Olga Merediz | |
---|---|
![]() Merediz in 2021 | |
Born | Guantánamo, Cuba | February 15, 1956
Citizenship | United States |
Alma mater | Tulane University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1984–present |
Known for | Abuela Claudia in In the Heights |
Awards | Drama Desk Award HOLA Tespis Award |
Olga Merediz [1] [2] (born February 15, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Merediz originated the role of Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights , for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She played the role for the show's entire Broadway run, and reprised the role in the film adaptation. [3] [4] Her television credits include NBC's 2016 series Shades of Blue and Netflix's Orange Is the New Black .
Merediz was born in Guantánamo, Cuba on February 15, 1956. [1] [2] She left Cuba with her family when she was five years old to Miami, Florida. [5] Thereafter, she relocated with her family to Puerto Rico where she grew up. Olga attended and graduated from Commonwealth High School in San Juan where she performed and began developing her singing and acting skills in the high school theatrical plays. [5] Merediz graduated with a bachelor's degree from Newcomb College, the former women's college within Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. [5]
Having made her film debut in 1984's The Brother from Another Planet , Merediz has since appeared in a number of films, including The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), City of Hope (1991), Evita (1996), Music of the Heart (1999), K-Pax (2001), Remember Me (2010), Custody (2016), Humor Me (2017), and the reprise of her 2008 Tony Award nominated Broadway role as Abuela Claudia, in the film adaptation In the Heights (2021). She also provided the singing voice of Alma Madrigal in Encanto (2021).
Her television credits, in both dramas and comedies, include recurring and guest roles in Diary of a Future President , New Amsterdam , Brooklyn Nine-Nine , Orange Is the New Black and Madam Secretary . She has been a series regular in the UK television series Bounty Hunters and the comedy Saint George , has appeared in episodes of both Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU , and appeared as herself as a judge on Throwdown with Bobby Flay .
In addition to In the Heights, her Broadway credits include Reckless at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Man of La Mancha , and Les Misérables . She also appeared as Rosie in Mamma Mia! .
Before they went to Broadway, Merediz starred in the Off-Broadway versions of In the Heights, and The Human Comedy. Some of her other Off-Broadway credits include Women without Men, The Haggadah, Lullabye and Goodnight, and The Blessing.
Additionally, Merediz was directed by John Cassavetes in a play called Thornhill.
Merediz has an extensive voice-over and narration portfolio, including the PBS Nature documentaries: Bears, [6] Hotel Armadillo, [7] Jungle Animal Hospital, [8] Nature's Miracle Orphans, [9] and Cuba: The Accidental Eden. [10] Her voice can be heard in numerous TV/radio commercials, Dora the Explorer , Go, Diego, Go! , Elena of Avalor , and Encanto .
She served as spokesperson for the MTA, New York City Transit Authority. [11]
At the 2008 Tony Awards, she received a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for the Broadway incarnation of In the Heights. [12] In addition to her Tony Award nomination, Merediz won a 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for her role in the off-Broadway run of In the Heights, as well as a 2003 HOLA Tespis Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. [13]
In 2013, Latina magazine named her as one of the 50 Best Latin Singers and Pop Stars of All Time. According to the magazine, "The Cuban Broadway star knows how to dominate a live stage and owns it!" [14]
† | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Brother from Another Planet | Noreen's Client | |
1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Milagro Townsperson | |
1990 | Q&A | Mrs. Valentin | |
1991 | City of Hope | Nidia | |
The Super | Female #2 | ||
1992 | Boomerang | Guard | |
1994 | Angie | Roz | |
1995 | Drunks | Chairwoman | |
1996 | Evita | Bianca Duarte | |
Marvin's Room | Beauty Shop Lady | ||
1997 | States of Control | Purse-snatched Woman | |
White Lies | Woman #1 in Window | ||
1999 | Things I Forgot to Remember | Carmela | |
Music of the Heart | Ms. Olivas | ||
2000 | Isn't She Great | Mrs. Ramirez | |
Center Stage | ABA Receptionist | ||
Requiem for a Dream | Malin & Block Secretary | ||
2001 | K-PAX | Transit Officer | |
2002 | Changing Lanes | Mrs. Miller | |
Apartment 5C | Jenny | ||
2004 | Imaginary Heroes | Maria | Uncredited |
2006 | A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints | Aunt Mary | |
2010 | Remember Me | Aidan's Professor | |
2011 | Mr. Popper's Penguins | Nanny | |
Trouble in the Heights | Gloria | ||
2012 | One for the Money | Rosa Gomez | |
The Place Beyond the Pines | Malena Gutierrez | ||
2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Jane | |
Top Five | Chelsea's Mom | ||
Like Sunday, Like Rain | Esa | ||
Fugly! | Moms | ||
2016 | Custody | Joyce | |
Urge | Esthetician | ||
America Adrift | Sorida | ||
2017 | The Light of the Moon | Mariana | |
Humor Me | Fortune Teller | ||
2019 | Fair Market Value | Missy Goya | |
2020 | Godmothered | Beth | |
2021 | In the Heights | Abuela Claudia | |
Encanto | Abuela Alma Madrigal (singing voice) | ||
2023 | Somebody I Used to Know | Joanne "Jojo" | |
2024 | Spellbound | General Cardona (voice) | |
TBA | Eternity | Karen | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | The Cosby Show | Mrs. Rodriguez | Episode: "Mr. Quiet" |
1986 | Another World | Dolores | 1 episode |
1987 | Leg Work | Nuse | Episode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" |
1987–95 | ABC Afterschool Special | Mrs. Mathias / Dr. Montoya | 2 episodes |
1988–89 | Tattingers | Nanette | 2 episodes |
1989 | Baby Cakes | Check-out Girl | TV movie |
1991–2009 | Law & Order | Various | 6 episodes |
1995 | Central Park West | Anne | 2 episodes |
1996 | The Sunshine Boys | Sue | TV movie |
2000 | The Sopranos | Fran | Episode: "Bust Out" |
2001 | The Job | Yolanda Sommeriba | Episode: "Anger" |
Third Watch | Judge | Episode: "He Said/She Said" | |
2002 | George Lopez | Aunt Cecilia | Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?" |
Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Mrs. Martinez | Episode: "Best Defense" | |
2003 | Hope & Faith | Gloria | 3 episodes |
2003–19 | Dora the Explorer | Maestra Beatriz / Fairy Godmother (voice) | 2 episodes |
2003–21 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Veronica Nash / Judge Roberta Martinez | 6 episodes |
2004 | The Jury | Leticia Schikert | 2 episodes |
2005 | Go, Diego, Go! | Mrs. Marquez (voice) | Episode: "Diego Saves the Humpback Whale" |
2009 | Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise | Teresa | TV movie |
Royal Pains | Esperanza | Episode: "If I Were a Sick Man" | |
2010 | Past Life | Carmen Santos | Episode: "Pilot" |
2011 | Blue Bloods | Inez | Episode: "My Funny Valentine" |
Pan Am | Mrs. Rodriguez | Episode: "Unscheduled Departure" | |
2014 | Saint George | Alma Lopez | 10 episodes |
Dora and Friends: Into the City! | Emma's Grandma / Wagnerian Woman (voice) | Episode: "Dora Saves Opera Land" | |
2014–19 | Orange Is the New Black | Lourdes | 6 episodes |
2015 | Alternatino | Mother | Episode: "Respect Your Mother" |
2016 | Madam Secretary | Rep. Elle Vazquez | Episode: "Breakout Capacity" |
2016–17 | Shades of Blue | Lorena Zepeda | 3 episodes |
2017 | The Breaks | Episode: "Blind Alley" | |
Bounty Hunters | Maria | 5 episodes | |
2017–18 | Stuck in the Middle | Abuela | 2 episodes |
2017–19 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Julia Diaz | 2 episodes |
2018–19 | New Amsterdam | Warden Gloria Salazar | 2 episodes |
2019 | Elena of Avalor | Felicia (voice) | Episode: "Flower of Light" |
2019–20 | Bull | Judge Ollis | 2 episodes |
2020–21 | Diary of a Future President | Francisca | 2 episodes |
2022 | Blockbuster | Connie Serrano | Main role; 10 episodes |
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Lullabye and Goodnight | Saint | Off-Broadway |
1984 | The Human Comedy | Mexican Woman | Broadway |
1987 | Les Misérables | Female Ensemble/Madame Thénardier Understudy | Broadway (Replacement) |
2001 | Mamma Mia! | Rosie | Broadway (Replacement) |
2002 | Man of La Mancha | The Housekeeper | Broadway Revival |
2004 | Reckless | Trish/Woman Patient | Broadway |
2008 | In the Heights | Abuela Claudia | Broadway Nominated—Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [15] | AUS [16] | CAN [17] | IRE [18] | NZ Hot [19] | UK [20] | WW [21] | |||||
"The Family Madrigal" (with Stephanie Beatriz and Encanto cast) | 2021 | 20 | 40 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 20 | Encanto | ||
"All of You" (with Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma, and Encanto cast) | 71 | — | 83 | — | — | — | 111 |
| |||
"—" denotes songs which were not released in that country or did not chart. |
Deborah Ann Gibson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Irene Cara Escalera was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film Fame, and for recording the film's title song "Fame", which reached No. 1 in several countries. In 1983, Cara co-wrote and sang the song "Flashdance... What a Feeling", for which she shared an Academy Award for Best Original Song and won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984.
Kristin Dawn Chenoweth is an American actress and singer, with credits in musical theatre, film, and television. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Broadway. In 2003, Chenoweth was nominated for a second Tony Award for originating the role of Glinda in the musical Wicked. Her television roles include Annabeth Schott in NBC's The West Wing and Olive Snook on the comedy drama Pushing Daisies, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009.
Brenda Russell is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses R&B, pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations.
Adassa is an American urban reggaeton singer and songwriter. She is known for her Latin-infused dance-pop music and has released several albums throughout her career, including "Kamasutra" and "Adassa." Her music career spans from urban reggaeton to Christian music.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker, rapper, and librettist. He created the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015), and the soundtracks for the animated films Moana (2016), Vivo, and Encanto. He has received numerous accolades including a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Grammy Awards, along with nominations for two Academy Awards. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018.
Leslie Grace Martínez is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. For her work as a singer, she has received three Latin Grammy Award nominations. She starred as Nina Rosario in Jon M. Chu's film adaptation In the Heights (2021).
Keala Settle is an American actress and singer. Settle originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody, which ran on Broadway in 2013, and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2016 she was in the original Broadway cast of Waitress portraying Becky. In 2017, she portrayed Lettie Lutz, a bearded lady, in the musical film The Greatest Showman. The song "This Is Me" from the film, principally sung by Settle, won the 2017 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Stephanie Beatriz Bischoff Alvizuri is an American actress. She is known for playing Detective Rosa Diaz in the Fox/NBC comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021), Quiet in the Peacock action-comedy series Twisted Metal (2023–present), and Carla in the musical film In the Heights (2021), and voicing Mirabel Madrigal in the Disney film Encanto (2021) and Vaggie in the adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel (2024–present).
Diane Guerrero is an American actress. She is known for her roles as inmate Maritza Ramos in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and Lina on Jane the Virgin. Guerrero grew up in Boston and remained there after the rest of her family was deported to Colombia. She is an advocate for immigration reform. Her role on Orange Is the New Black has contributed to three consecutive wins for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Guerrero is the author of In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, a memoir about her parents being detained and deported when she was fourteen. She starred as Jane in the Max action-drama series Doom Patrol. She also voiced the character Isabela Madrigal in the 2021 Disney film Encanto.
Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton, which earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in the same year. His performance was captured in the Disney+ live stage recording of Hamilton which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Limited Series or Movie nomination.
Anthony Paul Ramos Martinez is an American actor and singer. After graduating in musical theatre from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, he began working in stage musicals. In 2015, he originated the dual roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the Broadway musical Hamilton. He received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance in the 2020 stage recording of the play.
"She Used to Be Mine" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles for Waitress, her musical stage adaptation of the 2007 film of the same name. It was recorded by Bareilles for her fifth studio album, What's Inside: Songs from Waitress (2015), and was released to digital retailers as its lead single on September 25, 2015.
Carolina del Pilar Gaitán Lozano is a Colombian actress and singer. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in New York and has been awarded two Premios Tu Mundo from Telemundo.
Ella Mai Howell is an English R&B singer-songwriter. Her musical career began at London's British and Irish Modern Music Institute in 2014, during which time she auditioned as part of a trio on the 11th season of The X Factor. In 2015, she released her debut four-track solo extended play (EP), Troubled in October of that year. The EP and her performances on social media were discovered by American record producer DJ Mustard, who signed Mai to his record label 10 Summers Records, an imprint of Interscope Records.
Rhenzy Feliz is an American actor, who is best known for playing Alex Wilder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Runaways, voicing Camilo Madrigal in Disney's 2021 animated feature film Encanto and playing Victor Aguilar in the HBO series The Penguin.
Jessica Darrow is an American actress and singer best known for voicing the character Luisa Madrigal in Disney's Encanto and for playing Mikki Easton in Fifteen-Love.
"We Don't Talk About Bruno" is a song from Disney's 2021 animated musical film Encanto, with music and lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It was released by Walt Disney Records as part of the film's soundtrack on November 19, 2021. The song is an ensemble number performed by some of the film's voice cast members: mainly Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz, and a few others in minor roles. A viral sensation, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" has been described as one of the best Disney songs and the studio's biggest crossover success.
"The Family Madrigal" is a song from Disney's animated musical film Encanto (2021), released as part of the film's soundtrack on November 19, 2021, by Walt Disney Records. It was written by American singer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, and sung almost entirely by American actress Stephanie Beatriz, featuring a small refrain by American actress Olga Merediz; "The Family Madrigal" is the opening number of Encanto, and is performed by the protagonists Mirabel and Alma Madrigal, respectively, in the film.
"Surface Pressure" is a song from Disney's 2021 animated musical film Encanto, released by Walt Disney Records as part of the film's soundtrack on November 19, 2021. It is a cumbia-inspired reggaeton song written by American singer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by American actress Jessica Darrow in her role as Luisa Madrigal. "Surface Pressure" details the struggles of Luisa, who wields the magical "gift" of superhuman strength and hence faces the stresses of being the reliable older sister in her family—the Madrigals.