Alma Martinez (actress)

Alma Martinez (born 18 March 1953) is a Mexican-American actress, stage director,[1] and professor of theatre.[2] She is best known for her roles in film and television shows including the Peabody Award winning[3] drama series The Bridge[4][5][6] with Demián Bichir and Diane Kruger and Corridos: Tales of Passion & Revolution with Linda Ronstadt[7][8] as well as performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, Mexican and European stages.

Alma Martinez Carranza
Born18 March 1953
Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico
Alma materStanford University (Ph.D.), University of Southern California (M.F.A.), Whittier College (B.A.)
Occupation(s)Actor, Director, Professor
Years active1980–present
WebsiteOfficial website

Early career

In 1979, Martinez joined the Center Theatre Group production of Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit.[9][10] Her film debut was in Valdez's 1981 adaptation, the American classic Zoot Suit,[11] launching a career that led to her induction into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013.[12] She has since been the lead actress in many of Valdez's projects in a collaboration that has spanned over 30 years.[13][14][15][16][17] Australian director Fred Schepisi cast her in his American film debut, Barbarosa[18] with Willie Nelson and Gary Busey. This was followed by Under Fire with Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris and Jean Louis Trintignant. Martinez made a notable Broadway debut in In the Summer House[19] directed by Joanne Akalaitis featuring Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy and Liev Schreiber.

Film and television

Martinez has appeared in over 20 features and independent films including Born in East L.A. with Cheech Marin, For Greater Glory with Andy Garcia and Oscar Isaac, Strike One[20][21] with Danny Trejo as well as Cake with Jennifer Aniston and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her voiceover work includes the award-winning documentaries The Panama Deception and Food Chains. In 2017 she appeared as Rodney Alcala's mother Anna Alcala in the television film Dating Game Killer.

Theatre

Martinez has performed in over 100 major productions in the US, Mexico and Europe in venues that include the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Joyce Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Sundance Theatre Program, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Santa Cruz Shakespeare festival, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Pennsylvania Stage, San Diego Repertory Theatre,[16] Denver Center Theatre Company,[22] Teatro Juan Ruiz De Alarcon (Mexico City),[23] Teatro Calderon (Zacatecas, Mexico), Teatro Greco (Taormina, Italy), Castello Sforesco (Milan, Italy), Festival De Sant Arcangelo (Italy), Teatro Romano (Fiesolo, Italy), Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany) and Neiuwe Scene (Antwerp, Belgium), among others.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Note(s)
1981 Zorro: The Gay Blade ADR
Zoot Suit Lupe
1982 The Border ADR
Barbarosa Juanita
1983 Blue Thunder ADR
Under Fire Isela
Trial by Terror Diane Johnson
1985 Graffiti ADR; short; uncredited
1987 Born in East L.A. Gloria
Down Twisted ADR
A Good and Perfect Gift: A Christmas Story
1988 The Milagro Beanfield War ADR; uncredited
1991 Dolly Dearest Alva
1994 It Could Happen to You Juror Uncredited
Of Love and Shadows ADR
1995 The Novice Teresa's Mother
2000 Jacarenda Short
Ballad of a Soldier Mother
2001 Prozac Nation Professor Uncredited
2004 Most High Nurse In Hall
2005 Planting Melvin Caroline Lawrence
2009 Crossing Over Mexican Woman In Dress Factory
2012 For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada Mrs. Vargas Gonzales
2014 Destiny Short
Cake Irma
Strike One Mrs. Garcia
Selling Rosario Tia Short
2015 Healer Francisca Short
Ouroboros Zulma Short
2016 Stevie D Senator Garcia
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Older Goat Herder
Transpecos Marisa
The Darkness Teresa Morales
1st Strike Mrs. Garcia
2017 Abuelita Jasmine Short
2018 Where the Water Runs Maria
Cucuy: The Boogeyman Blanca
2019 Ms. Purple Juanita
Clemency Ms. Jimenez
Don't Say No Christie's Grandmother
2020 Getting From Here Short

Television
Year Title Role Note(s)
1980 The Righteous Apples Pregnant Teen
1982 General Hospital Sharon Garcia
American Playhouse Anastacia Episode: "Seguin"
Scamps Susan Alvarez TV movie
1983 Rubik, the Amazing Cube (voice)
Lottery! Episode: "Los Angeles: Bigger Volume"
1984 Whiz Kids Isabel Episode: "Maid in the USA"
Blue Thunder ADR; Episode: "Skydiver"
St. Elsewhere Angela Episode: "Breathless"
1985 The Twilght Zone Teresa Rojas Episode: "Wordplay/Dreams for Sale/Chameleon"
Toughlove Doctor Uncredited; TV movie
1985-1987 Santa Barbara Dora 2 episodes
1986 Dress Gray Hedge's Secretary Miniseries; 2 episodes
1987 Superior Court Attorney Episode: "Assuming the Identity"
Corridos: Tales of Passion & Revolution Elisabeta TV movie
1989 Miami Vice ADR; Episode: "To Have and to Hold"
1990-1991 The New Adam-12 Sergeant Elizabeth Cruz 9 episodes
1991 The Boys Therapist TV movie
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Sonora Sue TV movie
Dark Justice ADR; 2 episodes
In a Child's Name Sorayda miniseries; uncredited
1992 Quiet Killer Dolores TV movie
FBI: The Untold Stories Episode: "Border Kill"
1994 Shattered Image Gloria's Mother TV movie
1995 500 Nations Episode: "Mexico"
Wings ADR; Episode: "Gone But Not Faygotten"
1996 Nash Bridges Jan Episode: "Key Witness"
2007 The Unit Yolanda Episode: "Paradise Lost"
2013 The Bridge Garciela Rivera 6 episodes
Welcome to the Family Principal Ortiz Episode: "Pilot"
2014 Rake Prosecutor Episode: "Man's Best Friend"
2016 American Crime Story Family Court Judge Episode: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia"
Grey's Anatomy Socorro Diaz Episode: "At Last"
2016-2020 Elena of Avalor Lady Yolanda (voice) 4 episodes
2016 Queen Sugar Raquel "Rocky" Ortiz Episode: "First Things First"
Good Behavior Conchita Pereira Episode: "The Ballad of Little Santino"
2017 I Love Dick Leti Episode: "A Short History of Weird Girls"
The Last Man on Earth La Abuela Episode: "La Abuela"
The Dating Game Killer Anna Alcala TV movie
2018 Left for Dead Ms. Ruiz TV movie
2019 MacGyver Abuela Episode: "Father + Bride + Betrayal"
Strante Angel Alvarita Lopez Episode: "The Magus"
Sister of the Bride Clara TV movie
The Terror Abuela Rocio Trujillo 4 episodes
Vampirina Abuela (voice) Episode: "Dia de los Muertos/As You Wish"

References
  1. Rappaport, Scott (20 January 2003). "Actress/professor to direct award-winning Mexican play at UCSC". UC Santa Cruz Currents. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. Romero, Ezra David (2 October 2014). "Teatro Azteca: Dreaming Up Spanish Language Theater In Fresno". Valley Public Radio. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. Guthrie, Marisa (19 May 2014). "Peabody Awards Honor FX's 'The Bridge,' Tom Brokaw and Comedy Central's 'Key & Peele'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. Pullen, Doug (22 August 2013). "'The Bridge' recap: Killer meets his destiny in episode 7?". El Paso Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  5. Mason, Stewart (1 September 2013). "TV News 'The Bridge' Is Funnier Than You Think". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  6. "The Bridge Premieres in LA". Zimbio.com. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  7. "KQED's Production of Luis Valdez's Corridos wins Award". No. Spring 1988. Latin American Theatre Review. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  8. "Corridos: Tales of Passion & Revolution". Digital Video Library. Hemispheric Institute. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  9. Zoot Suit Criticism. Retrieved 14 January 2015. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  10. "Zoot Suit Discovery Guide". Pomona College. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  11. "Q&A Alma Martinez: Zoot Suit turns 30". No. Winter 2008. Pomona Today. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  12. Huang, Josie (28 February 2014). "Oscars 2014: Women, minorities changing the look of the Academy – slowly". KPCC Radio. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  13. Rappaport, Scott (13 March 2006). "Alma Martinez to appear in Bay Area premiere of award-winning play". UC Santa Cruz Currents. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  14. "Zoot Suit: Luis Valdez, Alma Martinez". BookDepository.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  15. "Mummified Deer World Premier at The Rep". La Prensa San Diego. 20 October 2000. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  16. Oxman, Steven (31 October 2000). "Review: The Mummified Deer". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  17. Phillips, Michael (3 November 2000). "Question-and-answer session". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  18. Maslin, Janet (26 July 1982). "Barbarossa, Australian-directed Western". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  19. "In the Summer House". IDBD. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  20. "Danny Trejo To Lead Cast of New Film Strike One". BroadwayWorld.com. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  21. "Strike One". IMDB. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  22. Mulhern, Michael (24 October 2013). "BWW Reviews: The Denver Center Theatre Company Presents an Intriguing Insight Into Colorado History with JUST LIKE US". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  23. Peters, Cynthia (21 April 2010). "Professor Alma Martinez Brings "Zoot Suit" to National Theatre Company of Mexico". Pomona College News. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
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