Tessie Santiago

Best known for her debut as the bold adventuress female version of Zorro in the 2000 television series "Queen of Swords," actress Tessie Santiago has parlayed that success into a diverse career on the small screen. Attracted to acting at the University of Miami, Santiago appeared in numerous student films and graduated with a degree in film and theater arts, before going on to learn film production in Prague. A brief stint studying Shakespearean drama in London followed. Santiago was waitressing when she auditioned for the role as the daring swordswoman Maria Teresa Alvarado on "Queen of Swords." The success of the show led Santiago to the role of an arrogant salsa dancer who callously dumps her partner in "The Way She Moves" in 2001. A Miami native of Cuban descent, Santiago noted with some irony that her recurring role on the comedy series "Good Morning, Miami" was shot entirely in Los Angeles. Santiago continued in comedy with another regular role in "Kitchen Confidential," co-starring opposite Bradley Cooper and big screen and theater stalwart Frank Langella. Santiago was able to return to her home state of Florida to make her feature film debut opposite luminaries Julie Harris and Ruby Dee in "The Way Back Home" in 2006. Santiago guest-starred on several series before her next regular role in the comedy-drama "Twentysixmiles," co-starring with John Schneider. In 2010, Santiago was featured in her second film, "Angel Camouflaged," a drama set in the world of rock 'n' roll music.