Launches Campaign for Clean Water". Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  22. ^ "Dania Ramirez Is Engaged!". lamega.lamusica.com. January 12, 2012.
  23. ^ "Bev Land's Music Video | Living | Columbus Ledger Enquirer". Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2013. Land's fiancee, Dania Ramirez, came up with the idea. She had written two verses and a bridge.
  24. ^ "Dania Ramirez Marries Director John Beverly Amos Land!". usmagazine.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "Heroes Alum Dania Ramirez Weds". timesreporter.com.
  26. ^ "News". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013. 10.30.01 – The November 6 issue of Soap Opera Digest reports that Sharon Leal and fiancé Bev Land welcomed their first child, Kai Miles Land, into the world on September 13.
  27. ^ Eggenberger, Nicole (July 15, 2013). "Dania Ramirez Pregnant With Twins, Shares Sonogram". Us Weekly.
  28. ^ Michaud, Sarah; Hernandez, Lee (January 10, 2014). "Dania Ramirez Welcomes Twins Gaia Jissel and John Aether". People. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  29. ^ Johnson, Zach (December 20, 2013). "Dania Ramirez Gives Birth to Twins". E! Online. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  30. ^ "Dania Ramirez "Devious Maids"".
  31. ^ "ALMA Awards 2009 nominees". LA Times. August 25, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  32. ^ "Nominees for the 29th Annual Imagen Awards Announced". imagen.org/. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2016.

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