Lauren Velez, a talented actress born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York, among eight siblings, including her identical twin sister Lorraine, harbored a passion for acting from a young age. This passion was ignited when she played the role of a groundhog in a school play during her second-grade year. Following her high school graduation, Velez received a scholarship from the renowned Alvin Ailey Dance School, which led to her initial foray into the entertainment industry by performing in the national touring company of the iconic musical "Dreamgirls".
As her career progressed, Velez became the understudy for the accomplished actress Phylicia Rashad in the Broadway production of "Into the Woods". Her most notable role to date is that of "Nina Moreno" on the popular cop drama "New York Undercover", which aired in 1994. Velez's versatility as a performer, coupled with her Afro-Latin heritage and unique physical appearance, has made her a trailblazer for Latina actresses who do not conform to the traditional "Europeanized Hollywood" notion of Latin femininity. As a result, Velez has garnered a large and dedicated following from fans and critics alike, who have come to appreciate her groundbreaking achievements in the entertainment industry.
