Justina Machado

Early life

Machado was born in Chicago, Illinois, one of two children of Alicia Morales Ruiz and Ismael Machado. Machado was raised Catholic.

Machado was very active in drama, always participating in her school plays. She also took dance at Franklin Fine Arts Center. In 1986, Machado attended Lane Technical College Prep High School. During her spare time, she performed with the Latino Chicago Theater Company.

Machado was a guest appearing in Episode 6 of Season 6 of Finding Your Roots, a documentary show by PBS that is hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., during which it was confirmed that she has African matrilineal ancestry (i.e. through a female ancestor on her mother's side) through genetic testing of her mitochondrial DNA.

Career

1993–2015: Career beginnings

In 1990, after graduating from Lane Tech, Machado moved to New York City. The experience she had gained as a performer with the Latino Chicago Theater Company helped open the doors for her in that city. Soon, she was offered a job as a professional actress in Los Angeles. After relocating, she landed her first two acting roles in 1996. She was cast as Elsa in the ABC series NYPD Blue appearing in the episode "Burnin' Love", and co-starring in the made-for-television drama film No One Would Tell. In 1997, she made her big screen debut playing supporting role of Carmen Rodriguez in the romantic drama film She's So Lovely. Machado also guest-starred on Arsenio, Any Day Now, Touched by an Angel, Early Edition, Angel and had a recurring role on the short-lived UPN sitcom Goode Behavior.

In 2001, Machado played the leading role in the action comedy film Sticks and a minor part in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Later that year, she was cast in the HBO comedy-drama series, Six Feet Under. She played Vanessa Diaz, originally a supporting character, later evolving into one of the series' main characters. Machado and her cast mates were honored with a Screen Actors Guild Award. The series completed its final season in 2005. She was in productions of Blade to the Heat and Black Butterfly at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She was the first replacement for Andréa Burns in Broadway's In the Heights. In 2010, Machado appeared in the Los Angeles run of Love, Loss and What I Wore.

Machado appeared in Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Bones, Body of Proof and Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role as Chicago police officer Claudia Diaz in the NBC medical drama ER in 2009. From 2009 to 2010, she starred in the short-lived CBS medical drama series, Three Rivers. She later had recurring roles on Private Practice, The Fosters, and Devious Maids. In 2013, she starred alongside Ricardo Antonio Chavira in the short-lived NBC sitcom, Welcome to the Family. She also appeared in films The Call (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), and Endgame.

2016–present: Breakthrough and leading roles

In 2016, Machado starred as Brenda Parra during the first season of USA Network crime drama series, Queen of the South. She later guest-starred on the show' fourth season. Later that year, she joined the cast of The CW comedy series Jane the Virgin, playing the role of Darci Factor. In 2017, she was cast as a lead character in the Netflix comedy series, One Day at a Time based on the 1975 series of the same title. Machado has received positive reviews for her role as a single mother raising two children and struggling with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. For her performance, she received two Imagen Awards for Best Actress - Television, and well as nomination for Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Despite positive critical reception, Machado has not received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. The series ended in 2020 after four seasons.

In 2019, Machado played the leading role in the Lifetime television drama film Family Pictures. From 2019 to 2020, she had a recurring role on the NBC comedy series, Superstore playing new district manager Maya, with whom Amy Sosa shares a surprising connection. After having been announced to portray Florence Johnston in the first Live in Front of a Studio Audiences The Jeffersons portion, instead reprised by Marla Gibbs, Machado was cast in the second edition in December 2019 as Teresa Betancourt from All in the Family. On September 2, 2020, Machado was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Sasha Farber. Machado finished in fourth place on November 23, 2020. In 2021, Machado was a singing bust in Muppets Haunted Mansion.

In 2020, Machado starred in the drama film All Together Now, which was released on Netflix. Also in 2020, Jacob Vargas and Machado were Masters of Ceremonies at the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Awards. In 2021, she starred in the Lifetime television drama film, Switched Before Birth directed by Elisabeth Röhm. She starred alongside Will Sasso in the comedy film, The Throwback.

In 2023, Machado starred as Dolores Roach in the Amazon Prime Video black comedy-horror series, The Horror of Dolores Roach. The series received generally positive reviews, with Machado's performance being widely praised. In 2024 she was cast in the Netflix medical drama series, Pulse as Dr. Natalie Cruz.

In 2025, Machado originated the role of Carmen Garcia in the Broadway musical production of Real Women Have Curves. She received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre (select)

Video games

References

References

1. Stated on ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', January 28, 2020
2. "Justina M. Machado, Actress". Cook County Clerk.
3. (8 January 2017). "Justina Machado talks taking a comedic turn for Norman Lear's 'One Day At A Time' remake". [[Screener (website).
4. (2 October 2013). "Justina Machado works hard at laughs on new sitcom". [[Chicago Tribune]].
5. (5 January 2017). "The One Day at a Time Reboot Has 2 Secret Weapons: Justina Machado and Gloria Calderon Kellett". [[Popsugar]].
6. "S6 E6: Justina Machado African Ancestry {{!}} Finding Your Roots".
7. "Secrets & Lies".
8. (7 February 2008). "Theater Reviews: Some Girl(s)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
9. (30 June 2009). "Photo Flash: Justina Machado Joins IN THE HEIGHTS". BroadwayWorld.
10. (3 June 2010). "Nancy Travis, Conchata Ferrell to join 'Love, Loss and What I Wore' at Geffen Playhouse". [[Los Angeles Times]].
11. Petski, Denise. (November 25, 2014). "Justina Machado Joins 'Queen Of The South'; Kyle Gallner In 'Outsiders'".
12. (7 October 2016). "'Jane The Virgin': Justina Machado To Recur On Season 3 Of the CW Series".
13. (6 January 2017). "One Day at a Time's Justina Machado on Getting Her First Leading TV Role, Fidel Castro, and Her Low-Budget Quinceañera". [[Vulture (blog).
14. (6 January 2017). "Exclusive: 'One Day at a Time' Has The Power to Change Latinos on TV Forever". [[Latina (magazine).
15. (3 January 2017). "'One Day at a Time': TV Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
16. Miller, Liz Shannon. (January 26, 2018). "'One Day at a Time' Season 2 Review: Netflix's Best Multi-Cam Sitcom Just Gets Sharper and More Sincere".
17. "Justina Machado - Awards".
18. Montgomery, Daniel. (June 27, 2018). "Top 6 women who deserve Emmy nominations: Justina Machado, Jenifer Lewis, Marin Hinkle …".
19. (June 28, 2019). "Justina Machado Talks Lifetime's 'Family Pictures'".
20. (28 August 2019). "Superstore Season 5: Justina Machado to Recur, SNL's Heidi Gardner Also Cast".
21. (May 22, 2019). "Original 'The Jeffersons' cast member made surprise cameo on 'Live in Front of a Studio Audience'".
22. (December 11, 2019). "Woody Harrelson & Marisa Tomei Among 4 Returning For ABC's 'All In the Family' Live Special, 3 New Stars Join".
23. (September 2, 2020). ""Dancing with the Stars" 2020 Celebrity Cast Announced!". ABC.com.
24. (February 28, 2020). "2020 NHMC IMPACT AWARDS GALA, LA".
25. Martínez, Julio. (November 9, 2021). "Justina Machado Co-Stars In Lifetime's Drama 'Switched Before Birth'".
26. Grobar, Matt. (April 25, 2022). "Justina Machado & Will Sasso To Star In Indie Comedy 'The Throwback'".
27. Andreeva, Nellie. (June 2, 2021). "Justina Machado To Headline 'The Horror Of Dolores Roach' Amazon Pilot From Blumhouse Based On Podcast".
28. "The Horror of Dolores Roach - Rotten Tomatoes".
29. Andreeva, Nellie. (February 29, 2024). "Netflix Orders First Medical Procedural 'Pulse'; Justina Machado Cast In Series From Zoe Robyn & Carlton Cuse".
30. Goldberg, Lesley. (February 29, 2024). "Justina Machado to Star in Netflix Medical Drama From Carlton Cuse".
31. Culwell-Block, Logan. (May 1, 2025). "2025 Tony Award Nominations: Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending Lead the Pack".
32. [https://victorygardens.org/event/real-women-have-curves/]accessed 05/02/205
33. [https://playbill.com/article/ladies-and-gentleman-added-to-broadway-mambo-kings-musical-cast-com-125237]accessed 05/02/205
34. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Justina-Machado-Joins-IN-THE-HEIGHTS-20090630]accessed 05/02/205
35. [https://playbill.com/article/john-mcmartin-justina-machado-and-more-join-a-free-man-of-color-on-broadway-com-171705]accessed 05/02/205
36. [https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/real-women-have-curves/]accessed 05/02/205
37. [https://playbill.com/article/to-justina-machado-and-tatianna-cordoba-real-women-have-curves-showcases-the-legacy-of-latinas]accessed 05/02/205