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Maria Canals-Barrera
Mar
Gender: Female
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5'6"
Age: 57 Years Old
Birth: September 28, 1966
Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, U.S.
Role: Theresa Russo
Occupation: Actress
Singer
Years Active: 1990-present
Family: 2 Children
Relationship: David Barrera
SeasonsAppeared: All Seasons
FirstAppearances: Crazy 10-Minute Sale
LastAppearances: The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

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.

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[]

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