Ana Ortiz
American actress and singer (born 1971)
title: "Ana Ortiz" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1971-births", "actresses-from-new-york-city", "american-film-actresses", "american-people-of-german-descent", "american-people-of-irish-descent", "american-television-actresses", "american-actresses-of-puerto-rican-descent", "hispanic-and-latino-american-actresses", "living-people", "university-of-the-arts-(philadelphia)-alumni", "american-stage-actresses", "20th-century-american-actresses", "21st-century-american-actresses"] description: "American actress and singer (born 1971)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana_Ortiz" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American actress and singer (born 1971) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Ana Ortiz |
| image | Ana Ortiz 2014.jpg |
| caption | Ortiz in 2014 |
| other_names | Ana Lebenzon |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | New York City, U.S. |
| spouse | |
| occupation | Actress, singer |
| years_active | 1995–present |
| children | 2 |
| :: |
|name = Ana Ortiz |image = Ana Ortiz 2014.jpg |caption = Ortiz in 2014 |birth_name = |other_names = Ana Lebenzon |birth_date = |birth_place = New York City, U.S. |spouse = |occupation = Actress, singer |years_active = 1995–present |children = 2 Ana Ortiz (born January 25, 1971) is an American actress. In the early 2000s, she starred in the short-lived NBC sitcoms Kristin (2001) and A.U.S.A. (2003), and had recurring roles on the action series Over There (2005) and the legal series Boston Legal (2006). She garnered widespread attention for her role as Hilda Suarez in the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty (2006–2010).
Ortiz appeared in the comedy films Labor Pains (2009) and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011). From 2013 to 2016, she starred as Marisol Suarez in the Lifetime television comedy-drama series Devious Maids, for which she received the Imagen Award for Best Actress - Television. From 2020 to 2022, Ortiz starred in the Hulu teen comedy series Love, Victor as Isabel Salazar, mother of the title character Victor.
Life and career
Early life and career in theatre
Ortiz was born in New York City, As a child, Ortiz studied ballet for eight years, until the pain of dancing en pointe forced her to pursue a different artistic discipline. Ortiz graduated from University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Switching to singing, Ortiz attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City and later the University of the Arts in Philadelphia before making her professional stage debut in a regional theater production of Dangerous Liaisons. Her additional stage credits include portraying Chrissy in a European touring production of Hair, regional theater productions such as Dog Lady and the Cuban Swimmer and in the South Coast Repertory Theater's production of References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot. After joining LAByrinth Theatre Company, she appeared Off-Broadway in In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, directed by Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and named one of the 10-best plays of 1999 by the magazine Time Out New York.
Ortiz appeared in several television shows including NYPD Blue, Everybody Loves Raymond, Commander In Chief, ER, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. She had her first series regular role in short-lived NBC comedy series Kristin (2001). She later starred in another short-lived sitcom, called A.U.S.A. in 2003, and later had recurring roles in the FX drama Over There, and ABC series Boston Legal.
2006–2010: ''Ugly Betty'' and other roles
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Ana_Ortiz2crop.jpg" caption="Ortiz at The Heart Truth Fashion Show 2008"] ::
In 2006, Ortiz was cast as Hilda Suarez, the lead character's sister, in the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty. Originally, Ortiz had auditioned for the Betty Suarez role, saying in 2008, "I was super plain. I just put on some glasses and kept my hair kind of flat and layered on the clothing", describing what she wore when auditioning for the role of Betty. "I just wanted them to remember me, so that I could be involved in the future".
In addition to her role on Ugly Betty, Ortiz was active in films, which include starring roles in Tortilla Heaven and Labor Pains. She also had a voice role in Batman: Gotham Knight, and starred in the made-for-television movie Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story in 2008. Ortiz also had a guest-starring role on Army Wives during its second season, playing a waitress named Sandi. She also appeared in the 2010 music video for Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra's "Cuando me enamoro".
2010–present: ''Devious Maids'' and later
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Ana_Ortiz_2012.jpg" caption="Ortiz at the Alma Awards 2012."] ::
After Ugly Betty ended in 2010, Ortiz was cast as the lead character in the ABC drama pilot True Blue about San Francisco homicide detectives reunited to solve the murder of one of their own. The pilot was not picked up to series. The following year she appeared in the comedy film Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, and starred in another pilot, called Outnumbered for Fox, her second pilot not picked up to series. She later had a recurring role on the HBO comedy series Hung. Ortiz also starred in the independent films Sleeping with the Fishes, and Such Good People.
In 2012, Ortiz was cast as a lead character on the ABC comedy drama pilot Devious Maids. While ABC chose not to pick it up to series, Lifetime picked up the pilot with a thirteen-episode order. The series premiered June 23, 2013, on Lifetime with positive reviews from critics. In the show, she plays the lead role of Marisol Duarte (the alias of Professor Marisol Suarez). Also in 2013, Ortiz was special guest star in the ABC primetime soap opera, Revenge, as Bizzy Preston. In 2014, Ortiz guest-starred in episodes of two ABC shows: How to Get Away with Murder and Black-ish.
In 2014 Ortiz was cast in the gay-drama film Love is All You Need? (2016), based on the 2011 short film with the same name.
Devious Maids was canceled after four seasons, in 2016. The following year, Ortiz starred in her third unsold pilot, a comedy called Charlie Foxtrot. She did voice over work in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet.
In 2019, Ortiz appeared in the main cast of the comedy drama Whiskey Cavalier, playing FBI profiler Susan Sampson.
In 2020, Ortiz starred in the acclaimed Hulu series Love, Victor as Isabel Salazar, mother of the title character Victor Salazar. Her role is acclaimed by critics.
Personal life
Ortiz married musician Noah Lebenzon on June 7, 2007, in Rincón, Puerto Rico. Their daughter Paloma was born June 25, 2009. Their second child, son Rafael, was born on September 24, 2011.
Ortiz is active in raising awareness against domestic abuse, citing her own experiences when she was in her 20s and involved in a romantic relationship that turned physically abusive. In an article for USA Today, Ortiz notes that the final scene from the Ugly Betty episode "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back", in which Hilda sat on her bed staring at the bathroom after realizing that Santos had died, was drawn from that experience: "I used some of that subconsciously ... It's something that is always with me".
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Condition Red | C Block Inmate | |
| 2000 | King of the Korner | Isabel | |
| 2002 | Mr. St. Nick | Lorena | |
| 2002 | Lehi's Wife | Kelly | Short film |
| 2003 | Carolina | Christen | |
| 2007 | Tortilla Heaven | Chicana | |
| 2008 | The Winged Man | Wanda | Short film |
| 2008 | Batman: Gotham Knight | Anna Ramirez (voice) | |
| 2009 | Labor Pains | Donna | |
| 2011 | Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son | Gail Fletcher | |
| 2011 | The Last Generation | Diner Chick | Short film |
| 2012 | Noah's Ark: The New Beginning | Tier (voice) | |
| 2013 | Sleeping with the Fishes | Kayla Fish | |
| 2014 | Such Good People | Detective Diane Kershman | |
| 2016 | Love is All You Need? | Susan Miller | |
| 2017 | The Keeping Hours | Janice | |
| 2017 | Trust Fund | Meredith | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Ballet Mom (voice) | |
| 2019 | Princess of the Row | Magdalene Rodriguez | |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie | Pregnant Woman | Television film |
| 2000 | NYPD Blue | Maria Alvarez | Episode: "A Hole in Juan" |
| 2001 | Kristin | Santa Clemente | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2001 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Natasha | Episode: "Raybert" |
| 2002 | NYPD Blue | Luisa Lopez | Episode: "Dead Meat in New Deli" |
| 2002 | Strong Medicine | Elena Delgado | Episode: "Family History" |
| 2002 | Do Over | Mrs. Rice | Episode: "Rock 'n' Roll Parking Lot" |
| 2002 | ER | Laura | Episode: "Hindsight" |
| 2003 | A.U.S.A. | Ana Rivera | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2003 | Greetings from Tucson | Angela | Episode: "Eegee's vs. Hardee's" |
| 2003 | Life on Parole | Loretta | TV pilot |
| 2004 | North Shore | Ana Green | Episode: "Secret Service" |
| 2004 | Foster Hall | TV pilot | |
| 2005 | Blind Justice | Letitia Barreras | Episode: "Past Imperfect" |
| 2005 | Freddie | Gina | Episode: "Rich Man, Poor Girl" |
| 2005 | Over There | Anna | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2006 | Commander in Chief | Isabelle Rios | Episode: "Wind Beneath My Wing" |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | A.D.A. Holly Raines | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Belinda | Episode: "Some of My Best Friends Are Portuguese" |
| 2008 | Army Wives | Sandy | Episode: "Loyalties" |
| 2008 | Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story | Valerie Valleja | Television film |
| 2006–10 | Ugly Betty | Hilda Suarez | Series regular, 84 episodes |
| 2010 | True Blue | Maureen Minillo | TV pilot |
| 2011 | Outnumbered | Sue Tulley | TV pilot |
| 2011 | Hung | Lydia | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2013–16 | Devious Maids | Marisol Suarez | Lead role, 49 episodes |
| 2013 | Revenge | Bizzy Preston | Episode: "Resurgence" |
| 2014 | How to Get Away with Murder | Paula Murphy / Elena Aguilar | Episode: "Smile, or Go to Jail" |
| 2014–17 | Family Guy | Cinnamon, Maid (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Black-ish | Angelica Rodriguez | Episode: "Black Santa/White Christmas" |
| 2015 | Marry Me | Hailey | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2016–18 | Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Lucy Tucci (voice) | Main role |
| 2016–19 | Elena of Avalor | Rafa (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Elena and the Secret of Avalor | Rafa (voice) | Television film |
| 2017 | Charlie Foxtrot | Angelina Torres | TV pilot |
| 2017 | Angie Tribeca | Betty Crocker | Episode: "If You See Something, Solve Something" |
| 2017 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Mary Hernandez | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Whiskey Cavalier | Susan Sampson | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 2019 | Superstore | Claudia Lankow | Episode: "Sandra's Fight" |
| 2020–22 | Love, Victor | Isabel Salazar | Series regular, 28 episodes |
| 2019 | Special | Susan | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Undone | Tia Monse (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Monster High 2 | Zamara Prue | Television film |
| 2024 | Futurama | Marquita (voice) | Episode: "Beauty and the Bug" |
| 2025 | Goosebumps | Jen | Main cast (season 2) |
| TBA | Imperfect Women | Detective Ganz | Upcoming series |
| :: |
Awards and nominations
::data[format=table]
References
References
- "Ana Ortiz". [[TV Guide.
- Andreeva, Nellie. (June 13, 2019). "'Love, Simon': Ana Ortiz To Star In Disney+ Series".
- Ryan, Maureen. (November 16, 2006). "Ana Ortiz on 'Ugly Betty': 'I definitely have a Queens connection'". [[Chicago Tribune]].
- Gray, Ellen. (January 16, 2007). "'Betty's' Ortiz relishes show's hit status". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
- (April 27, 2009). "Win Ana Ortiz's Baby Shower Gift! (A $599 Value!)". [[People (magazine).
- [http://www.labtheater.org/companymembers/member44.html LAByrinth Theatre Company] {{webarchive. link. (September 28, 2007)
- [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/ugly-betty/ortiz-went-super-plain-for-ugl-15352.aspx Claustro, Lisa, "Ortiz Went 'Super Plain' for 'Ugly Betty' Audition], BuddyTV.com, January 5, 2008, reprinting quotes from Sheridan, Patricia, ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' article (no date or title given)
- "Exclusive: Army Wives Enlists Ugly Betty's Sister - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com".
- (2010-07-29). "Ana Ortiz: Enrique Iglesias is a Total, Juicy Hunk". Latina.com.
- (2010-03-03). "'Ugly Betty's' Ana Ortiz joins 'True Blue'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Andreeva, Nellie. (5 November 2010). "Ana Ortiz To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'Outnumbered'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
- Andreeva, Nellie. (20 May 2011). "HBO Castings: Alice Eve To Recur On 'Entourage', Ana Ortiz On 'Hung' & More". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
- (2012-07-17). "Gina Rodriguez Lands Lead Role in Indie Pic 'Sleeping With the Fishes' (Exclusive)". Hollywoodreporter.com.
- (2013-08-19). "Gay Comedy Such Good People Wraps Production". Indie It Press.
- Andreeva, Nellie. (17 February 2012). "Ana Ortiz To Lead The Cast Of Marc Cherry's ABC Pilot 'Devious Maids'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
- Palomares, Sugey. (May 16, 2012). "'Devious Maids' Never Maes It on the Air — Would It Have Hurt Latinos?". Latina.
- (April 10, 2013). "Marc Cherry's 'Devious Maids' comes to Lifetime this summer". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
- "Devious Maids - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic.
-
- data.results.personName +. (2013-09-27). "'Revenge': 'Devious Maids' Ana Ortiz will guest-star - Zap2it". Zap2it.
- Michael Ausiello. (2013-09-26). "'Revenge' Season 3: Ana Ortiz to Guest Star". TVLine.
- Vlada Gelman. (August 8, 2014). "TVLine Items: Ana Ortiz Takes Stab at Murder, Helix Adds Matt Long & More". TVLine.
- Philiana Ng. (22 October 2014). "'Black-ish': Ana Ortiz to Guest Star - Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter.
- (22 October 2014). "Jeremy Sisto & More Join 'Love Is All You Need,' Kea Ho Gets 'Urge'". Deadline.
- "Casting Net: Meg Ryan boards 'Fan Girl,' Jacki Weaver signs on for 'Zeroville;' more". EW.com.
- Andreeva, Nellie. (February 23, 2017). "Ana Ortiz To Star In 'Charlie Foxtrot' ABC Comedy Pilot".
- ""Ugly Betty" Star Ana Ortiz Joins Voice Cast of Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" Sequel (Exclusive)".
- Andreeva, Nellie. (February 22, 2018). "'Whiskey Cavalier': Ana Ortiz To Co-Star In ABC Pilot".
- (June 11, 2007). "Actress Ana Ortiz married in Puerto Rico". [[United Press International.
- "Ana Ortiz Introduces Paloma Louise!".
- Hernandez, Lee. "Exclusive: Ana Ortiz Gives Birth to a Son Named Rafael!". [[Latina (magazine).
- (September 24, 2008). "Ana Ortiz of 'Ugly Betty' let her pain fuel Hilda's". [[USA Today]].
- (4 January 2007). "13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations". Screen Actors Guild.
- Bruno, Mike. (2007-12-20). "The 14th Annual SAG Award Nominations". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
- (2008-01-08). "Nominees for 39th NAACP Image Awards Announced Live at Press Conference By Mara Brock Akil, Richard T. Jone, "Entertainment Tonight's" Kevin Frazier and NAACP Executives". [[NAACP]].
- "Nominees for the 29th Annual Imagen Awards Announced". imagen.org/.
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