Justina Milagros Machado (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress. She began her career playing secondary roles on television and film before starring as Vanessa Diaz in the HBO comedy-drama series, Six Feet Under (2001–05), for which she received Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Machado later starred in the short-lived series Missing, Three Rivers and Welcome to the Family and was a regular cast member in the first season of the USA Network crime drama Queen of the South.
From 2017 to 2020, Machado starred as Penelope Alvarez in the Netflix/Pop TV comedy series, One Day at a Time, for which she received positive reviews from critics and two Imagen Awards for Best Actress - Television, and well as nomination for Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. She also has appeared in films Final Destination 2 (2003), Torque (2004), Little Fugitive (2006), The Call (2013), The Purge: Anarchy (2014), All Together Now (2020) and The Throwback (2024). In 2023, she played the leading role in the Amazon Prime Video black comedy-horror series, The Horror of Dolores Roach. In 2025 Machado appeared in the Broadway Musical Real Women Have Curves for which she received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
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.) 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. 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. 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
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1997
|She's So Lovely
|Carmen Rodriguez
|
|-
|1998
|'
|Marita
|
|-
|1999
|Swallows
|America
|
|-
|2000
|Following Paula
|Paula Ormida
|Short film
|-
|rowspan=2|2001
|Sticks
|Maria
|
|-
|A.I. Artificial Intelligence
|Assistant
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
|Dragonfly
|Oncology Desk Nurse
|
|-
|Full Frontal
|Linda's Friend in Kitchen
|
|-
|2003
|Final Destination 2
|Isabella Hudson
|
|-
|2004
|Torque
|FBI Agent Tehya Henderson
|
|-
|2006
|Little Fugitive
|Natalia
|
|-
|2007
|I Think I Love My Wife
|Paramedic
|
|-
|rowspan=4|2008
|'
|Sofia
|
|-
|Breast Pump & Blender
|Lizzie
|Short film
|-
|Man Maid
|Terressa
|
|-
|Pedro
|Mily
|
|-
|2009
|In the Electric Mist
|Rosie Gomez
|
|-
|2012
| A Thousand Words
|Caroline's Friend
|
|-
|2013
|'
|Rachel
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2014
|Endgame
|Karla
|
|-
|The Purge: Anarchy
|Tanya
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2020
|Scoob!
|Jamie Rivera
|Voice
|-
| All Together Now
| Becky
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2021
| Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
| Herself
| Documentary
|-
| With/In: Volume 1
|
| Segment: "Coco and Gigi"
|-
| 2022
| The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild
| Zee
| Voice
|-
|2023
|The Throwback
|Kate
|
|-
| 2026
| Swapped
| Calli
| Voice
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=2| 1993
| ABC Afterschool Special
|
| Episode: "Love Hurts"
|-
| Missing Persons
| Juanita Gonzales
| Episode: "That's My Sister, Pal"
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1996
| NYPD Blue
| Donna Mendoza
| Episode: "Burnin' Love"
|-
| Second Noah
| Roxanna
| Episode: "Second Noah"
|-
| No One Would Tell
| Val Cho
| Television film
|-
| rowspan=5| 1997
| ER
| Ms. Cruz
| Episode: "Ambush"
|-
| Moloney
|
| Episode: "I'm Ambivalent About L.A."
|-
| Crisis Center
| Raquel
| Episode: "He Said, She Said"
|-
| Arsenio
| Anna Montez
| Episode: "We Can Still Be Friends"
|-
| Goode Behavior
| Raquel DeLarosa
| Recurring role (5 episodes)
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1998
|'
| Maria
| Episode: "James Stevenson Stands Alone"
|-
| Any Day Now
| Olivia
| Episode: "It's Who You Sleep With"
|-
| Touched by an Angel
| Marisol
| Episode: "An Angel on the Roof"
|-
| Malcolm & Eddie
| Laura Morales
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1999
| Promised Land
| Roxie Kahle
| Episode: "Darkness Visible"
|-
| Early Edition
| Laura
| Episode: "Camera Shy"
|-
|1999–2000
|Oh Baby
|Mona
|3 episodes
|-
| 2000
| Angel
| Jo
| Episode: "Judgment"
|-
| 2001–2005
| Six Feet Under
| Vanessa Diaz
| Regular role (42 episodes)<br>Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2004)<br>Nominated — Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Television (2005–2006)<br>Nominated — ALMA Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series (2006)<br>Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2005–2006)
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002
| '
| Marisol
| TV pilot
|-
| Strong Medicine
|
| Episode: "Type & Cross"
|-
| 2003–2004
| Missing
| Sunny Estrada
| Main role (17 episodes)
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2006
| Ghost Whisperer
| Suzanne
| Episode: "Demon Child"
|-
| Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America
| Alma Ansen
| Television film
|-
| Grey's Anatomy
| Anna Nyles
| Episode: "Oh, the Guilt"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2007
| Cold Case
| Amelia Lopez
| Episode: "The Good Death"
|-
| Ugly Betty
| Cousin Clara
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2008
| Man of Your Dreams
| Sheryl
| TV pilot
|-
| Kath & Kim
| Angel
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2009
| ER
| Claudia Diaz
| Recurring role (8 episodes)<br>Nominated — ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2009)
|-
| 2009–2010
| Three Rivers
| Pam Acosta
| Main role (13 episodes)
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2010
| Burn Notice
| Lauren
| Episode: "Neighborhood Watch"
|-
| Bones
| Lupe Rojas
| Episode: "The Couple in the Cave"
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2011
| Off the Map
| Teresa
| Episode: "Hold on Tight"
|-
| '
| Marisol Casas
| Episode: "Blood"
|-
| Body of Proof
| Emily Burrows
| Episode: "Lazarus Man"
|-
| Harry's Law
| Counsel
| Episode: "American Girl"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2012
| Desperate Housewives
| Claudia Sanchez
| 2 episodes
|-
| Switched at Birth
| Nurse Britzia Munoz
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2012–2013
| Private Practice
| Stephanie Kemp
| Recurring role (6 episodes)
|-
| rowspan=3| 2013
| '
| Sonia Rivera
| 3 episodes
|-
| Welcome to the Family
| Lisette Hernandez
| 2 episodes
|-
| Murder Police
| Rosa Sanchez (voice)
| 13 episodes
|-
| 2014
| Major Crimes
| Ana Ruiz
| Episode: "Acting Out"
|-
|2014
|Finders Keepers
| Prof. Elena Carranza
|Television film
|-
| 2015
| Devious Maids
| Reina
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2016
| Heartbeat
| Beth / Emily
| Episode: "Twins"
|-
| 2016–2019
| Jane the Virgin
| Darci Factor
| Recurring role, 19 episodes
|-
| 2016, 2019
| Queen of the South
| Brenda
| Main role (season 1); 13 episodes<br />Guest role (season 4); 2 episodes
|-
| 2016–2020
| Elena of Avalor
| Carmen (voice)
| Recurring role; 9 episodes
|-
| 2017–2020
| One Day at a Time
| Penelope Alvarez
| Main role; 45 episodes + animated special; also producer (season 4) <br>Imagen Award for Best Actress - Television (2017–2018)<br>Imagen Award for Best Voice-Over Actor - Television (2019)<br>Nominated - Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (2019)<br>Nominated - Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (2017)<br>Nominated - Imagen Award for Best Actress - Television (2019–2020)
|-
| 2019
| Family Pictures
| Sylvie
| Television film<br>Nominated - Imagen Award for Best Actress - Television
|-
|2019–2020
|Superstore
|Maya Fonseca
|2 episodes
Voice role; 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2|2020
| Dancing with the Stars
| Herself
| Contestant on season 29
|-
| Harley Quinn
| Bethany (voice)
| Episode: "A Fight Worth Fighting For"
|-
| rowspan=2|2021
| Muppets Haunted Mansion
| Singing Bust
| TV special
|-
| Switched Before Birth
| Anna Ramirez
| Television film<br>Nominated - Imagen Award for Best Actress - Drama (Television)
|-
| 2021–2023
| DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms
| Carla Gonzalez (voice)
| 10 episodes
|-
| rowspan=3|2023
| Lopez vs Lopez
| Beatrice "Bunny" Perez
| Episode: "Lopez vs Cheating"
|-
| Law & Order
| Defense Attorney Lauren Whitmer
| Episode: "Class Retreat"
|-
| The Horror of Dolores Roach
| Dolores Roach
| Lead role, 8 episodes
|-
| rowspan=3|2025
| Happy's Place
| Maritza
| Episode: "Mama Drama"
|-
| Pulse
| Natalie Cruz
| Series regular
|-
| Matlock
| Eva Muñoz
| Episode: "Tomorrow is Still Tomorrow"
|-
|}
Theatre (select)
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Playwright
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Ref.
|-
! scope="row" | 1993
| Real Women Have Curves
| Ana
| Josefina Lopez
| Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| The Mambo Kings
| Anna Maria
| Various
| Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2009
| In the Heights
| Daniela
| Lin-Manuel Miranda<br>Quiara Alegría Hudes
| Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| A Free Man of Color
| Doña Smeralda / Josephine
| John Guare
| Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2023
| rowspan=2|Real Women Have Curves
| rowspan=2|Carmen Garcia
| rowspan=2|Various
| American Repertory Theater, Cambridge
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2025
| James Earl Jones Theatre, Broadway
|
|}
Video games
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2016
| Gears of War 4
| rowspan=2|Reyna Diaz
|
|-
| 2019
| Gears 5
|
|}
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Ricans in Chicago