Maria Canals-Barrera is an American actor. She is mainly known for playing Theresa Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place. She reprised her role in the 2024 sequel series.
Personal Life[]
Maria Canals was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents of Catalan descent. Canals-Barrera also speaks Spanish and took drama classes in junior high school. Canals-Barrera graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School before winning a theatrical scholarship to the University of Miami. Barrera has been married to actor David Barrera since 1999, with whom she has two daughters.
Career[]
In her early years, Canals-Barrera worked extensively in Los Angeles and Miami theaters. In 1990, she starred as Amanda in a production of The Class Menagerie. In 1992, she starred in a production of Brian Michael Riley's A Cradle of Sparrows, in addition to starring on Telemundo Spanish-language telenovela Marielena. She later had a recurring role in the short-lived 1993 Fox comedy-drama series Key West. In the 1990s, Canals-Barrera also guest-starred in numerous television series. In 1996, she starred as the title character in the production of Hedda Gabler. The following year, she played Digna in Guillermo Reyes' Chilean Holiday production.
Her first regular role was on The Tony Danza Show in 1997. In the early 2000s, Canals-Barrera had supporting roles in films America's Sweethearts, The Master of Disguise, and Imaging Argentina. In recent years, she gained much recognition from comic book fans for her role as Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol on Bruce Timm's Justice League animated series and Justice League Unlimited. She also had a recurring role in Static Shock as news reporter Shelly Sandoval and in Danny Phantom as Paulina, the title character's high school crush. She also performed the voice of Mercedes "Meche" Colomar in the 1998 game Grim Fandango. Canals-Barrera also played random characters in two TV series episodes, The Boondocks(Grandad's Fight and Home Alone).
From 2007 to 2012, Canals-Barred co-starred as Theresa Russo in the Wizards of Waverly Place. She also co-starred in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. Canals-Barrera also appeared as Connie Torres in Camp Rock(2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam(2010). In 2011 she appeared in the romantic comedy Larry Crowne.
In 2014, Canals-Barrera was cast as Hilda in Members Only. Later that year, she joined the cast of Cristela as Cristela Alonozo's character sister. On August 27, 2018, TV Line revealed that Canals-Barrera was cast as the mother of Hernandez-Guerrero-Fernandez-Guerrero on the Netflix series Fuller House.
Trivia[]
- Her husband, David Barrera played "Carlos Cucuy" in Alex Gives Up.
- Her daughter, Bridget Barrera played "Little Girl" in Harperella.
Gallery[]
Filmography[]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Real | Notes |
| 1993 | Cop and a Half | Mrs. Bobo#2 | |
| 1995 | My Family | Young Irene | |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Adinah | |
| 2002 | Bad Boy | Woman at bar | |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise | Sophia | |
| 2003 | Imagining Argentina | Esme Palomares | |
| 2003 | Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico | Sofia Otero | Voice Role
Direct-To-Video |
| 2011 | Larry Crowne | Lala Pinedo | |
| 2012 | Batman Knights Returns: Part 1 | Ellen Yindel | Voice Role
Direct-To-Video |
| 2013 | Batman Knights Returns: Part 2 | Ellen Yindel | Voice Role Director-To-Video |
| 2013 | Night of the Hipsters | Barbara | Short Film |
| 2016 | God's Not Dead 2 | Catherine Thawley | |
| 2017 | Teen Titans: The Judas Contract | Bianca Reye
Titan's Computer |
Voice Role
Direct-To-Video |
| 2019 | Sweet Inspirations | Bonnie | Voice Role
Direct-To-Video |
| 2022 | Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters | Bella Flores | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | 21 Jump Street | Rosina | Episode: "La Bizca"' |
| 1991 | Super Force | Lori Wechsler | 2 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | Corte Tropical | Adrianita | |
| 1992–1994 | Marielena | Nancy | Recurring role |
| 1993 | Harlan & Merleen | Carmen | Television film |
| 1993 | Key West | Fig | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 1994 | Viper | Carla | Episode: "Wheels of Fire"' |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Carmen | Episode: "Wheel of Death"' |
| 1995 | Almost Perfect | Carmen | Episode: "You Like Me, You Really Like Me"' |
| 1996 | Goode Behavior | Denise | Episode: "Goode Feelings"' |
| 1997–1998 | The Tony Danza Show | Carmen Cruz | Main role, 7 episodes |
| 1998 | Caroline in the City | Maria | Episode: "Caroline and the Toothbrush"' |
| 1998 | Veronica's Closet | Dannie | Episode: "Veronica's a Partner Now"' |
| 1999 | Beggars and Choosers | Yolanda | Recurring role |
| 2000–2003 | Static Shock | Shelly Sandoval, Hawkgirl | Voice Role
14 episodes |
| 2000 | Pepper Ann | Señorita Vivas | Voice Role
Episode: "The Spanish Imposition"' |
| 2000 | That's Life | Episode: "Bad Hair Week"' | |
| 2001 | Popular | Candy Box | Episode: "Fire in the Hole"' |
| 2001 | The Brothers García | Ms. Azteca | Episode: "Love Is Very... Confusing"' |
| 2001 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | Teresa | Voice Role, Episode: "Dino Clifford"' |
| 2001–2005 | The Proud Family | Sunset Boulevardez | Voice Role
19 episodes |
| 2001–2004 | Justice League | Livewire | Voice Role
Main Role |
| 2002 | American Family | Christy | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Store Manager | Episode: "Santa, Baby"' |
| 2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dalilah the Hygienist | 2 episodes |
| 2004–2007 | Danny Phantom | Paulina | 15 episodes Recurring role (Season 1–2) |
| 2005–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Fire | Voice Role, 11 episodes |
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Sunset Boulevardez | Voice Role, television film |
| 2005–2007 | The Boondocks | Spanish TV Reporter, Costa Rican Woman | Voice Role, 2 episodes |
| 2006 | George Lopez | Claudia | Episode: "A Funeral Brings George to His Niece"' |
| 2006 | Handy Manny | Peggy Salazar | Voice Role, Episode: "Supremoguy/Tool Talk"' |
| 2007 | The Loop | Agent Denise | Episode: "Yeah, Presents"' |
| 2007–2012 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Theresa Russo | Main role, 84 episodes |
| 2008 | Camp Rock | Connie Torres | Television film |
| 2009 | Special Agent Oso | Additional Voice Roles | Episode: "Octo-Puzzle/One Suitcase Is Now Enough"' |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie | Theresa Russo | Television film |
| 2010 | Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam | Connie Torres | Television film |
| 2011 | Generator Rex | Valentina | Episode: "Outpost"' |
| 2012 | Pound Puppies | Dr. Trudy | Voice Role, 3 episodes |
| 2013 | The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex | Theresa Russo | Television special |
| 2014 | Baby Daddy | Carol Beltran | Episode: "Bonnie's Unreal Estate"' |
| 2014 | Gang Related | Marciela Acosta | 2 episodes |
| 2014–15 | Cristela | Daniela | Main role, 22 episodes |
| 2015 | Members Only | Hilda | Main role; unaired television series |
| 2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Rio Morales | Voice Role, 3 episodes |
| 2016 | A Bronx Life | Angela | Television film |
| 2016 | Last Man Standing | Sheryl | Episode: "Where There's Smoke, There's Ire"' |
| 2016 | The Big Bang Theory | Isabella | Episode: "The Brain Bowl Incubation"'Nmoin |
| 2017 | Vixen: The Movie | Dr. Vargas | Voice Role, television film |
| 2017 | Triangle | Alice | |
| 2018 | The Wedding Do Over | Irene Anderson | Television film |
| 2018 | Knight Squad | Saffron | Episode: "Parent Teacher Knight"' |
| 2018 | Young & Hungry | Marisol | Episode: "Young & Mexico, Part 1"' |
| 2018 | Fuller House | Nadia | Episode: "Perfect Sons"' |
| 2022 | Madagascar: A Little Wild | Pilar | Voice Role, 4 episodes |
| 2022–present | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Sunset Boulevardez | Voice Role |
Awards and nominations[]
| Awards and nominations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1998 | Ovation Award | Outstanding Actress | Changes of Heart | Nominated |
| 1998 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | The Tony Danza Show | Nominated |
| 2002 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series | The Brothers Garcia | Winner |
| 2008 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2008 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2009 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress/Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2009 | ALMA Award | Actress in Television – Comedy | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2010 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie | Winner |
| 2011 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2011 | ALMA Award | Favorite TV Actress – Supporting Role | Wizards of Waverly Place | Winner |
| 2013 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (Shared with cast) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Shared with cast) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Cristela | Nominated |
External Links[]
- Maria Canals-Barrera on Internet Movie Database
Instagram- Twitter
- TikTok
- Maria Canals-Barrera's Facebook
