Valerie Cruz

Cruz recently joined the cast of FOX's hit series The Following where she plays strong-willed FBI Agent Gina Mendez, who alongside Ryan Hardy . Season three of the psychological drama series returns in March 2, 2015. Prior to this, Cruz's leading role as Grace Santiago on the F/X drama Nip/Tuck marked the start of her television career. In 2008, Cruz pulled double duty on two different television series, as Maria Nolan on Kevin Williamson's drama Hidden Palms, and as Connie Murphy in Syfy and Saturn Film's series The Dresden Files. Her performance on The Dresden Files earned her a 2008 ALMA Award nomination for "Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Drama Series." Cruz was also a part of Showtime's hit series Dexter, which led to another nomination for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" at the 2009 SAG Awards. Immediately after, she joined the cast of HBO's True Blood, as vampire Isabel in their second season. Cruz then booked a leading role as Dr. Zee Alvarez in the ABC series Off The Map, created by Jenna Bans and produced by the prolific Shondaland Productions. Her momentum continued with a recurring arc on Showtime's award winning series Homeland where she played Major Joy Mendez. Along with these powerful roles, she has also made guest and recurring appearances on network heavyweight shows such as: Scandal, Law and Order SVU, Criminal Minds, Grey's Anatomy, to mention a few. In addition to her mainstream body of work, Cruz has made her mark on the independent film circuit with films like the action-drama The Line opposite Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia, as well as The Devil's Tomb opposite Cuba Gooding Jr., Ray Winstone and Ron Perlman. She recently wrapped production on the independent thriller The Loft where she starred alongside James Marsden and Eric Stonestreet. Originally from Elizabeth, New Jersey, Cruz currently lives in New York City.