Maria-Elena Laas (born November 28, 1983) is a Puerto Rican–born American actress.[1] Best known as Cruz in Vida (2018)
Maria-Elena Laas | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 28, 1983 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Early life
editMaria-Elena Laas was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in Saudi Arabia and Japan.[2]
Career
editLaas started her modeling career at the age of 13. She has appeared in over 90 international commercials and advertising campaigns, including Garnier, Mango, Miller Lite, Carlsberg, Coors Lite, Budweiser, Ford, and Target.[2] In 2006, she appeared in an advertising campaign for coffee brand Nespresso, opposite actor George Clooney.[3]
Her first on-screen appearance was a role as Marisa Rios in the episode "Silicone Valley of the Dolls" of the crime drama television series Pacific Blue. In 2002, she portrayed Svetlana in sitcom Grounded for Life. Laas' film credits include the comedy film The Hot Chick (2002) and independent films Suffering Man's Charity (2007), Airplane Disasters (2007), Lunatics, Lovers and Poets (2009) and Kill the Habit (2010). In 2018, Laas landed the role of Cruz in the drama television series Vida.[4][5] The series centers around the Mexican American community in Los Angeles.[4]
In 2020, she had a main role as Rosalita Vega on Cinemax's action television series Warrior. In the second season of Warrior, Rosalita Vega appeared in five episodes.
Personal life
editShe currently resides in Southern California.[2]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | This Guy Is Falling | Laura | Short film |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Bianca | |
| 2006 | Airplane Disasters | Elena | |
| 2007 | Suffering Man's Charity | Liliana | |
| 2009 | Burka Girls Gone Wild | Burka Girl #2 | |
| 2010 | Kill the Habit | Cardamosa | |
| 2010 | Pastor Shepherd | Annamarie-ah Harrison | |
| 2010 | Lunatics, Lovers & Poets | Maria Easton | |
| 2011 | Sold | Alexa | Short film |
| 2011 | The Killing of Leonard Riley | Christina | |
| 2011 | Loverly | Girlfriend | Short film |
| 2012 | Swerve | Maria | |
| 2012 | Unknowns | Detective Rios | |
| 2013 | To the Bone | Inspector | Short film |
| 2014 | American Weapon | Maria |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Marisa Rios | Episode: "Silicone Valley of the Dolls" |
| 2002 | Grounded for Life | Svetlana | Episode: "Cat Scratch Fever" |
| 2008 | La estación de la Calle Olvera | Catrina | Television film |
| 2014 | Feed Me | Lulu | Episode: "The Goal of Sexual Intercourse" |
| 2016 | Alley Way | Louisa | Episode: "One Man's Trash" |
| 2018 | Vida | Cruz | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Warrior | Rosalita Vega | Main Role, 5 episodes, season 2 |
References
edit- ^ "Maria Elena Laas | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b c Maria-Elena Laas - Appearing in Several Feature Films in 2012. Lawrence Davis. Splash Magazines. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ "Nespresso What Else with Jack Black". The Inspiration Room. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b Otterson, Joe (2017-11-14). "Starz Rounds Out Cast of Half-Hour Latinx Drama 'Vida'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "18 LGBTQ Women of Color TV Characters Crushing it in 2018". Autostraddle. 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2019-05-19.