{{Short description|American actress (born 1978)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Nadine Velázquez | image = Nadine Velazquez.jpg | caption = Velázquez {{circa}} 2006 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|11|20}} | birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Marc Provissiero|2005|2011|reason=divorced}} | years_active = 1999–present | occupation = {{hlist|[[Actress]]|[[Model (person)|model]]}} }}
'''Nadine E. Velázquez''' (born November 20, 1978) is an American actress and model known for her roles as [[Catalina Aruca]] on ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' and Sofia Ruxin on ''[[The League]]''. She has also appeared in films such as ''[[Blast (2004 film)|Blast]]'' (2004), ''[[A Day in the Life (film)|A Day in the Life]]'' (2009), ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'' (2012), ''[[Snitch (film)|Snitch]]'' (2013), and ''[[Ride Along 2]]'' (2016), and was a cast member on the TV series ''[[Major Crimes (TV series)|Major Crimes]]''.
==Early life== Velázquez was born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. She is of [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican descent]]. After graduating from [[Notre Dame High School for Girls]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/pages/nadinevelazquez.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410094527/http://cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/Pages/NadineVelazquez.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 10, 2011 |title=Nadine Velázquez, Actress (profile) – Cook County (IL) Clerk's Office. |access-date=November 2, 2012 }}</ref> she earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[marketing]] from [[Columbia College Chicago]] in 2001.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-flashback/2008/09/26/nadine-velazquez Vaccino, Steven. "Celebrity College Flashback: Nadine Velázquez," ''U.S. News & World Report'', September 26, 2008.]</ref> She has a brother named Nelson.
==Career== Velázquez has appeared in print ads, television, and film. Her first acting role was a [[McDonald's]] commercial as a drive-through lady.<ref>''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' October 8. 2008, p. 78</ref> She was originally cast as [[Fernando Sucre]]'s girlfriend, [[Maricruz Delgado]], in the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox television]] series ''[[Prison Break]]'' but took the role of [[Catalina Aruca#Catalina_Aruca|Catalina Aruca]] in the [[NBC]] series ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' instead. Her first film roles were in the movie ''[[War (2007 film)|War]]'' with [[Jet Li]] and [[Jason Statham]], and in the [[Oxygen (TV network)|Oxygen Network]] original [[television film]] ''[[Husband for Hire]]''. She was one of the actors in the 2006 monologue show ''Skirts & Flirts''.<ref name="latinheat">{{cite web|url=http://www.latinheat.com/news.php?nid=571|title=Skirts and Flirts Premieres at The Hudson Mainstage Theatre|access-date=January 24, 2008|author=Gloria Calderon Kellett|date=March 14, 2006|publisher=LatinHeatOnline.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813103128/http://latinheat.com/news.php?nid=571|archive-date=August 13, 2007}}</ref> In 2006, she was named #39 in the annual ''[[Maxim magazine|Maxim]]'' Hot 100 list.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.maxim.com/girls/hot-100/77965/2006-hot-100.html |title=Nadine Velazquez of 2006 Hott 100 on Maxim.com |access-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610100727/http://www.maxim.com/girls/hot-100/77965/2006-hot-100.html |archive-date=June 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Velazquez was one of the judges in the [[Miss Universe 2008]] beauty pageant and the host for the [[Miss USA 2009]] pageant.
In 2011 Velazquez appeared in the [[pilot episode]] of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s [[reboot (continuity)|reboot]] of ''[[Charlie's Angels (2011 TV series)|Charlie's Angels]]'' as Gloria Martinez, one of the titular "Angels". Her character was killed off after a few minutes of screen time and was replaced by [[Minka Kelly]]. She appeared in a recurring role in [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]'s fantasy football sitcom ''[[The League]]'' and on [[The CW Television Network|The CW]]'s comedy-drama ''[[Hart of Dixie]]''.
In 2012, Velazquez appeared in the movie ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'', playing flight attendant Katerina Marquez, a supporting role opposite the main [[protagonist]] character played by [[Denzel Washington]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rosscarey.com/2012/10/29/episode-71-featuring-nadine-velazquez/ |title='Conversations with Ross, Featuring Nadine Velazquez |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=rosscarey.com |access-date=August 5, 2016 }}</ref> In 2013, Velazquez reunited with her former ''My Name Is Earl'' cast members for a guest appearance in ''[[Raising Hope]]''.<ref>Roots, Kimberly. (January 23, 2013) [http://tvline.com/2013/01/23/raising-hope-season-3-cast-jason-lee-jaime-pressly/ Raising Hope Season 3 Cast – My Name Is Earl Reunion]. TVLine. Retrieved on July 13, 2013.</ref> Velazquez joined the main cast of the TNT series ''[[Major Crimes (TV series)|Major Crimes]]'', beginning with season two.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130324011911/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/21/nadine-velazquez-to-be-a-series-regular-on-tnts-major-crimes/174389/ "Nadine Velazquez to be a Series Regular on TNT's 'Major Crimes' - Ratings"]. [[TV by the Numbers]]. Retrieved on July 13, 2013.</ref> She plays Emma Rios, a [[District attorney|DA]], who is a romantic interest of [[Raymond Cruz]]'s [[Detective Julio Sanchez|Julio Sanchez]]. Cruz played Paco, her boyfriend, on ''My Name Is Earl''.
On March 8, 2021, it was announced that Velazquez was to join the cast of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s music series ''[[Queens (American TV series)|Queens]]'', alongside [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]] and [[Naturi Naughton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/brandy-abc-music-pilot-queens-1234924800/ |title=Brandy Joins ABC Music Drama Pilot 'Queens' |last=Otterson |first=Joe |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/03/brandy-new-tv-show-queens.html |title=Brandy to Return to TV in ABC Hip-Hop Drama Queens |last=Haylock |first=Zoe |website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/brandy-queens-abc-hip-hop-group |title=Brandy Will Star in a New ABC Drama About a Reunited Hip-Hop Group |last=Cuby |first=Michael |website=Nylon |date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/entertainment/2021/04/brandy-naturi-naughton-eve-more-continue-shooting-new-abc-music-series-queens/ |title=Brandy, Naturi Naughton, Eve, & More Continue Shooting New ABC Music Series 'Queens' |publisher=thatgrapejuice.net |date=April 16, 2021|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> In May 2021, it was announced the show was being picked up for a full series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/the-wonder-years-queens-maggie-abbott-elementary-picked-up-to-series-abc-1234756301/ |title='The Wonder Years', 'Queens', 'Maggie' & 'Abbott Elementary' Picked Up to Series at ABC |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]b|date=May 14, 2021|access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/entertainment/2021/05/abc-announces-full-season-order-queens-starring-brandy-eve-naturi-naughton/ |title=ABC Announces Full Season Order Of 'Queens' Starring Brandy, Eve, & Naturi Naughton |publisher=thatgrapejuice |date=May 14, 2021|access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=QueensABC|url=https://twitter.com/abc_queens/status/1393304632118611974?s=20|title=Queens is a new drama coming to ABC. #QueensABC @TheRealEve @4everBrandy @naturinaughton @nadinevelazquez |website=[[Twitter]]|date=May 14, 2021|access-date=May 16, 2021|number=1393304632118611974}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/05/14/the-wonder-years-reboot-abc-series-order-queens-maggie-abbott-elementary/ |title=ABC Orders The Wonder Years Reboot, Hip-Hop Drama Queens, More to Series |last=Nemetz|first=Dave|work=[[TVLine]]|date=May 14, 2021|access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> On October 1, 2021, the first promo single from ''Queens'' (“Nasty Girl") was released featuring Velasquez alongside the cast: Brandy, Eve, Naughton and Velazquez.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://music.apple.com/gb/album/nasty-girl/1588139685?i=1588139687|title=Nasty Girl (single)|date=October 1, 2021|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> A music video, directed by [[Tim Story]], was released on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/brandy-eve-naturi-naughton-nadine-velazquez-nasty-girl-queens-1234630603/|title= Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton, And Nadine Velazquez Drop "Nasty Girl" Single, Ahead Of 'Queens' Premiere |last=Abraham|first=Mya|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=October 1, 2021|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref> This was followed on October 18, 2021, by another rap song from the ''Queens '' soundtrack: "The Introduction", which was co-written by [[Nas]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-introduction/1589288293?i=1589288296|title=Queens Cast The Introduction|website=Apple Music|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Queens (American TV series)|Queens]]'' debuted on October 19, 2021, and reviews were largely positive; Caroline Framke of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised the quartet's musical offering, calling their raps “sharp and distinct […] making clear their talent as both individuals and a swaggering collective”.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2021/tv/reviews/queens-review-brandy-eve-abc-1235091806/ |title=ABC's 'Queens' Lets Brandy, Eve, Crafty Melodrama Shine: TV Review|last=Framke|first=Caroline|website=Variety|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> Angie Han of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' called the show “Impressive […] lavish […] magic”.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/queens-1235031158/ |title=Queens Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Han|first=Angie|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life== Velazquez married [[talent agent]] Marc Provissiero in 2005. They divorced in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nadinevelazquez.blogspot.ca/2013/12/goodbye-2013.html |title=Nadine Velazquez's blog: Goodbye 2013 |date=December 29, 2013 |publisher=NadineVelazquez.blogspot.ca |author=Nadine Velazquez |access-date=January 7, 2013}}</ref>
==Filmography== <!-- DO NOT USE ROWSPAN AS PER WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 2003 | ''[[Biker Boyz]]'' | Allison | |- | ''[[Chasing Papi]]'' | Attractive Woman at Conga Club | |- | 2004 | ''[[Blast (2004 film)|Blast]]'' | Luna | |- | 2005 | ''[[Sueño (film)|Sueño]]'' | Claudia | |- | 2007 | ''[[War (2007 film)|War]]'' | Maria | |- | rowspan="2" | 2009 | ''[[A Day in the Life (film)|A Day in the Life]]'' | Special Agent Natasha | |- | ''[[All's Faire in Love]]'' | Mathilda | |- | rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''PSA: An Important Message from Women EVERYWHERE'' | Woman | rowspan="3" | Short |- | ''Byron'' | Jessica |- | rowspan="2" | 2012 | ''Guitar Face'' | Ana Lucia |- | ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'' | Katerina Marquez | |- | 2013 | ''[[Snitch (film)|Snitch]]'' | Analisa | |- | 2014 | ''[[My Sister (2014 film)|My Sister]]'' | - | |- | 2015 | ''Clarity'' | Carmen | |- | rowspan="6" | 2016 | ''[[Ride Along 2]]'' | Tasha | |- | ''Crawlspace'' | | |- | ''[[Within (film)|Within]]'' | Melanie Alexander | |- | ''[[The Charnel House (film)|The Charnel House]]'' | Charlotte Reaves | |- | ''[[The Bounce Back]]'' | Kristin Peralta | |- | ''Aztec Warrior'' | Lisa | |- | rowspan="2" | 2018 | ''Sharon 1.2.3.'' | Sharon #2 | |- | ''Discarnate'' | Maya Sanchez | |- | 2019 | ''A World Away'' | Lyra | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2003 | ''[[The Bold and the Beautiful]]'' | Anna | Episode: "Episode #1.4155" |- | rowspan="2" | 2004 | ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]'' | Janeen | Episode: "New York" |- |''[[The Last Ride (2004 film)|The Last Ride]]'' |JJ Cruz |TV Movie |- | rowspan="3" | 2005 | ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]'' | Myra Gonzalez | Episode: "Mothwoman" |- |''Hollywood Vice'' |Marla Flynt | rowspan="2" |TV Movie |- |''[[House of the Dead 2 (film)|House of the Dead 2]]'' |Private Maria Rodriguez |- | 2005{{endash}}2009 | ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'' | [[List_of_My_Name_Is_Earl_characters#Catalina_Aruca|Catalina Aruca]] | Main cast |- |2007 |''[[Kings of South Beach]]'' |Olivia Palacios | rowspan="2" |TV Movie |- |2008 |''[[Husband for Hire]]'' |Lola |- | rowspan="2" | 2009 | ''[[CSI: NY]]'' | Marcia Vasquez | Episode: "Dead Reckoning" |- | ''[[Gary Unmarried]]'' | Sophia | Episode: "Gary and Allison's Friend" |- | 2009{{endash}}2015 | ''[[The League]]'' | Sofia | Recurring cast |- | rowspan="3" | 2010 | ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' | Nicole | Episode: "Our True Lies" |- | ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' | Sarah Walker | Episode: "Sudden Death" |- | ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]'' | Linda Leon | Episode: "Ko'olauloa" |- | 2011 | ''[[Charlie's Angels (2011 TV series)|Charlie's Angels]]'' | Gloria Martinez | Episode: "Angel with a Broken Wing" |- | 2011{{endash}}2012 | ''[[Hart of Dixie]]'' | Didi Ruano | Recurring cast: [[Hart of Dixie (season 1)|Season 1]] |- | rowspan="2" | 2013 | ''[[Raising Hope]]'' | Valentina | Episode: "Making the Band" |- | ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' | Rosalita | Episode: "It Gets Better" |- | 2013{{endash}}2015 | ''[[Real Husbands of Hollywood]]'' | Herself | 5 episodes |- | 2013{{endash}}2017 | ''[[Major Crimes (TV series)|Major Crimes]]'' | D.D.A. Emma Rios | Main cast: season 2; Guest: Seasons 3 and 6 |- | rowspan="2" | 2014 | ''[[Killer Women]]'' | Martina Alvarez | Episode: "La Sicaria" |- | ''[[The Exes]]'' | Alessandra | Episode: "The Devil Wears Hanes" |- | rowspan="2" |2015 |''Win, Lose or Love'' |Nancy Gander | rowspan="2" |TV Movie |- |''Love Is a Four-Letter Word'' |Rebecca |- | 2015 | ''[[Z Nation]]'' | Camilla | Episode: "[[List of Z Nation episodes#Season 3 (2016)|Doc's Angels]]" |- | 2017{{endash}}2018 | ''[[Six (TV series)|Six]]'' | Jackie Ortiz | Main cast |- | 2018 | ''[[The Guest Book]]'' | Anne | Episode: "Tonight You Become a Man" |- | 2021{{endash}}2022 | ''[[Queens (American TV series)|Queens]]'' | Valeria "Butter Pecan" Mendez | Main cast |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1229204}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velazquez, Nadine}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Actresses from Chicago]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:Female models from Illinois]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American actresses of Puerto Rican descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Columbia College Chicago alumni]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American actresses]]