Maria Canals-Barrera

Maria Canals-Barrera (née Canals; born September 28, 1966) is an American actress. She is known for starring as Theresa Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012), Connie Torres in Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), and Daniela in the ABC comedy series Cristela (2014–2015).

Maria Canals-Barrera
Canals-Barrera at the 2010 Imagen Awards
Born
Maria Canals

(1966-09-28) September 28, 1966
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Other namesMaria Canals Barrera
Alma materUniversity of Miami
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

Canals-Barrera has voiced Shayera Hol/Hawkgirl in a lead role in Justice League (2001–2004) and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) and in a guest appearance in Static Shock as part of the DC Animated Universe, Sunset Boulevardez in The Proud Family (2001–2005) and Paulina in Danny Phantom (2004–2007).

Early life

Canals-Barrera was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents of Catalan descent.[1] Canals-Barrera also speaks Spanish and took drama classes in junior high school.[2]

Canals-Barrera graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School before winning a theatrical scholarship to the University of Miami.[3]

Career
Canals-Barrera in 2007

In her early years, Canals-Barrera worked extensively in theater in both Miami and Los Angeles. In 1990, she starred as Amanda in a production of The Glass Menagerie.[4] In 1992, she starred in a production of Brian Michael Riley's A Cradle of Sparrows.[5] The same year, she began starring on Telemundo Spanish-language telenovela Marielena.[3] She later had the recurring role in the short-lived 1993 Fox comedy-drama series, Key West. During the 1990s, Canals-Barrera also guest starred in a number of television series, such as 21 Jump Street, Murder, She Wrote, Almost Perfect, and Caroline in the City. In 1996, she starred as the title character in a production of Hedda Gabler.[6] The next year she played Digna in a production of Guillermo Reyes' Chilean Holiday.[7]

Her first regular role was on the short-lived NBC sitcom The Tony Danza Show in 1997.[3] In early 2000s, Canals-Barrera had supporting roles in films America's Sweethearts, The Master of Disguise and Imagining Argentina. She has gained much recognition with comic book fans in recent years for her role as Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol on Bruce Timm's Justice League animated series (2001–04) and Justice League Unlimited (2005–06). She also had a recurring role in Static Shock as news reporter Shelly Sandoval, and in Danny Phantom as Paulina, the title character's high school crush. She also performed the voice of Mercedes "Meche" Colomar in the 1998 video game Grim Fandango. Canals-Barrera also played incidental characters in two episodes on the TV series The Boondocks ("Grandad's Fight" and "Home Alone").

From 2007 to 2012, Canals-Barrera co-starred as Theresa Russo, the mother of lead character Alex Russo (played by Selena Gomez), in the Disney Channel family sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. She also co-starred in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a 2009 Disney Channel Original movie based on series. Canals-Barrera also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movies Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010) as Connie Torres, the mother of Demi Lovato's character. In 2011, she appeared opposite Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy film Larry Crowne.

In 2014, Canals-Barrera was cast as Hilda, the house manager of the country club where most of the action takes place, in the ABC soapy comedy-drama series Members Only created by Susannah Grant.[8] However, it got cancelled by the network before its premiere. Later in that year she joined the cast of ABC comedy series Cristela, as Cristela Alonzo's character sister.[9]

On August 27, 2018, it was revealed by TVLine that Canals-Barrera was cast as the mother of Fernando Hernandez-Guerrero-Fernandez-Guerrero on the Netflix series Fuller House.[10]

Personal life

Barrera has been married to actor David Barrera since 1999, with whom she has two daughters.[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1993 Cop and a Half Mrs. Bobo #2
1995 My Family Young Irene [12]
2001 America's Sweethearts Adinah
2002 Bad Boy Woman at bar
2002 The Master of Disguise Sophia
2003 Imagining Argentina Esme Palomares
2003 Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico Sofia Otero Voice, direct-to-video
2011 Larry Crowne Lala Pinedo
2012 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 Ellen Yindel Voice, direct-to-video[13]
2013 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2
2013 Night of the Hipsters Barbara Short film
2016 God's Not Dead 2 Catherine Thawley
2017 Teen Titans: The Judas Contract Bianca Reyes[13] Voice, direct-to-video
2019 Sweet Inspirations Bonnie

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1990 21 Jump Street Rosina Episode: "La Bizca"
1991 Super Force Lori Wechsler 2 episodes
1992–1993 Corte Tropical Adrianita [3]
1992–1994 Marielena Nancy Recurring role [3]
1993 Harlan & Merleen Carmen Television film
1993 Key West Fig Recurring role, 5 episodes
1994 Viper Carla Episode: "Wheels of Fire"
1994 Murder, She Wrote Carmen Episode: "Wheel of Death"
1995 Almost Perfect Carmen Episode: "You Like Me, You Really Like Me"
1996 Goode Behavior Denise Episode: "Goode Feelings"
1997–1998 The Tony Danza Show Carmen Cruz Main role, 7 episodes [3]
1998 Caroline in the City Maria Episode: "Caroline and the Toothbrush"
1998 Veronica's Closet Dannie Episode: "Veronica's a Partner Now"
1999 Beggars and Choosers Yolanda Recurring role
2000–2003 Static Shock Shelly Sandoval, Hawkgirl Voice, 14 episodes[13]
2000 Pepper Ann Señorita Vivas Voice, episode: "The Spanish Imposition"
2000 That's Life Episode: "Bad Hair Week"
2001 Popular Candy Box Episode: "Fire in the Hole"
2001 The Brothers García Ms. Azteca Episode: "Love Is Very... Confusing"
2001 Clifford the Big Red Dog Teresa Voice, episode: "Dino Clifford"[13]
2001–2005 The Proud Family Sunset Boulevardez Voice, 19 episodes
2001–2004 Justice League Hawkgirl, Livewire Voice, main role[13]
2002 American Family Christy Recurring role, 5 episodes
2003 Miss Match Store Manager Episode: "Santa, Baby"
2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Dalilah the Hygienist 2 episodes
2004–2007 Danny Phantom Paulina, additional voices Voice, 15 episodes[13]
2005–2006 Justice League Unlimited Hawkgirl Voice, 11 episodes[13]
2005 The Proud Family Movie Sunset Boulevardez Voice, television film[13]
2005–2007 The Boondocks Spanish TV Reporter, Costa Rican Woman Voice, 2 episodes
2006 George Lopez Claudia Episode: "A Funeral Brings George to His Niece"
2006 Handy Manny Peggy Salazar Voice, episode: "Supremoguy/Tool Talk"
2007 The Loop Agent Denise Episode: "Yeah, Presents"
2007–2012 Wizards of Waverly Place Theresa Russo Main role, 84 episodes
2008 Camp Rock Connie Torres Television film
2009 Special Agent Oso Additional voices Episode: "Octo-Puzzle/One Suitcase Is Now Enough"
2009 Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie Theresa Russo Television film
2010 Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam Connie Torres Television film
2011 Generator Rex Valentina Voice, episode: "Outpost"[13]
2012 Pound Puppies Dr. Trudy Voice, 3 episodes[13]
2013 The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex Theresa Russo Television special
2014 Baby Daddy Carol Beltran Episode: "Bonnie's Unreal Estate"
2014 Gang Related Marciela Acosta 2 episodes
2014–15 Cristela Daniela Main role, 22 episodes [14]
2015 Members Only Hilda Main role; unaired television series
2016 Ultimate Spider-Man Rio Morales Voice, 3 episodes[13]
2016 A Bronx Life Angela Television film
2016 Last Man Standing Sheryl Episode: "Where There's Smoke, There's Ire"
2016 The Big Bang Theory Isabella Episode: "The Brain Bowl Incubation"
2017 Vixen: The Movie Dr. Vargas Voice, television film
2017 Triangle Alice
2018 The Wedding Do Over Irene Anderson Television film
2018 Knight Squad Saffron Episode: "Parent Teacher Knight"
2018 Young & Hungry Marisol Episode: "Young & Mexico, Part 1"
2018 Fuller House Nadia Episode: "Perfect Sons"
2022 Side Hustle Roxie Rockhart Episode: "Return of Uncle Nedward"
2022 Madagascar: A Little Wild Pilar Voice, 4 episodes
2022–present The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Sunset Boulevardez Voice [15]

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Grim Fandango Mercedes 'Meche' Colomar[13] Voice
2011 Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds She-Hulk
2011 Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
2015 Infinite Crisis Hawkgirl

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Refs
1998 Ovation Award Outstanding Actress Changes of Heart Nominated
1998 ALMA Award Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series The Tony Danza Show Nominated
2002 ALMA Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series The Brothers Garcia Won
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series Wizards of Waverly Place Nominated
2008 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actress – Television Wizards of Waverly Place Nominated
2009 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actress/Television Wizards of Waverly Place Nominated
2009 ALMA Award Actress in Television – Comedy Wizards of Waverly Place Nominated
2010 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actress – Television Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie Won
2011 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actress – Television Wizards of Waverly Place Nominated
2011 ALMA Award Favorite TV Actress – Supporting Role Wizards of Waverly Place Won
2013 Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (Shared with cast) Nominated
2014 Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Shared with cast) Nominated
2015 Imagen Award Best Supporting Actress – Television Cristela Nominated

References
  1. "Maria Canals-Barrera on Twitter". Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  2. "411 Movies Interview: Maria Canals-Barrera". 411mania.com. October 18, 2007. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  3. Jackson, Terry (July 24, 1997). "South Florida actors ready for prime time, Danza show". The Miami Herald. p. 3F. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. Dolen, Christine (February 19, 1990). "This Glass Menagerie is shattered". The Miami Herald. p. 5C. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  5. Dolen, Christine (July 14, 1992). "Acme opens festival, new home with A Cradle of Sparrows". The Miami Herald. p. 2E. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  6. Collins, Scott (April 11, 1996). "East L.A.'s 'Gabler' Treads Lightly on Heavy Material". The Los Angeles Times. p. F10. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. Shirley, Don (May 1, 1997). "Taking a 'Chilean Holiday'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. "'Wizards of Waverly Place's' Maria Canals-Barrera Joins Susannah Grant's ABC Series". Variety. March 25, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  9. "ABC Medianet". Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  10. Swift, Andy (August 27, 2018). "Fuller House Is Expanding [Spoiler]'s Family Tree in Season 4". TVLine. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  11. "Maria Canals-Barrera on Twitter". Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  12. Rodriguez, Rene (May 3, 1995). "As a 'family' moves along, Chicano epic stirs the soul". The Miami Herald. p. 5E. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  13. "Maria Canals (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 10, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  14. Helmore, Edward (October 25, 2014). "Lead roles for Latin actors as US television notes shift in social and economic power". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  15. "'The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder' coming to Disney+ on Feb. 23". UPI. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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