Dania Ramirez
Dania Ramirez – Life, Career & Legacy
Learn about Dania Ramirez (born November 8, 1979) — Dominican-American actress known for Heroes, Devious Maids, X-Men: The Last Stand, Once Upon a Time, and more. Explore her biography, key roles, influence, and personal journey.
Introduction
Dania Jissel Ramirez (born November 8, 1979) is a Dominican-born actress who has built a successful career in American television and film. Heroes, Entourage, Devious Maids, Once Upon a Time, Sweet Tooth, and Alert: Missing Persons Unit. She Hate Me, X-Men: The Last Stand, Premium Rush, and more.
Her journey from the Dominican Republic to Hollywood, with early challenges and persistence, offers an inspiring narrative of ambition, identity, and representation in media.
Early Life & Education
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Dania Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on November 8, 1979.
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According to interviews, when she was six months old, her parents left for the U.S., and she remained with her grandmother in the Dominican Republic until about age ten, when she rejoined her family in New York.
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Growing up, she took to reenacting telenovelas (soap operas) for her family, signaling an early inclination toward performance.
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She was discovered by a modeling scout when working in a convenience store as a teenager (around age 15), which led to her first small commercial acting opportunities (e.g. a soda commercial).
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She studied acting at Flo Greenberg’s Actor’s Workshop in New York City.
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For higher education, Dania attended Montclair State University, where she also played volleyball and ranks in some of the school’s volleyball records (digs, blocks).
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After finishing college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time.
Acting Career
Breakthrough & Early Roles
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Her earliest screen appearance was as an extra in Subway Stories (1997, HBO), where she encountered Spike Lee.
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She made her first credited acting move via a role in She Hate Me (2004), directed by Spike Lee, playing Alex Guerrero.
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She also appeared in Fat Albert (2004) and other supporting film roles early on.
Television & Iconic Roles
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On Heroes, she played Maya Herrera, a character with dangerous powers, joining in the second season and continuing later.
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On Entourage, she portrayed Alex, an employee who becomes romantically linked with Turtle in Season 7.
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She appeared in The Sopranos (last season) as Blanca Selgado, a woman with a child.
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From 2013 to 2016, Ramirez starred as Rosie Falta in the Lifetime series Devious Maids, a leading role that raised her profile in dramatic television.
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In 2017, she joined Once Upon a Time (Season 7) as Cinderella / Jacinda Vidrio, in the show’s reboot arc.
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More recently, in 2023 she became a lead in Alert: Missing Persons Unit, playing Captain Nikki Batista.
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She also had roles in Tell Me a Story (CBS All Access) as Hannah Perez, Sweet Tooth (Netflix), among others.
Film Highlights
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She played Callisto in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
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Other films include Premium Rush (2012), American Reunion (2012), Quarantine (2008), among others.
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She has lent her voice to animated / direct-to-video productions (e.g., Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay).
Personal Life & Influence
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Ramirez was in a relationship with director Jessy Terrero until 2008.
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She became engaged to John Beverly “Bev” Land in September 2011, and they married on February 16, 2013, on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
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She is a stepmother to Land’s son from a prior marriage, Kai Miles.
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In December 2013, she gave birth to fraternal twins (a boy and a girl).
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Her upbringing, particularly being raised in the Dominican Republic with modest means and rejoining her parents later, has shaped her public identity and how she approaches representation in media.
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She has also been a face in CoverGirl campaigns.
Themes, Style & Impact
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Representation: As a Dominican-born actress performing in major U.S. productions, Ramirez contributes to Latino and Caribbean representation in Hollywood.
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Versatility: She shifts between genres—supernatural (Heroes), fantasy (Once Upon a Time), drama (Devious Maids), action (X-Men), thrillers, etc.—showing range.
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Strong women characters: Many of her roles are of characters who are complex, resilient, sometimes flawed, and central to their own stories (e.g. Rosie Falta).
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Persistence and identity: Her personal journey — navigating early life in the Dominican Republic, immigration, and breaking into Hollywood — informs her public narrative and makes her an inspirational figure for aspiring artists from underrepresented backgrounds.
Selected Quotes
While Dania Ramirez is less prominently quoted in literary collections, here are a few insights and statements attributed to her or reported from interviews:
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In her Allure interview, she reflected on how her upbringing affected her onscreen confidence: “My upbringing … coming from the Dominican Republic … and my determination upon moving to Los Angeles …”
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She also expressed that self-confidence is built through caring for oneself and putting in extra effort: quoted in an IMDb biography as saying she reads scripts first for story, then for whether the character draws her in, and that confidence is about feeling your best.
Lessons & Legacy
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Cultural bridge
Ramirez bridges Dominican and American media worlds, showing how talent from smaller countries can succeed globally. -
Persistence under challenge
Her path wasn’t smooth—early separation from parents, economic challenges, late entry into major roles—but she persisted. -
Diversify your roles
Her career demonstrates the value of versatility: not being typecast but seeking varied genres and characters. -
Representation matters
Her presence in mainstream U.S. TV and film offers representation for Latinas, especially from the Caribbean, which can inspire younger generations. -
Balance art and life
Navigating motherhood, family, public pressures, Ramirez exemplifies how one can remain in creative work while managing personal life.