Jaina_Lee_Ortiz

Jaina Lee Ortiz

Jaina Lee Ortiz

American dancer (born 1986)


Jaina Lee Ortiz (born Jessica Ortiz; November 20, 1986) is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her starring role as Detective Annalise Villa on the Fox police drama Rosewood from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, she began starring as lead in the ABC drama series Station 19.

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Early life

Ortiz was born November 20, 1986[1][2] in California and raised in The Bronx, New York.[3] Ortiz's father, Joe Ortiz, is Puerto Rican and a retired NYPD first grade 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 started acting by appearing in student films.[4] She studied for two years at Maggie Flanigan Studios, where she learned the Meisner technique.[3][4]

Career

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 Saw 3D.[3][5] The show premiered on August 2, 2010[3][5] and on the season finale, Ortiz was named first runner-up.[6]

In 2012, Ortiz was in a photo used in the Modern Family episode Yard Sale where she was beauty pageant contestant Miss Galapa.[7]

In 2013, Ortiz landed the role as a series regular in The After, produced by The X-Files creator, Chris Carter.[8] The pilot, which began airing via Amazon Video in February 2014,[9] received positive feedback and was ordered to series.[10][11] However, on January 5, 2015, Amazon Studios canceled the show.[12][13] Two months later, Ortiz was cast as the female lead in Rosewood on Fox. Rosewood ran for two seasons.[14][15] In 2017 she had a recurring role during the second season of USA Network drama series, Shooter.[16] Ortiz appeared in the comedy film Girls Trip, playing herself.

In 2017, Ortiz was cast in a leading role on the spin-off to ABC's longest-running drama series Grey's Anatomy, titled Station 19.[17][18][19] In 2023, Ortiz starred in the thriller film Righteous Thieves[20] and in the historical drama film The Long Game.[21][22]

Filmography

Film

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Television

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References

  1. "Jaina Lee Ortiz on Instagram: 'Thank u tt for the cutest Birthday dressing room door decoration. 😘🌷💋'". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. "Jessica Ortiz NALIPster competing on vh1's "Scream Queens 2"". The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (June 23, 2015). "CAA Signs 'Rosewood' Female Lead Jaina Lee Ortiz". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  4. Larsen, Peter (July 23, 2010). "Comic-Con: This O.C. 'Scream Queen' has Hollywood dreams". The Orange County Register. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. Suarez, Jessica (September 28, 2010). "Scream Queens 2 Recap – Finale – The Final Girl". VH1. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  6. Ortiz, Jaina [@jainaleeortiz] (September 26, 2012). "I was so excited to stand next to Sofia Vergara for a still photo". Retrieved January 23, 2022 via Instagram.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (October 7, 2013). "Quartet Join Amazon Drama Pilot 'The After'". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  8. Spangler, Todd (February 6, 2014). "Amazon Studios Launches 10 Pilots, in Hunt for Second Wave of Series". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  9. Wallenstein, Andrew (March 11, 2014). "Amazon to Order Four Series Including Drama From 'X-Files' Creator (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  10. Spangler, Todd (March 31, 2014). "Amazon Greenlights 6 Series, Including Chris Carter's 'The After,' and Renews 'Alpha House'". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (January 5, 2015). "Chris Carter Drama Series 'The After' Not Going Forward At Amazon Studios". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  12. Littleton, Cynthia (January 5, 2015). "Amazon Studios Scraps Series Order for Chris Carter's 'The After' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2015). "Fox Fall 2015 Schedule: 'Minority Report' On Monday, 'New Girl' Held For Midseason". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  14. Andreeva, Nellie (June 25, 2015). "Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates 'Scream Queens' Gets Two Hour Debut". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  15. Petski, Denise (April 27, 2017). "'Shooter': Patrick Sabongui, Troy Garity & Jaina Lee Ortiz Set To Recur In Season 2". Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  16. Roots, Kimberly (July 26, 2017). "Grey's Anatomy Spinoff Casts Rosewood's Jaina Lee Ortiz". Retrieved February 12, 2018.

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