Alma Martinez

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

Early life and career In 1979, Martinez joined the Center Theatre Group production of Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit. Her film debut was in Valdez's 1981 adaptation, the American classic Zoot Suit, launching a career that led to her induction into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013. She has since been the lead actress in many of Valdez's projects in a collaboration that has spanned over 30 years. Australian director Fred Schepisi cast her in his American film debut, Barbarosa 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 directed by Joanne Akalaitis featuring Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy and Liev Schreiber.

Academic career

Following her PhD from Stanford, in 2001 she became an assistant professor in the Theater and Dance Department at University of California, Santa Cruz. she was an assistant professor at Pomona College. Following a controversial tenure denial, that was settled out of court in 2015, she became an artist-in-residence at the University of La Verne. Subsequently, she became an associate professor of theatre at the University of La Verne.

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 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, Teatro Juan Ruiz De Alarcon (Mexico City), 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 Short2021Tyger TygerDoctor Rosa 2024A Little Family DramaAnselma

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 Twilight 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"