Bertila Damas is a renowned American television, film, and theater actress, celebrated for her bold and unwavering approach to acting and life, coupled with her irreverent sense of humor, boundless compassion, and an unshakeable heart of gold.
Her impressive body of work has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with publications such as Variety, the LA Times, Curtain Up, and others consistently praising her performances.
Notable quotes from esteemed critics and publications include: "Damas simply radiates as Clemencia [in 'Electricidad' at the Mark Taper Forum]"; "Damas -- who has shades of the round-eyed but tough femininity of the original Nora, Helen Hayes -- is just as stellar"; "Such lovely emotional resonance in the performances of Jorja Fox, and guest star Bertila Damas (Mrs. Santiago)"; "Bertila Damas has an impeccable charm as well as a regal allure which is most enchanting"; and "Damas' sexual toughness lends electricity to the mother-daughter confrontations".
Damas has honed her craft through extensive work off-Broadway and in regional theater, making her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet for Joseph Papp's NYSF on Broadway, directed by Academy Award-winning actress Estelle Parsons.
In regional productions, she has taken on the title character in a stage production of Federico García Lorca's Yerma at the Arena Stage.
Bertila Damas began her formal professional career in Miami, working in Spanish-speaking theater and television while attending college. She later pursued advanced studies in New York at the prestigious Circle in the Square Professional Theater School, the Actor's Studio, and in Stella Adler's acclaimed Script Analysis classes.
Her extensive television credits include appearances on The John Larroquette Show (1993),King of the Hill, NYPD Blue, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, NCIS, and Grimm (2011). Internationally, she is recognized for her role as the villainous Marta on Angélica, mi vida (1988) for Telemundo.
Additionally, Damas has lent her talents to numerous commercials and voice-overs in both English and Spanish, solidifying her status as a versatile and captivating performer. As her star continues to rise, it appears that Hollywood is actively seeking to find a place for this talented enchantress, and this writer hopes that this recognition comes sooner rather than later.
