Constance Marie Lopez (born September 9, 1965) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Angie Lopez in ''

George Lopez George Edward Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including Mexican American culture. Lopez has rec ...

'' (2002–2007), and Marcela Quintanilla (mother of

Selena Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...

) in the film ''

'' (1997). She portrayed Regina Vasquez in the ABC Family/Freeform drama series '' Switched at Birth'' (2011–2017). She is currently portraying Camila Diaz in the

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service p ...

drama series ''

Undone Undone may refer to: Music * "Undone – The Sweater Song", a 1994 single by Weezer * "Undone" (Stellar song), 1999 * "Undone" (Joe Nichols song), 2016 * ''Undone'' (Brian & Jenn Johnson album), 2001 * ''Undone'' (MercyMe album), 2004 * ''U ...

'' (2019).

Early life

Constance Marie was born and raised in

East Los Angeles East Los Angeles ( es, Este de Los Ángeles), or East L.A., is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 118,786, a drop of 6.1% from 2010, when it was 126,496. For statistical purpo ...

. At age 19, Marie appeared as a dancer in the musical ''Cosmopolis'' by composer

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese composer, pianist, singer, record producer and actor who has pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto i ...

in Japan. When she returned to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

, she was spotted at a club by a dance choreographer for

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

and she was hired for the Glass Spider Tour in 1987.

Career

Marie began her acting career when she was in her teenage years. She landed a spot in the 1988 film '' Salsa''. Other television and film credits include ''

Early Edition ''Early Edition'' is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996, to May 27, 2000. Set in Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each ''Chicago Sun-Times ...

'', ''

Dirty Dancing ''Dirty Dancing'' is a 1987 American romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, it tells the story of Frances "Baby" Housema ...

'', ''

Spin City ''Spin City'' is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 to April 30, 2002, on ABC. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show is set in a semi-fictionalized version of the New York City mayor' ...

'', and '' Ally McBeal''. Marie was chosen for the role of Angie Lopez in the ABC comedy series ''

''. In 2001, Marie starred in the comedy-drama film '' Tortilla Soup'' alongside

Héctor Elizondo Héctor Elizondo (born December 22, 1936) is an American character actor. He is known for playing Phillip Watters in the television series ''Chicago Hope'' (1994–2000) and Ed Alzate in the television series '' Last Man Standing'' (2011–2021) ...

, Jacqueline Obradors, and Elizabeth Peña. She also appeared in the

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of ed ...

drama series ''

American Family The traditional family structure in the United States is considered a family support system involving two married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring. However, this two-parent, heterosexual, nuclear family ...

''. In October 2007, she launched her own clothing line, "The Constance Marie Collection". In the same year, she appeared in an ad for

PETA Peta or PETA may refer to: Acronym * Pembela Tanah Air, a militia established by the occupying Japanese in Indonesia in 1943 * People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an American animal rights organization * People Eating Tasty Animals, ...

, encouraging people to spay and neuter their pets. From 2011 to 2017, Marie had a starring role in the ABC Family/Freeform drama series '' Switched at Birth'', portraying Regina Vasquez, the birth mother of one of the girls and legal mother of the other.

Personal life

Marie was in a 15-year relationship with yoga instructor Kent Katich, which ended in September 2015. They have a daughter born in 2009. Marie is a longtime

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat ( red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetaria ...

and raised her child as a vegetarian.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Soap Opera Digest Awards ''The Soap Opera Digest Awards'', originally known as ''The Soapy Awards'' when introduced in 1977, is an awards show held by the daytime television magazine ''Soap Opera Digest''. History 1977 until 1983 The Soapy Awards were an award presen ...

** 1991: Outstanding Female Newcomer (Daytime) – '' Santa Barbara'' (Nominated) *

ALMA Award The American Latino Media Arts Award or ALMA Award, formerly known as Latin Oscars Award, is an award highlighting the best American Latino contributions to music, television, and film. The awards promote fair and accurate portrayals of Latinos ...

s ** 1998: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – '' Union Square'' (Nominated) **

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ...

: Outstanding Actress (Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie) – ''

'' (Nominated) ** 2011: Favorite TV Actress - Supporting Role – '' Switched at Birth'' (Nominated) **

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

: Favorite TV Actress - Supporting Role – ''Switched at Birth'' (Won) *

Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award (originally known as the Youth in Film Award) is an accolade presented by the Young Artist Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to honor excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young ...

s **

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

: Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series – ''

'' (Nominated) with

* Imagen Awards ** 2004: Best Actress in Television Drama – ''

'' (Nominated) ** 2004: Best Actress in Television Comedy – ''George Lopez'' (Won) ** 2005: Best Actress (Television) – ''George Lopez'' (Nominated) ** 2006: Best Actress (Television) – ''George Lopez'' (Nominated) ** 2007: Best Actress (Television) – ''George Lopez'' (Nominated)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marie, Constance 1965 births Living people Actresses from Los Angeles American female dancers American film actresses American actresses of Mexican descent American soap opera actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Dancers from California 21st-century American women