Melonie Diaz(born April 25, 1984) is an American actress who has appeared in many independent films, including four shown at the2008 Sundance Film Festival.[1]She receivedIndependent Spirit Awardsnominations for performances in filmsA Guide to Recognizing Your Saints(2006) andFruitvale Station(2013). From 2018 to 2022, she appeared as one of the main roles as Mel Vera on the remake television seriesCharmedonThe CW.
Melonie Diaz | |
|---|---|
 Diaz in 2024 | |
| Born | April 25, 1984 |
| Alma mater | Tisch School of the Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Notable credit | Mel Vera inCharmed |
| Spouse | Octavio Genera (m. 2020) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editDiaz was born inNew York City,and was raised along with her elder sister on the Lower East Side ( "Loisaida" orAlphabet City, Manhattan), by parents ofPuerto Ricandescent.[2][3]She became interested in acting at theHenry Street Settlementand subsequently attended theProfessional Performing Arts SchoolinManhattan.
She completed a degree in Film Production atNew York University'sTisch School of the Arts,and has made numerous off-Broadway and workshop appearances includingMedeaatBullet Space,the Hip Hop Theater Festival atP.S. 122,and the New York City Fringe Festival.
Career
edit
She started her film career with a supporting role inTom DiCillo'sDouble Whammy(2001) and later landed roles inJim McKayandHannah Weyer'sFrom an Objective Point of ViewandPeter Sollett'sRaising Victor Vargas(both2002). Television work at this time included an episode ofLaw & Orderand a pilot forQueens Supreme(both 2003).
Her breakthrough roles came as Blanca inCatherine Hardwicke'sLords of Dogtown(2005) and as Laurie inDito Montiel'sA Guide to Recognizing Your Saints(2006) which earned her anIndependent Spirit Awardsnomination for Best Supporting Female. She was subsequently cast byJamie Babbitin the lead role of Anna inItty Bitty Titty Committee(2007) as well as a role inHamlet 2,Be Kind Rewind,and also played Christina inAmerican Sonin 2008.
She appeared in theMary J. Bligevideo "We Got Hood Love" which debuted on May 10, 2010.
In 2012, she starred in the indie romantic comedy,She Wants MewithJosh GadandKristen Ruhlin.In a hyped-up, Woody Allen,Annie Hall-type film, she plays a girl who gets caught in a love triangle between aspiring artists and a celebrity.
In 2013, she appeared inFruitvale Station,a film based on the shooting ofOscar Grant.The film premiered at the2013 Sundance Film Festival,where it earned the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic. The film had its international premiere at the2013 Cannes Film Festival,where it played in theUn Certain Regardsection and won theUn Certain RegardBest First Film award. For her work in the movie she was nominated for anIndependent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.
She has expressed a desire to return toTischin order to complete her degree in filmmaking, citing directorKathryn Bigelowas an inspiration.[4]
In 2014 she appeared briefly on an episode ofGirlsas Susan, a friend of Jessa Johansson's. That same year she appeared inRyan Piers Williams' filmX/YalongsideAmerica Ferreraas well asThe CobblerstarringAdam Sandler.
In February 2018, Diaz was cast in the lead role of Mel Vera inThe CW's fantasy drama seriesCharmed,a reboot of the1998 series of the same name.[5]The reboot "centers on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches".[6][7]
Diaz co-starred in the dystopian thrillerThe First Purge,theprequelto 2013'sThe Purgeand the fourth installment inThe Purgefranchise.[8][9][10][11]The film was released July 4, 2018.[12][13][14]
Personal life
editDiaz is married to singer Octavio Genera, having eloped during the COVID-19 pandemic. She announced her pregnancy with their first child in March of 2021.[15]
Filmography
editFilms
editTelevision
edit| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Queens Supreme | Mr. Diaz's Daughter | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2003 | Law & Order | Bettina | Episode: "Ill-Conceived" |
| 2010 | Nip/Tuck | Ramona Perez | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Ivonne Hernandez | Episode: "Manhunt" |
| 2010 | Rizzoli & Isles | Mia | Episode: "When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang" |
| 2011 | Person of Interest | Paula Vasquez | Episode: "Number Crunch" |
| 2012 | Ro | Ro | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | Girls | Susan | Episode: "Dead Inside" |
| 2016 | The Breaks | Damita | Main role |
| 2017 | Room 104 | Meg | Episode: "Ralphie" Nominated —Imagen Foundation Award for Best Supporting Actress - Television |
| 2017 | Elementary | Tanya | Episode: "Hurt Me, Hurt You" |
| 2018–2022 | Charmed | Mel Vera | Main role Nominated —Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi[17] |
| 2024 | American Horror Stories | Mary Gentile | Episode: "The Thing Under the Bed" |
References
edit- ^Keeps, David A. (2008-01-25)."Melonie Diaz: This year's Queen of Sundance".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2008-06-12.
- ^Melodie DiazfromPapermag11 September 2009
- ^Terrero, Nina (16 July 2013).""Fruitvale Station" actress Melonie Diaz shares why film speaks to race relations today ".NBC Latino.
- ^"Melonie Diaz".Vanity Fair.July 14, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon July 13, 2014.RetrievedAugust 14,2014.
- ^Swift, Andy (March 25, 2018)."CharmedReboot: How Does The CW's Pilot Compare to the Original Series? ".TVLine.RetrievedMarch 26,2018.
- ^Ausiello, Michael (February 20, 2018)."Charmed:Melonie Diaz Cast as Lesbian Witch Mel in CW Reboot ".TVLine.RetrievedFebruary 21,2018.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (February 20, 2018)."Charmed:Melonie Diaz Cast As A Lead In The CW Reboot Pilot ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedFebruary 23,2018.
- ^"WATCH: Trailer ForThe First PurgeShows Us A Deadly Origin Story ".Awards Circuit.April 6, 2018.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^Burke, Carolyn (April 6, 2018)."The First PurgeTrailer & Poster Want to Make America Great ".Screen Rant.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^Otterson, Joe (February 20, 2018)."CW'sCharmedReboot Pilot CastsFruitvale StationStar Melonie Diaz ".Variety.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^Erbland, Kate (January 31, 2018)."The First PurgeTeaser Trailer Will Make America Great Again, Complete With Government-Sanctioned Murder — Watch ".Indiewire.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^Ridgely, Charlie (January 30, 2018)."The First PurgeGets Official Poster and Release Date ".ComicBook.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^The First PurgeatMetacritic
- ^Sokol, Tony (April 6, 2018)."The First Purge Trailer and Release Date".Den of Geek.RetrievedNovember 10,2018.
- ^Garrison, Anna (March 21, 2021)."Is 'Melonie Diaz Pregnant? The 'Charmed' Actress Eloped Mid-Pandemic".Distractify.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Grobar, Matt (October 31, 2024)."Uzo Aduba, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield & Juno Temple Among Final Additions To Miramax And Paramount's True Crime Pic 'Roofman'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedOctober 31,2024.
- ^Mitovich, Matt Webb (19 June 2019)."Teen Choice Awards: Shadowhunters, Riverdale, The Flash Lead Nominations".TV Line.
