Julia Vera Andrews (born January 23, 1941) is an American actress, best known for portraying latin women and characters in numerous television shows as well as for providing the voice of Luisa in Disney animated series Elena of Avalor . [1]
Julia Vera | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 23, 1941 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouse | Andrew Andrews (deceased) |
| Children | 5 |
Vera was born in Laredo, Texas. She has mixed heritage including Indian, Texan, and Spanish ancestry. She is one of fourteen children, growing up in a large household. [2] She moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1965. After raising her children, Vera decided to pursue acting more formally. [3] At age 46 she joined an acting class in Los Angeles, where an agent noticed her; this led to her being represented and beginning to audition in film and television. [4] [5]
She has appeared in a variety of TV series and films credits including Speed (1994), [6] Blow (2001), and guest roles in series such as Dexter, Criminal Minds , [7] CSI: Miami , The X-Files , General Hospital , Pasadena, ER , Dexter, My Name is Earl , Reno 911! , among others. [8] Vera also voiced Grandmother Luisa Flores [9] in Disney's Elena of Avalor for multiple seasons. [10] In stage she involved with Nosotros, an organization founded by Ricardo Montalbán, producing and directing plays. [11] She played a healer/witch character in The Old Ways and also in Laredo Theater. [12] She has had roles in contemporary shows and films including The Ridiculous Six, and had a regular role in This Fool . [13]
Julia is widow and have five children, [14] her oldest one Pembrooke Andrews is a supervising sound editor, [15] she resides in California.