Bio
Nadine Velazquez is an American actress and model best known for her role as Catalina Aruca, the sexy hotel maid/stripper with a heart of gold, in the television comedy series My Name is Earl.
Velazquez was born in Chicago, Illinois and is of Puerto Rican descent. She has a BA in marketing.
She appeared in the 2004 film Blast!, as well as the TV movie The Last Ride. She appeared on the January 2006 cover of Stuff magazine, and was named #39 in the annual Maxim Hot 100 list.
She was originally cast as Fernando Sucre's girlfriend Maricruz Delgado in the FOX series Prison Break but acquired the role in My Name is Earl instead. She can be seen briefly on the Prison Break set in a featurette on the show's first season DVD set.
Velazquez is one of the actors in the star-studded monologue show Skirts & Flirts. Moviegoers had a chance to see her dramatic side as she starred opposite Denzel Washington in the Robert Zemekis-directed film Flight, which debuted in 2012.
She also starred as Dwayne The Rock Johnson's wife, Analisa in Summit Entertainment's action thriller Snitch. That was followed by Lionsgate comedy Aztec Warrior, where Nadine plays the romantic lead opposite Luiz Guzman.
Nadine continues to be a familiar face on television with recurring roles as sultry Sofia on FX's hit comedy The League, and as sweet Southerner Didi Ruano on CW's Hart of Dixie. She can also be seen in the new season of Arrested Development.
Daily Variety singled out Velazquez as one of Ten Actors to Watch and USA Today named her One of Five Rising Stars to Watch Closely. She was additionally picked by Entertainment Weekly for their summer Must List and included in People En Espanol for its 50 Most Beautiful People.
Velazquez spent her first three years in Hollywood honing her skills in projects such as Biker Boyz, Chasing Papi, Sueno, HBO's Entourage, The Bold and the Beautiful, Las Vegas and The Last Ride.
In 2013 she joined the cast of Major Crimes in the series regular role of A.D.A. Emma Rios, who immediately causes a stir within the department when she questions Raydor's intentions as Rusty's guardian and challenges her authority.
A Chicago native, Velazquez currently resides in Los Angeles. She is an impassioned supporter of charities that protect the rights of disenfranchised youth.
Velazquez is married to talent agent Marc Provissiero.