Liza Lapira

Last updated
Liza Lapira
Liza Lapira World Premiere Inside Out 2.png
Lapira in 2024
Born (1981-12-03) December 3, 1981 (age 42)
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present

Liza Lapira (born December 3, 1981) [1] [2] is an American actress. She played Kianna in the 2008 film 21 , Special Agent Michelle Lee in the CBS police procedural series NCIS , and Ivy, Topher Brink's assistant, in Dollhouse . Lapira has also co-starred in the short-lived sitcoms Traffic Light , Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 , Super Fun Night , and 9JKL . As of 2021, she currently stars in CBS's The Equalizer . She also voiced Disgust in the Pixar animated film Inside Out 2 , replacing Mindy Kaling from the first film.

Contents

Early life

Lapira was born on December 3, 1981, in Queens, New York. She is of Filipino descent. [3]

Career

Stage

Lapira's New York stage credits include As You Like It , The School for Wives , The Odyssey , and Alexandra Cunningham's No. 11 Blue and White. Most recently, she played Suzanne in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. [4] [5]

Film

Early film credits include director Tony Scott's Domino and independent feature The Big Bad Swim , which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006. Lapira appeared in J. J. Abrams' 2008 film Cloverfield as Heather and also appeared in Table for Three and 21 . In 2009, she played Agent Sophie Trinh in the film Fast & Furious opposite Paul Walker, and in 2010, she played Alva in Repo Men . She portrayed Liz, the sharp-tongued friend of Hannah (Emma Stone) in the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love. In 2021, she played Teresa in Dante Basco's directorial debut The Fabulous Filipino Brothers . She voiced Disgust in Pixar's Inside Out 2 , replacing Mindy Kaling, who voiced the character in the first film.

Television

Lapira's first major role was a series regular spot on the Showtime TV series Huff . Lapira played neuroscientist Ivy in both seasons of Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse , appearing predominantly with Fran Kranz and Dichen Lachman.

Her TV credits include recurring roles in Dexter , ER , Monk, Grey's Anatomy , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , The Parkers as Shaquan, Sex and the City , and The Sopranos .

Lapira had regular roles as: Agent Michelle Lee in NCIS , Lisa in Traffic Light , Robin in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 , Detective Jacocks in Battle Creek , Leslie Barrett in Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life , and Eve in the CBS comedy 9JKL . [6]

In August 2018, Lapira joined the recurring cast of the Netflix limited-series Unbelievable . [7]

In 2020, Lapira was cast as a lead on CBS' The Equalizer reboot opposite Queen Latifah and Chris Noth. [8]

Personal life

In New York, she acted on stage and in independent films. She moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to work in television. [9] Lapira is an avid supporter of LA's Best, which provides after school services to 28,000 children in 189 schools in the neighborhoods with the highest needs around Los Angeles. Also, she participates in the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Charity Triathlon each fall in Malibu. Currently, she is working with The Impact Theatre in Harlem, while living on the east coast. [10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Autumn in New York Charlotte's Friend
2002 Brown Sugar Receptionist
2005 Domino Chinegro Woman
2006 The Big Bad Swim Paula
2007LA BluesSandra
2008 Cloverfield Heather
21 Kianna
2009 Fast & Furious Sophie Trinh
Table for Three NerissaDirect-to-video film
2010 Repo Men Alva
See You in September Monica
Marmaduke Party Dog #1 (voice)
2011 Crazy, Stupid, Love Liz
2012The Happiest Person in AmericaLaraShort film; also associate producer
2014 Someone Marry Barry Single Mom at Wedding
2017 All I Wish Darla
2018 The Samuel Project Nadia Akiyama
2021 The Fabulous Filipino Brothers Teresa
2024 Inside Out 2 Disgust (voice)Replaced Mindy Kaling

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999–2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1) Waitress
(2) Rebecca Chang
(3) (4) (5) (6) Forensics Technician Lu
(1) Season 1 Episode 5: "Wanderlust" (1999)
(2) Season 2 Episode 21: "Scourge" (2001)
(3) Season 8 Episode 11: "Burned" (2007)
(4) Season 8 Episode 14: "Dependent" (2007)
(5) Season 9 Episode 2: "Avatar" (2007)
(6) Season 9 Episode 10: "Snitch" (2007)
2001 Law & Order Cheryl TreadwellSeason 11 Episode 14: "A Losing Season"
2001–2002 The Education of Max Bickford (1) Nia Sheppard
(2) Student Volunteer
(1) Season 1 Episode 8: "A Very Great Man" (2001)
(2) Season 1 Episode 14: "Money Changes Everything" (2002)
2003 Sex and the City PamSeason 6 Episode 4: "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little"
Queens Supreme N/ASeason 1 Episode 5: "Mad About You"
2004 Without a Trace LaylaSeason 2 Episode 18: "Legacy"
The Sopranos Amanda KimSeason 5 Episode 6: "Sentimental Education"
The Parkers ShaquanSeason 5 Episode 19: "At Last"
2004–2006 Huff Maggie Del RosarioMain role (21 episodes)
2006 Grey's Anatomy Noelle LavatteSeason 3 Episode 6: "Let the Angels Commit"
2006–2008 NCIS Michelle LeeRecurring role (Season 4, 6) (12 episodes)
2007 Monk Dr. SouterSeason 5 Episode 16: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital"
2008 ER Christine(1) Season 14 Episode 19: "The Chicago Way"
(2) Season 15 Episode 4: "Parental Guidance"
Dexter Detective Yuki Amado(Season 3)
(1) Season 3 Episode 1: "Our Father"
(2) Season 3 Episode 2: "Finding Freebo"
(3) Season 3 Episode 4: "All in the Family"
(4) Season 3 Episode 6: "Sí Se Puede"
(5) Season 3 Episode 7: "Easy As Pie"
2009–2010 Dollhouse IvyRecurring role (10 episodes)
2011 Traffic Light Lisa ReillyMain role (13 episodes)
2012 Psych TinaSeason 6 Episode 13: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again"
Drop Dead Diva Abby HalsteadSeason 4 Episode 4: "Winning Ugly"
2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 RobinMain role (Season 1); Guest (Season 2) (14 episodes)
2013 Royal Pains Erika SeeligSeason 5 Episode 1: "HankWatch"
2013–2014 Super Fun Night Helen-AliceMain role (17 episodes)
2014 Blue Bloods Skye BishopSeason 4 Episode 16: "Insult to Injury"
Power Grace PakSeason 1 Episode 6: "Who You With?"
2015 Battle Creek Detective Erin "E" JacocksRecurring role (12 episodes)
2015–2017 Con Man Brenda White(1) Season 1 Episode 11: "Full Release" (2015)
(2) Season 1 Episode 12: "Found and Lost" (2015)
(3) Season 1 Episode 13: "Too Much Closure for Comfort" (2015)
(4) Season 2 Episode 11: "A Shot with Finley" (2016)
(5) Season 2 Episode 12: "Shock to the System" (2016)
(6) Season 2 Episode 9: "Back to the Past" (2017)
(7) Season 2 Episode 10: "Dawn of Girth" (2017)
2016 Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life Leslie BarrettMain role (13 episodes)
Angel from Hell JillSeason 1 Episode 1: "Pilot"
2017–2018 9JKL Eve RobertsMain role (16 episodes)
2018 Animal Kingdom District Attorney RepresentativeSeason 3 Episode 4: "Wolves"
The Good Doctor Nurse Ann FloresSeason 2 Episode 3: "36 Hours"
2019 NCIS: New Orleans Araminta JaxSeason 5 Episode 15: "Crab Mentality"
Unbelievable MiaRecurring role (Season 1 Episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
2019-2021 Nancy Drew Victoria Fan(1) Season 1 Episode 4: "The Haunted Ring" (2019)
(2) Season 1 Episode 5: "The Case of the Wayward Spirit" (2019)
(3) Season 1 Episode 7: "The Tale of the Fallen Sea Queen" (2019)
(4) Season 1 Episode 17: "The Girl in the Locket" (2020)
(5) Season 2 Episode 15: "The Celestial Visitor" (2021)
2021–present The Equalizer Melody "Mel" BayaniMain role
2024 Dream Productions Disgust (voice)4 episodes

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References

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