Roselyn Sánchez

Roselyn Milagros Sánchez Rodríguez (born April 2, 1973) is a Puerto Rican actress. On television, she is best known for her roles as Elena Delgado on the CBS police procedural Without a Trace (2005–2009), as Carmen Luna on the Lifetime comedy-drama Devious Maids (2013–2016), and as Elena Roarke on the new Fantasy Island (2021–2023). In film, Sánchez has appeared in Rush Hour 2, Boat Trip (2002), The Game Plan (2007), and Act of Valor (2012).

Early life Sánchez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is the youngest of four siblings, having three older brothers. She received her primary education in San Juan. At a young age, she showed an interest in both dancing and acting and would put on shows for her family. Sánchez enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico, where like her father and brothers she was to study marketing. However, after three years she left the course. In 1991, at the age of eighteen, Sánchez moved to New York City, where she took classes in dancing, acting and singing. She returned to Puerto Rico and, in 1992, she made her movie debut, having landed a small part as an island girl in the movie Captain Ron, which was partly filmed in Puerto Rico.

Career In Puerto Rico, Sánchez gained public attention as a dancer and as co-host of a variety show called Qué Vacilón. At that time, in 1993, Sánchez won the Miss Puerto Rico Petite contest and, in 1994, she won the international title of Miss American Petite, bringing her international fame. Sánchez has been named in numerous annual lists of beautiful women including Maxim Magazines "Hot 100" in 2001, 2002 and 2006; AskMen.com's "Top 99 Most Desirable Women" in 2005 and 2006; and FHMs "100 Sexiest Women" in 2005 and 2006.

In 2001, Sánchez was cast as Isabella Molina, an undercover United States Secret Service agent who was Jackie Chan's love interest in the hit movie Rush Hour 2. In 2003, she played the role of Lorena in the movie Chasing Papi, starring alongside Jaci Velasquez and Sofia Vergara. Sánchez has acted in some 20 movies, including as Maria in Edison and as Karen Lopez in Underclassman. She starred in the Puerto Rican film Cayo, released in 2005.

In 2003, her first musical recording, Borinqueña, was released. The album's first single, "Amor Amor", gained a lot of attention as well as a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Music Video. She appeared in Craig David's music videos "Hidden Agenda" and "Personal", and in the Fabolous video for the song "Make Me Better".

In the fall of 2005, Sánchez joined the cast of the CBS television series Without a Trace, where she played Agent Elena Delgado to 2009. She composed the musical Yellow, about a singer/dancer/actress who leaves Puerto Rico to hit the big time in New York, in which she played the principal part. The movie was filmed in 2005 and released in 2007. Also in 2007, she acted as Monique, the ballet teacher, in The Game Plan, and in 2009, starred in The Perfect Sleep, a neo-noir drama, co-starring Patrick Bauchau, Tony Amendola, Isaac Singleton, and Peter Lucas. In 2011, Sánchez made a guest appearance on TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, playing villainous attorney Valerie Delgado.

In 2012, Sánchez was cast opposite Ana Ortiz of ABC comedy-drama pilot Devious Maids, created by Marc Cherry. On May 14, 2012, the pilot was not picked to series by ABC for the 2012–13 United States network schedule. However, on June 22, 2012, Lifetime picked up the pilot with a thirteen-episode order. The series premiered June 23, 2013 on Lifetime.

Personal life From August 9, 1998, to April 15, 2001, Sanchez was married to English actor, former boxer, and former model Gary Stretch. After her divorce, she started a relationship with Puerto Rican salsa singer Víctor Manuelle. In December 2005, she announced that she had ended their relationship.

Sánchez became engaged to actor Eric Winter in December 2007 after two years of dating and they married on 29 November 2008, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sánchez gave birth to their daughter in January 2012 (she suffered a miscarriage which resulted in the loss of her daughter's twin early in her pregnancy). The couple had a son in November 2017. Both children were conceived with the help of IVF.

Sánchez has spoken openly about her struggles with endometriosis and infertility while trying to get pregnant later in life.

Sánchez is the spokesperson of the Fundación de Niños San Jorge, which assists sick children from poor families.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1992 Captain Ron Clarise the Island Girl 1999 Held Up Trina 2001 Rush Hour 2 Isabella Molina 2002 Boat Trip Gabriella Nightstalker Gabriella Martinez 2003 Basic Nunez Chasing Papi Lorena 2004 Larceny Angela 2005 State Property 2 D.A. Edison Maria Underclassman Karen Lopez Cayo Young Julia Shooting Gallery Jezebel Black Video 2006 Yellow Amaryllis Campos 2007 The Game Plan Monique Vasquez 2009 The Perfect Sleep Porphyria 2010 Venus & Vegas Kristen 2012 Act of Valor Morales 2016 Death of a Vegas Showgirl Debbie Flores-Narvaez TV movie 2018 Traffik Malia 2019 A Taste of Summer Gabby Ferrar TV movie 2020 Satos Carolina Short 2021 An Ice Wine Christmas Camila Ruiz TV movie 2023 Gringa Elsa 2024 Wallbanger Jillian 2025 Undercard TBA The Third Parent Megan Hollow Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1996–97 As the World Turns Pilar Domingo Regular Cast 1997–98 Fame L.A. Lili Arguelo Main Cast 1999 Ryan Caulfield: Year One Kim Veras Main Cast 2000 Nash Bridges Belinda Cruz Recurring Cast: Season 6 2002 In-Laws Dani Episode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat" The Drew Carey Show Maria Episode: "Drew Tries Hot Salsa" 2003–04 L.A. Dragnet Det. Elana Macias Recurring Cast: Season 2 2005 Kojak ADA Carmen Warrick Main Cast 2005–09 Without a Trace Elena Delgado Main Cast: Season 4–7 2009 Royal Pains Sofia Santos Episode: "Crazy Love" 2011 Rizzoli & Isles A.D.A Valerie Delgado Episode: "Can I Get a Witness?" 2012 Desperate Housewives Carmen Luna Episode: "Finishing the Hat" 2013 Newsreaders Flavia Acai Episode: "Pubic Hair Crisis" 2013–16 Devious Maids Carmen Luna Main Cast 2014 Familia En Venta Lili Main Cast 2016 Telenovela Reporter Episode: "The Hurricane" 2019 Grand Hotel Gigi Mendoza Main Cast 2020 The Rookie Valerie Castillo Episode: "The Overnight" 2021–22 Home Economics Sofía Recurring Cast: Season 2 2021–23 Fantasy Island Elena Roarke Main Cast 2022 'Til Jail Do Us Part Sofía Estrella Main Cast2025LeanneVanessa GomezEpisode: "Gomez is a Woman"

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 2003 Hidden Agenda Craig David Model 2007 Make Me Better Fabolous ft. Ne-Yo Love interest 2013 Loco Enrique Iglesias ft. Romeo Santos Herself

Discography 2003: Borinqueña

Singles YearSinglePeak chart positions Album(s)U.S. Hot 100U.S. Hot LatinU.S.Tropical/SalsaU.S.TropicalU.S. Latin Pop2003"Amor Amor" (feat. Tego Calderón)—38—632Borinqueña"Noche De Verano" (feat. Víctor Manuelle)—————

Accolades