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Lauren Vélez

Born: 02 November 1964 (60 years old)
Gender: Female

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Bio

Lauren Vélez is an American actress best known for her starring television roles as Dr. Gloria Nathan on the prison drama Oz and as Maria Laguerta in the crime thriller Dexter.

For Dexter, Vélez earned an Outstanding Actress nomination at the 2008 ALMA Awards and a 2009 SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance/Ensemble Television Drama Series.

In the same season, she won the Impact Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Series from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

While on hiatus from filming Dexter, Vélez starred and produced a one-woman show at the historic Colony Theatre in Miami as Cuba's national treasure Victoria Guadalupe Yoli ("La Lupe"), the artistic renegade who was banished from Cuba and later became the lead singer in Tito Puente's band in New York City.

Since her television debut in New York Undercover, Vélez's acting career highlights include eight Alma Award nominations, including one win for the role of Gloria Nathan on the HBO series Oz.

Vélez won a Vision Award in 2007 for Best Actress in Dexter, as well as a NCLR Bravo Award for New York Undercover and a nomination for City Hall with Al Pacino.

She was also recognised for her breakout role in I Like It Like That with an Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 2010, she was honoured with the Rita Moreno Hola Award for Excellence.

Vélez starred in the play, They Call Me La Lupe, at Teatro Latea in New York City during the month of January 2011.

Vélez also guest starred in the season finale of A&E's Breakout Kings and played a ruthless queen of a drug cartel who pulls off a violent and deadly escape while attending the funeral of her slain son.

Vélez also guest starred in the third season of HawthoRNe on TNT.


Television Roles

Show

Character

Special Agent Veronica Molina

Carmen Vega

Lt. Maria Laguerta

Lt. Maria Laguerta

Lt. Maria Laguerta

Lt. Maria Laguerta

Lt. Maria Laguerta

Captain Maria Laguerta

Maria Laguerta

Claudia Sandova

Zoe Mercado

Guest Star

Soraya Hargrove

Ms. Torres

Bermuda Air Attendant

Officer Lois Melago

Attorney Shamal

Elena Cabrera

Claudia Gomez

Claudia Gomez

Dr. Gloria Nathan

Elena

Elena

Aisha Conway


LATEST ARTICLES

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Mockumentary comedy St. Denis Medical debuts on M-Net and Dark Side of the Ring returns to eReality.


On Carte Blanche: fake cremation ashes of loved ones

It's one of our worst fears and something we've always been suspicious of. How do you know ashes are legit?


Scandal! Teasers - August 2025

Mthunzi has to accept the deal on the table but then he strikes gold and all bets are off.


Yosef Teasers - August 2025

Yosef gets saved by a stranger and Sultan has a cunning plan to get rid of Kiraz.


New on TV today: Friday 18 July 2025

The only new show today is a run of Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast on Disney+.


Skemergrond character portrait: Denver Vraagom as Dominee Wayne Ackerman

Seven years sober and Denver's taking on the role of Mr Hallelujah.


Soulmates Teasers - August 2025

Chiti secretly films Sachin, framing him as a drunk driver, and the vid goes viral.


New on TV today: Thursday 17 July 2025

SA is featured in Surf Girls International on Prime Video and M-Net unpacks an Anatomy of Lies.


2025 Emmy Awards Popcorn Pack

The headline nominees, other interesting ones, overall tallies and a giggle.


Anupama Teasers - August 2025

Prem and Rahi host a fun cricket match, bringing both families together for a joyful time.

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