Bio
Alma Martinez is a Mexican-born American actress best known for her recurring role as Graciela Rivera in the crime drama television series The Bridge.
Alma's debut in the American film classic Zoot Suit (1981) quickly made her one of Hollywood's most dynamic up and coming Latina actors.
Discovered by Luis Valdez, founder and Artistic Director of the internationally renowned El Teatro Campesino, she has been the lead actress in many of his most important projects in an artistic collaboration that has spanned over 30 years.
Today, Alma's highly lauded film, television and theatre work establishes her as one of the industry's most accomplished, versatile and respected Latina actors.
After Zoot Suit's 1979 critically acclaimed theatrical run that shattered all existing Los Angeles box office records, Alma was cast by Australian director Fred Schepisi to star in his American film debut Barbarosa (1980).
This performance was followed by critically acclaimed and supporting roles in Zoot Suit (1981) with Edward James Olmos, Under Fire (1983) with Gene Hackman and Ed Harrris, Trial by Terror (1983) with Martin Landau, Born in East LA (1987) with Cheech Marin, Dollie Dearest (1992) with Rip Torn, Shattered Image (1994) with Bo Derek and Crossing Over (2009) starring Harrison Ford.
Her independent films/documentaries include A Good and Perfect Gift (1987), Maria's Story (1990), the Academy Award winning documentary The Panama Deception (1992), 500 Nations (1995), The Novice (1995), Jacaranda (2001), Ballad of a Soldier (2002) which won Special Jury Award at the San Antonio Film Festival and Best Film at the El Paso Latino Film Festival and Planting Melvin (2005).
Alma's television films include the Peabody Award winning drama Corridos: Tales of Passion and Revolution (1987) written and directed by Luis Valdez and starring Linda Ronstadt, Seguín (1982), Tough Love (1985), Dress Gray (1986), The Boys (1991), In a Child's Name (1991), The Gambler Returns: Luck of the Draw (1991) and Quiet Killer (1992).
Television series include The Unit, Nash Bridges, FBI Untold Stories, Twilight Zone, General Hospital and the recurring role of Sergeant Elizabeth Cruz in the police drama Adam 12.
Alma made her Broadway debut in In the Summer House directed by Joanne Akalaitis in a performance that garnered excellent reviews.
With over 100 theatre credits in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, her most memorable performances venues include the Mark Taper Forum, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Joyce Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Sundance Theatre Institute, South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory, LA Theatre Works, San Diego Repertory, El Teatro Campesino, Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Pennsylvania Stage, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Teatro Greco (Taormina, Italy), Castello Sforesco (Milan, Italy), Festival de Sant Arcangelo (Italy), Teatro Romano (Fiesolo, Italy), Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany), Neiuwe Scene (Antwerp, Belgium), and Teatro Calderon (Zacatecas, Mexico).
Alma holds a B.A. in Theatre from Whittier College, an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Southern California, a Ph.D. in Drama from Stanford University and was a Fulbright Scholar in Peru in 2006.
She has trained with master teachers Lee Strasberg, Jerzi Grotowski, Arianne Mnouchkine (Paris), Anna Deveare Smith, Augusto Boal, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London) and the Centro Universitario de Teatro at the Autonomous University of Mexico.
Alma has won numerous awards for her artistic achievements and community service. She is a highly sought after motivational speaker who travels across the country addressing issues related to education and the evolution of the Latina/o images in film and theatre.
Raised in Pico Rivera, CA, Alma was born in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. with her family at the age of one. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Head of the Acting Program at Pomona College in Claremont, CA.